Main Dealer & Indy's in Berkshire & Surrounding Area

[Xstyle]

Hi guys,

I have just bought a C220 Sport CDI Auto, 55 Reg
Needs a Service A, so after reading some posts and feedback on this great site, I have come up with the following, and thought I'd share my results, and see if anyone has any input:
(and for my own records for future reference!)

After poor experience from Greenoaks, Slough, my car will NOT be going back there!
See here:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=714073#post714073
Greenoaks quoted £331.78 inc vat for the Service A, inc oil & all filters. Also told me that my gearbox oil does not need changing at all, ever as it's a different model.


ProTech (Newbury) - Indy
01635 299811
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=18819&highlight=berks
Good chat with Darren, seems very knowledgeable.
Basic service from £150 to £200 for oil change. Brake fluid and fuel filter are a little extra, but not a lot at all (i.e ff is £12). A gearbox service is due at 37,500 miles, so would do now, and costs c. £150.
Use Mobil 1 oil ... so £350 to £400 as a total price.


John Griffiths (Reading) - Indy
01189 482 953
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1620&page=2&highlight=reading
£180 for oil change, and they use Castrol Magnatec.
£250 for oil and all filters.


Star Motors (Reading) - Indy
0118 946 2750
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=61560
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=47898&highlight=reading
£120 for just labour
£200-£250 inc parts & vat.
The gearbox oil doesn't need changing til about 54k miles...


Tony Purslow (Basingstoke) - Main Dealer
01256 464 050
Said they would call me back after 4/5 hours after they have printed off the spec-sheet and determined what the car is likely to need...
Guildoford branch later said that Basingstoke should match their price offered anyway.


Tony Purslow (Guildford) - Main Dealer
01483 654 000
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=714059#post714059
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=29511&highlight=reading
£220 service A, inc oil and all filters. Discounted rate as car is just over 3 years old. Checked the chasis number and cars from R173+ all do require a gearbox oil change, so mine does. Extra cost of this is £206 (normally £270)
= £446, plus anything else that would need doing.

Question is ... do I change my gearbox oil now, or at the next service?

I am also likely to use my own oil, of Mobil 1 0-40, so that should bring the price down a bit (I have spare bottles of it at home that I use for my BMW 320D)


I think it makes sense for me to take my car to Tony Purslow in Guildord.
And as the car is fairly new, will retain the FMBSH. (It is twice the distance if I go to Guildford rather than Basingtoke though).


Any comments?

Cheers,
Xstyle

 

[A-AvantGarde]

I've been using Tony Purslow Basingstoke for a number of years and they're excellent. Only ever been into the showroom at Guildford, not tried the service so can't comment.

I wouldn't have any reservations about usng Tony Purslow Basingstoke.

As for Greenoaks (now Mercedes of Slough), I actually had my last service & MOT carried out there on our W203 and was m,ore than happy with the service I received. They were happy for me to supply my own oil and also undercut the best price I had (Tony Purslow Basingstoke) and now that I don't work in Basingstoke was also far more convenient.

I know that Greenoaks have had a poor write up in the past (I've also had a poor experience with them with a mobilio call about 6 years ago). I genuinely feel that things may have improved there, they took the effort to look into what my car needed (as did Tony Purslow). When I called Hughes (Mercedes of Beaconsfield) and the Service only centre that is Mercedes Heathrow they both gave very vague responses - B service circa £450+ whatever else may need doing.

 

[Xstyle]

As for Greenoaks (now Mercedes of Slough), ...

Appreciate that, but the thing about the MOT situation and then the brakes needing changing and the one tyre.... doesn't fill me with confidence! Read below:

From: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=714073#post714073

Yes, they (Greenoaks, Slough) won the MBclub award for Worst Dealer .......

Flash was keen to go and present them with their award but it was veto'd in case it caused a row .....

Saying that, others have had good experiences there, but it seems to be the exception rather than the rule ...

LOL doesn't surprise me!!
I have just bought a Merc, C220 Sport 55 reg... it had its MOT done in late November 08, and then the brake comes on in early January! When the car went in for a change all round, they said one of the tyres was dangerously low!

How the hell did they pass the MOT!!!!

And now I have bought the car (it was on lease before), it now requires a service A. You can bet your bottom dollar that the car is NOT going back to Greenoaks in Slough!!

...and Tony Purslow Basingstoke haven't bothered to call me back like they promised... so I think I will go to Guildford.

 

[Deadhead]

Hi guys,

Question is ... do I change my gearbox oil now, or at the next service?

For a while MB described these gearboxes as "Filled for Life" [I used to put "Sealed for Life" until Dieselman corrected me] but I believe this lead to "Life" not being as long as it used to be. Now I understand that gearbox oil changes are recommended every 60,000 km - ie 37,500 miles.

 

[Ian_C]

Very useful, I was just about to ask if anyone had compared dealers in our area.
Many many thanks, Xstyle I will read about your dealer experience with interest.

