Late service

[steve333]

Morning all,friend of mine is looking at a 2010 e350 cdi amg sport saloon with 75,000 miles and full mb history with the exception of the 4th service being 20,000 since the 3rd and 27 months instead of 12,glow plugs were changed in January as well as discs/pads all round,poly v-belt,coolant,power steering fluid and brake fluid along with a b service,air/fuel/pollen filters and atf/filter change(also done at 4th service /40,000 miles).All in all car is in very good condition inside and out(all 4 alloys refurbed last October),cars had a total of 7 services averaging a service every 11,000 miles,question is would the 4,500 miles/15 month overdue 4th service put you off or have a detrimental affect on the car,what are your thoughts please?

 

[clk320x]

It wouldn’t bother me if the price was right.

 

[steve333]

It wouldn’t bother me if the price was right.

Thanks for your thoughts,car is priced similarly to equivalent cars with the same mileage/spec/age.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Same here, if it has been in for a service since and had a lot done then that would be a good thing.

Car is fairly old now and out of warranty so the service history would not be a big thing.

 

[markjay]

If it's a 2010 car, and it has 7 services all-in-all, then surely more than one service is missing? That would be at least 2 services, potentially 3.

I wouldn't worry too much about the effect of the missed/late services on the car from the mechanical point of view, especially if it's in good nick now, however I would be concerned that previous owner(s) potentially weren't looking after their car too well, possibly in more respects than one? E.g. Hmmm...

Wouldn't 'put me off', no, but I would look at getting a good discount (compared to other cars with similar age/mileage/condition and FSH), if for no other reason than so that if there's an unexpected expense looming at least you could tell yourself that you've saved on the buying price and won't feel too bad about it.

 

[LTD]

If it is priced the same as other cars that are as good and with equivalent spec/mileage and do not have this query, why not look at one of them ?

 

[grober]

Depending on the age factor how do these figures tie in with MOT mileages AND PATTERN OF ANNUAL MILEAGE.

 

[steve333]

If it is priced the same as other cars that are as good and with equivalent spec/mileage and do not have this query, why not look at one of them ?

Hi,that would be my reasoning too but my friend has looked at 2 other similar cars with”full mb history both of which hadn’t been serviced every year but we’re serviced every 15,500!

 

[steve333]

If it's a 2010 car, and it has 7 services all-in-all, then surely more than one service is missing? That would be at least 2 services, potentially 3.

I wouldn't worry too much about the effect of the missed/late services on the car from the mechanical point of view, especially if it's in good nick now, however I would be concerned that previous owner(s) potentially weren't looking after their car too well, possibly in more respects than one? E.g. Hmmm...

Wouldn't 'put me off', no, but I would look at getting a good discount (compared to other cars with similar age/mileage/condition and FSH), if for no other reason than so that if there's an unexpected expense looming at least you could tell yourself that you've saved on the buying price and won't feel too bad about it.

Hi Mark,yes 7 services in 9 years but equates to a service every 11k(car on 75k) but time wise on really the 4th service being 15 months overdue.

 

[steve333]

Depending on the age factor how do these figures tie in with MOT mileages AND PATTERN OF ANNUAL MILEAGE.

Mot history matches mileage/servicing and electronic service sheets and history printouts all present and match invoices which are present too...

 

[190]

While the car may be fine I suppose the bottom line is it doesn't have the claimed 'full service history' and should therefore not be priced quite the same as those that do. It should be a bargaining point.

 

[steve333]

While the car may be fine I suppose the bottom line is it doesn't have the claimed 'full service history' and should therefore not be priced quite the same as those that do. It should be a bargaining point.

Yes I agree-I’ve looked at many claimed full mb history cars and when you check carefully most have either had services late or at above the specified mileage.

 

[MercedesDriver]

I wouldn't worry too much if it's been in the network since and serviced regularly. It probably had a service in that period but it wasn't done by MB or MB Indy with an access to digital service history.

 

[steve333]

I wouldn't worry too much if it's been in the network since and serviced regularly. It probably had a service in that period but it wasn't done by MB or MB Indy with an access to digital service history.

I thought the same re the missing service,thanks for your reply

 

[John]

It might have been sitting for sale for a while and I've known cars be serviced when someone next buys.

I think if it is running fine now and in good condition, I would consider the missing service(s) as a point of negotiation.

If you have plenty of other options, doesn't matter if it is a no-go.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Hi Mark,yes 7 services in 9 years but equates to a service every 11k(car on 75k) but time wise on really the 4th service being 15 months overdue.

it was late by more than the annual service interval, so I was say that the service was “missed” rather than “overdue”. Three months would be overdue, fifteen months is missed.

Personally I’d be looking for another which has been maintained as per the schedule.

 

[steve333]

it was late by more than the annual service interval, so I was say that the service was “missed” rather than “overdue”. Three months would be overdue, fifteen months is missed.

Personally I’d be looking for another which has been maintained as per the schedule.

Understand exactly what you mean re missed service Bobby,my friend is test driving the car later today and will use the missing service as a bargaining tool and passes his thanks on for all the feedback/advice-I've also given him a checklist before he decides on this or any other car,thanks again,Steve.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Problem I find with seller/dealers is they see some service in a book and they say:

"Full Service History"

The seller/dealer is correct in some ways, it has full service history, the question of this being in line with manufacturers is another thing.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Problem I find with seller/dealers is they see some service in a book and they say:

"Full Service History"

The seller/dealer is correct in some ways, it has full service history, the question of this being in line with manufacturers is another thing.

Years ago I drove 400 miles to a Mercedes main dealer to view an ML63 AMG, which I was assured had full Mercedes main dealer history (same dealer) and was in spotless condition.

When I got there the car wasn’t ready despite confirming my visit the night before and when the dealership opened (I was half way there).

It had been serviced once in four years, and that was by an independent garage. The grey leather interior was filthy and damaged.

To make matters worse it wasn’t available when I got there. I suspect they were trying desperately to clean up the
Interior.

Nit a good experience.

 

[Athey]

Has the car been stored for a while? Then it wouldn’t be classed as a missed service if it was on sorn in my view