How much????

[PXW]

Got my car into Tony Purslows in Guildford for a D service (having had a C service last time...). Just had a call from my friendly service manager to tell me that it needs various filters, gearbox oil change, new front disc and pads and new rear pads plus the usual service items.

This litany gave me time to find a safe chair before I asked the question...he tells me I'm looking at about £1200.....

Am now online trying to find good suppliers of secondhand shoes for the kids, mass delivery of cheapo pasta and a buyer for my schoolboy stamp collection...

 

[robert.saunders]

When I had my C220, I was upset over some of the service issues and their prices; one time, the friendly service reception girl quipped (in jest I hasten to add; we got on well) that I should expect higher bills than the average Ford dealer, and maybe I buy & run a Ford for less money?

Er... so I did

 

[verytalldave]

Got my car into Tony Purslows in Guildford for a D service (having had a C service last time...). Just had a call from my friendly service manager to tell me that it needs various filters, gearbox oil change, new front disc and pads and new rear pads plus the usual service items.

This litany gave me time to find a safe chair before I asked the question...he tells me I'm looking at about £1200.....

Am now online trying to find good suppliers of secondhand shoes for the kids, mass delivery of cheapo pasta and a buyer for my schoolboy stamp collection...

You should have taken your car where I take mine..........Prestige, near Horndean
http://www.prestigecarservice.co.uk/
Ollie would have done a better job and charged you allot less. And I can say that in all confidence. I wouldnt go anywhere else, and I live North Kent.

 

[SilverSaloon]

i'd take it to a smaller local garage for all that stuff.

or if you feel like you can do it (all basic car diy stuff) - do it yourself! of course if you want to keep FSH then you need to go to a vat registered garage

the parts probably come to around £250.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Yes, best to do all the additional / sundry items, brakes, suspension etc. by an independent with genuine parts. Try to get the base service done.

 

[Marque]

Got my car into Tony Purslows in Guildford for a D service (having had a C service last time...). Just had a call from my friendly service manager to tell me that it needs various filters, gearbox oil change, new front disc and pads and new rear pads plus the usual service items.

This litany gave me time to find a safe chair before I asked the question...he tells me I'm looking at about £1200.....

I have a very similar car to yours. When I bought it four months ago (from a VW dealer) it was due an 'A' Service, so I insisted that this was done by them. The dealer sent it to MB Lakeside (which is part of the same group) and the internal invoice was £1,365 excluding VAT! (I have the invoice to prove it.)

It seems that the service letter doesn't really matter with these cars; the car will decide what needs to be done. As I remember, mine needed pretty much every wear and tear item replaced, plus a couple of (free) recall/warranty items. My next service (D) is due in 8,000 miles. I am going to get several quotes.

 

[BlackC55]

Why don't you get the basic service done at the dealer and the rest done by a specialist.

 

[Adam230K]

One thing i've learned about owning a mercedes for some time now is, Yes i agree get it checked/serviced at a dealer/indy but NEVER let them change any parts that need changing, they charge you stupid labour costs. They will inform you of what needs to be changed, you then go to mercedes (or you could do GSF on some parts), buy the parts, go to a mechanic u trust, and ask him to fit it for you.

 

[nick mercedes]

One thing i've learned about owning a mercedes for some time now is, Yes i agree get it checked/serviced at a dealer/indy but NEVER let them change any parts that need changing, they charge you stupid labour costs. They will inform you of what needs to be changed, you then go to mercedes (or you could do GSF on some parts), buy the parts, go to a mechanic u trust, and ask him to fit it for you.

Big dealers/indies have invested thousands in diagnostic kit, that's why they charge more than shady tree mechanics....

 

[Adam230K]

Big dealers/indies have invested thousands in diagnostic kit, that's why they charge more than shady tree mechanics....

I didnt ask why they charged more, i already know that, but thanks anyway. Was just saying its a good idea to get it serviced and checked at an indy/dealer but not a good idea to let them change things for you, since they charge too much (in my opinion).

 

[evdok]

Got my car into Tony Purslows in Guildford for a D service (having had a C service last time...). Just had a call from my friendly service manager to tell me that it needs various filters, gearbox oil change, new front disc and pads and new rear pads plus the usual service items.

This litany gave me time to find a safe chair before I asked the question...he tells me I'm looking at about £1200.....

Am now online trying to find good suppliers of secondhand shoes for the kids, mass delivery of cheapo pasta and a buyer for my schoolboy stamp collection...

Sell the wife!

 

[PXW]

Thanks guys - after a beer and a sit-down I feel a bit more normal now - though still a bit shivery from the fleecing!

Picked it up this evening, on a bit of a tight schedule..went to drive away and saw the Comand wasn't working (they'd done a software update ). Took them about 3/4 hour to reload the software and get it all working (service manager - 'just hold on sir, it'll take about five minutes'). Was chatting to some of the sales staff whilst waiting and they were very pessimistic about prospects for the next 6-12 months. Lean times ahead (which presumably means good deals ahead). I asked about a D service having just had a C and was told that they jsut run through sequentially - my next should therefore be an E. Somehow that straight alphabetical progression just hadn't occured to me...

One upside - I finally have arrival time and distance remaining showing on the front screen of the navigation display

Now it's three years old I think it may well be a case of basic servicing at MB to keep FMBSH and Mobilolife, and everything else with someone trustworthy who really knows mercs....I believe such people are known to frequent this site occasionally

 

[C43AMG]

Why don't you get the basic service done at the dealer and the rest done by a specialist.

THats what i do with the C43.

 

[normanr]

My car is a 1999 so I am not worried about FSH to sell so I do most of the basic stuff myself, I have just done engine oil change,gearbox and back axle oil change,changed antifreeze and flushed system,replaced broken radiator drain bung and replaced auxiliary belt damper.
I prefer to do these myself as I know they have been done and not just partly done and by that I mean the oils have been drained completely and replaced with the correct oil NEW oil.
IT would be interesting how much I have saved myself in labour charges for just a few jobs like that,I like my Mercedes but I don't see why we should get ripped off with £100 plus for charges because a car is a car and I have been tinkering with cars for years and I have found my Mercedes just as easy as any other car I have worked on.
WE get horror stories on this forum regards the so called experts can't diagnose what the problem is although they have all there gear to find the problems.

 

[Dieselman]

,changed antifreeze and flushed system,replaced broken radiator drain bung and replaced auxiliary belt damper.

oils have been drained completely and replaced with the correct oil NEW oil.
IT would be interesting how much I have saved myself in labour charges for

Did you remember to drain the engine block as well as the rad.?

You have saved yourself about £700+ in labour there so well done, and as you say it will have virtually no effect on resale value but do log the work as a reference.

Regarding using new oil, has anyone ever actually found a garage to not use new oil.?

 

[jaymanek]

There was a service place near us that use to use old oil for servicing vans and trucks... it was in the paper and then a few months later the doors closed!

 

[normanr]

Yes DM rad and engine flushed out,and no I have never heard of a garage using old oil but I thought it might get some comments LOL