I would suggest changing the gearbox oil now, just for the peice of mind. I changed mine on the E55 as soon as I got it, and it certainly removed one worry from my mind.

Cheers ian

 

[jonnyboy]

i'd probably do the box too.

greenoaks quoted me £1800+vat for a b service on the s430 to include plugs/coolant/brake fluid/gearbox/charcoal filter. Wouldnt tell me labour element as its "menu pricing"

Star in Reading (Mike) did it all for £649 inc VAT, I did the charcoal myself as its a doddle (Greenoaks reckoned it was "awkward"). Mike refused to do brake fluid as G/oaks had done it two years ago, and coolant as not necessary. I supplied the plugs at around £100+vat

reasonably impressed with Star, they did it in a hurry too. Had the wheels off the other day and Star HAD changed all brake pads, copaslipped the backs, and a touch on the wheel nuts, all the things i like to see

 

[neilrr]

I've never used them but there's also:

Osborne Mercedes Specialist
St. Marks Road
St. Marks Business Centre
Maidenhead
Berkshire SL6 6DP

01628 638000

 

[neilrr]

i'd probably do the box too.

greenoaks quoted me £1800+vat for a b service on the s430 to include plugs/coolant/brake fluid/gearbox/charcoal filter. Wouldnt tell me labour element as its "menu pricing"

Jesus! That's terrible. Anytime I go to Greenoaks Reading for parts the service bays seem very quiet to me. At that kind of p1ss-take rates it's no wonder.

 

[BaldGuy]

Who not use Ollie at PCS... I travel there and he's not local for me but its A1 service... Loads of posts on here

 

[maddog]

I have used Tony Purslows in Basingstoke of late and been very disappointed, last two services the oil level was very low despite being charged for the correct amount

When the goodwill rust repairs were done they missed off one wing - had to take it back

I paid to have the bonnet resprayed at the same time - within 1 year it had started to rust (was fine before) - had to take it back

When they finally finished the bodywork my engine was covered in overspray - had to take it back

The boot lock area was treated under goodwill and also within a year had rusted again - had to take it back

I've spent weeks without my car in the last 2 years because of their inability to do the job properly the first time, ive given them the benefit of the doubt a few times but i'll never go back there again

Dont get me started on Newbury there are diabolical

M.E.R.C in Woolhampton messed me around for days just trying to get a minor job done on my car

Ollie at PCS however is excellent , well recomeded just too far away

 

[Howard]

I'll add to Baldguys post .

I live in SW London , and Olly does my car. it's worth the extra mileage , honestly.

 

[Xstyle]

Very useful, I was just about to ask if anyone had compared dealers in our area.
Many many thanks, Xstyle I will read about your dealer experience with interest.

I would suggest changing the gearbox oil now, just for the peice of mind. I changed mine on the E55 as soon as I got it, and it certainly removed one worry from my mind.

Cheers ian

As I want to retain my full MB service history for now, the car has been booked into Tony Purslow Guiildford. 16th Feb is the day!

Will let you know how I get on in this thread. Will be using my own oil, Mobil 1 0-40 (and that is what this dealership recommends too).

Service A and the gearbox transmission oil change.

 

[jonnyboy]

You could, of course, only do the "service history" items at Purslow, and use an indi for anything else not included in the hallowed "full service history". Then again, I keep hearing lately that manufacturers warranties are not invalidated by using an indi as long as manufacturers specifications and parts are used, indeed, maybe this is now the case as seveal "MB Approved" cars sold on md forecourts now have part specialist history, yet sold as FSH. Confusing.... ?

 

[mikebro]

I have used Star Motors too, for about 4 years and have always been very very impressed and happy with both their work and prices.
On one occasion I had cause to ask them for some help with an urgent problem , which they fixxed immediately for me with no prior notice.
Great guy's and I can and would thoroughly reccomend them.
Mike

i'd probably do the box too.

greenoaks quoted me £1800+vat for a b service on the s430 to include plugs/coolant/brake fluid/gearbox/charcoal filter. Wouldnt tell me labour element as its "menu pricing"

Star in Reading (Mike) did it all for £649 inc VAT, I did the charcoal myself as its a doddle (Greenoaks reckoned it was "awkward"). Mike refused to do brake fluid as G/oaks had done it two years ago, and coolant as not necessary. I supplied the plugs at around £100+vat

reasonably impressed with Star, they did it in a hurry too. Had the wheels off the other day and Star HAD changed all brake pads, copaslipped the backs, and a touch on the wheel nuts, all the things i like to see

 

[Ian B Walker]

For anyone in the South of England it has to be Ollie. Makes sense don't it?

 

[BlackC55]

Thanks all for the recomendations.

 

[spanner]

I wonder why Colin Ferns doesn't get a mention here?
I've used him for years and always found him very straight.