How to confirm Mercedes Approved Garage

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jshallow

New Member
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Oct 31, 2020
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5
Location
Manchester
Car
C200d AMG Line
Please is there a way one can find out if a Mercedes specialist garage is actually approved by Mercedes? This is necessary to be sure it doesn't invalidate warranty if work is done by this garage. May be there is a database one can look up?

Thanks
 
There are very few Authorised Repairers left now - they were mosty the original dealers who got canned when MB did a reorg around the year 2000. They do come up in the retailer search - garages like Regent Garage in Criccieth, Wales. But it doesn't seem to even find them by name, I had to search by location.

Independent specialists are never approved, but they often have access to the MB system for diagnostics and updates and can update the digital service book. You should have no issues with the original factory warranty but coverage for any extended warranty is a bit of a grey area. I know BMW allow it, never seen it queried with MB.

If the car is on MB Finance then it may be condition that the car is dealer serviced.
 
Welcome.

If it's the 3-year new car warranty, then you can have the car serviced anywhere as long as the service is carried-out by a competent mechanic, to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule, and using original service parts. So you don't have to use an MB dealer for servicing. And, if you decide to use a specialist, then your best bet would be a specialist who has access to the MB Digital Service Book (DSB) and can update the service history on MB's central computer.

If it's an extended warranty, e.g. year 4 onwards, then I think you'll have to get it serviced at an MB dealer to avoid any issues with claims. You can however reduce the cost of dealer servicing by opting for the MB Service Care Plan.

If it's an MB Approved Used warranty, then I am not sure, but if the T&C say that it must be serviced by an 'Approved' garage, then, again, I would stick to dealer servicing.
 
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There are very few Authorised Repairers left now - they were mosty the original dealers who got canned when MB did a reorg around the year 2000. They do come up in the retailer search - garages like Regent Garage in Criccieth, Wales. But it doesn't seem to even find them by name, I had to search by location.

Independent specialists are never approved, but they often have access to the MB system for diagnostics and updates and can update the digital service book. You should have no issues with the original factory warranty but coverage for any extended warranty is a bit of a grey area. I know BMW allow it, never seen it queried with MB.

If the car is on MB Finance then it may be condition that the car is dealer serviced.
Thanks for the reply
 
Welcome.

If it's the 3-year new car warranty, then you can have the car serviced anywhere as long as the service is carried-out by a competent mechanic, to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule, and using original service parts. So you don't have to use an MB dealer for servicing. And, if you decide to use a specialist, then your best bet would be a specialist who has access to the MB Digital Service Book (DSB) and can update the service history on MB's central computer.

If it's an extended warranty, e.g. year 4 onwards, then I think you'll have to get it serviced at an MB dealer to avoid any issues with claims. You can however reduce the cost of dealer servicing by opting for the MB Service Care Plan.

If it's an MB Approved Used warranty, then I am not sure, but if the T&C say that it must be serviced by an 'Approved' garage, then, again, I would stick to dealer servicing.
Thanks for the reply
 
Isn’t the large star above the entrance door to the showroom a clue?
 
Or something recalled...
 
If it's an MB Approved Used warranty, then I am not sure, but if the T&C say that it must be serviced by an 'Approved' garage, then, again, I would stick to dealer servicing.
This is what they say for their extended warranty.

Servicing requirements for your Mercedes-Benz The continued validity of your insurance is dependent upon you having the insured vehicle serviced by an authorised Mercedes-Benz Passenger Car Retailer in the UK in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. We will allow a maximum of 1,000 miles or one calendar month (whichever occurs first) in excess of the recommended service intervals. Please ensure that the servicing Mercedes-Benz Retailer completes the service record for the insured vehicle and that you keep all service receipts as proof of servicing. IMPORTANT: if you fail to have the insured vehicle serviced correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications during the period of insurance, or you are unable to produce proof of such servicing if we request it, then this will invalidate your insurance​
It's not clear to me as to whether the AU warranty is any different.
 
If you want the peace of mind of having the Mobilo warranty, then please think long and hard about using anything other than a Mercedes Benz main dealer.

I say this because if you break-down and contact Mobilo, they simply ask for your car registration and then they check to see if it is covered by the scheme. In other words they check to see when it was last serviced by an authorised dealer and you either get the service or you don't. Certainly way, way, way better than any type of RAC, AA cover :)
 
I say this because if you break-down and contact Mobilo, they simply ask for your car registration and then they check to see if it is covered by the scheme. In other words they check to see when it was last serviced by an authorised dealer and you either get the service or you don't. Certainly way, way, way better than any type of RAC, AA cover :)
I would disagree with the this as a general statement.

There are a number of pros and cons to dealer servicing + Mobilo vs non-dealer servicing + independent recovery.

My view over the years of owning MB, VW, and BMW is that once the cars are out of warranty (or in the case of BMW also outside any extended servicing package) then indepndent servicing and an independent recovery service have been a better option - for a number of reasons.

Other people may apply criteria differently.

Also bear in mind that MB extended and AU warranties - and also Mobilo - have evolved and changed over the last 15 years. Arguably not for the better.
 
Hi Dryce
I certainly feel there are pro's and con's for the service we want.

I believe our nearest Mercedes Independent Specialist is in the next town and 'take advantage of me once, then more fool you. Take advantage of me twice, then more fool me'

One of the common faults for the 211 model is for the climate control to only give out cool air.

I thought I would give the independent garage a call and get a price. I cannot remember what the quote was but I contacted the main dealer and they were cheaper!!!! They would collect my car, leave me a courtesy car and when the job was done, the car was valeted both inside and out and then returned to us and the courtesy car was taken away.

I have never bothered contacting that independent since, but no doubt others have had completely the opposite experience and if we had a decent independent that had all the latest Mercedes diagnostic equipment and they are reasonably priced then why not use them?

I guess I am a huge fan of Mobilo and yes, you are right about this changing but touch wood, we are still covered :)
 
I would disagree with the this as a general statement.

There are a number of pros and cons to dealer servicing + Mobilo vs non-dealer servicing + independent recovery.

My view over the years of owning MB, VW, and BMW is that once the cars are out of warranty (or in the case of BMW also outside any extended servicing package) then indepndent servicing and an independent recovery service have been a better option - for a number of reasons.

Other people may apply criteria differently.

Also bear in mind that MB extended and AU warranties - and also Mobilo - have evolved and changed over the last 15 years. Arguably not for the better.

Agreed.

Just to add that since the MB Service Care Plan became available, some people, myself included, will use the dealer for scheduled servicing, and a specialist for everything else (repairs, brakes, etc). The obvious caveat is that it only works satisfactory if you can find both a trusted specialist and a reliable dealer in your area. And I accept that as a Londonder it might be easier for me to achieve that compared to people living in other parts of the UK.
 
Which is operated by the RAC!
Sadly you have made a blanket statement that possibly for your area is correct, but that is not the case nationwide. I can only speak for our area and that is covered by skilled technicians from the local dealership. if they cannot repair the car at wherever the thing has broken down, as soon as the vehicle gets recovered, then we get a replacement car similar in size to the beast we own. If we are in Europe, then we have numerous options including free hotel accommodation.
 
but that is not the case nationwide
I was 200 miles away from home at a car show when I locked the key in the boot of my car a few years ago, and Mobilo came to the rescue. He spent 10 mins (in vain!) trying to pick the lock to "keep his hand in", then went the conventional route. During this time he was telling me how their jobs are being taken over by the RAC, who wouldn't be as well equipped either. I'm sure the other benefits will remain, and maybe Roadside Assistance is a different thing entirely, but the introduction in the link stipulates they are working with the RAC.
 
I was 200 miles away from home at a car show when I locked the key in the boot of my car a few years ago, and Mobilo came to the rescue. He spent 10 mins (in vain!) trying to pick the lock to "keep his hand in", then went the conventional route. During this time he was telling me how their jobs are being taken over by the RAC, who wouldn't be as well equipped either. I'm sure the other benefits will remain, and maybe Roadside Assistance is a different thing entirely, but the introduction in the link stipulates they are working with the RAC.
I can only talk about personal experience which for us was approximately 12 months ago when we last used Mobilo, and not to sound like a stuck record, it was the Mercedes van from Exeter that came to our home address, he did state that we were one of the few areas still covered by Mercedes-Benz but I do accept this was 12 months ago.

Hopefully I have made it clear I do NOT doubt what you are saying and you state your experience was a few years ago, and most definitely a big YES, some areas have been taken over by the RAC
 
I can only talk about personal experience which for us was approximately 12 months ago when we last used Mobilo, and not to sound like a stuck record, it was the Mercedes van from Exeter that came to our home address, he did state that we were one of the few areas still covered by Mercedes-Benz but I do accept this was 12 months ago.

Hopefully I have made it clear I do NOT doubt what you are saying and you state your experience was a few years ago, and most definitely a big YES, some areas have been taken over by the RAC
I only pointed it out as it has been discussed here and elsewhere as to whether or not the cost of Mobilo life (ie keeping your car in the network) is worth the premium if you are actually getting a service operated by the RAC. Not looking to argue or disagree!

As for my key faux pas, it was an R230 SL, key locked in the boot with the roof down, and he was able to connect his laptop under the dash and unlock it with no harm. I was given the impression that when the RAC took over, they wouldn't be as well equipped on the tech side of things, so whether this included Star or not, I don't know. I felt a pillock either way.
 
From the Mercedes-Benz South West website:


I believe that there continue to be Mercedes Mobilo branded vehicles but the service is now operated by the RAC who replaced Mondial Assistance, and so mobile technicians TUPEed across from Mondial to the RAC.
 
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