Main Dealer Or approved MB garage for servicing?? HELP!

[E55BOF]

Have you a copy of the ad? If so, exactly what did it say about the service history?

 

[markjay]

I think it all depends on what the OP paid for the car. If he paid below what a similar car with FMDSH would cost, then all is well. Ultimately, there's a buyer for every car, it's only a question of price. Come sell time, the right buyer will come along.

 

[MYE63]

Have you a copy of the ad? If so, exactly what did it say about the service history?

I check that yesterday the car shows up with pictures ECT description gone !!


I got receipts of service in the car from 2019 2020 and 2021 it seems there all from the same mercedes dealership however only 2021 on the system can I ask them to add the previous one I have the invoice with proof of payment document number what was done ECT

 

[markjay]

I check that yesterday the car shows up with pictures ECT description gone !!


I got receipts of service in the car from 2019 2020 and 2021 it seems there all from the same mercedes dealership however only 2021 on the system can I ask them to add the previous one I have the invoice with proof of payment document number what was done ECT

OK, if you have receipts for Mercedes Dealer services for 2019, 2020, and 2021, then that's a very good start

Though it's not what you originally said?

Ok all I've just got some more information

Spoke to MB today and on register it's only had 1 service last year from a non main dealer and prior to this no records of a service!!!

So I spoke to the guys I bought the car from and basically the 1st owner had the car 3 years abd hardly drove it had it as a garage queen and didn't do a service from the main dealer as he didn't even clock 2000 miles a year so he bought parts from MB and serviced it him self (he's a car collector and serviced all his cars ferrari and Porsche included)

MB said to me to bring the car up to date and to ensure everything has done spark plugs filters break fluid ect and service I've now been told it will be £1,198.00 now is it worth me starting a history with the main dealers?!

They said if I take out a service plan becuase the spark plugs break fluid and filters are things that should've been done already it will NOT be covered by the plan and I'd need to pay for it the only time it would be covered if the time of the anniversary of those parts needed changing came up while I had a service plan!

Is it still worth it ??

Plus, you should be able to take out a Service Care Plan now, as you have proof the car is all caught up.

 

[E55BOF]

OP, it looks as though you have your full Mercedes history after all. So, either the 'very highly rated dealer', or more likely the salesman concerned, didn't know it had been serviced and all that guff about the first owner doing his own servicing was a pack of lies to fob you off, or some sort of dirty deal has been done and the invoices are bogus. I can't see any other explanations.

If the latter, the mercedes dealer whose invoices they are either has to own up - vanishingly unlikely, I'd say - or the invoiced services will have to be recorded in the MB history.

I know which I think is more probable...

Go ahead with the service plan; if you do move the car on after a year or so, it will have a full Mercedes service history and the balance of the service plan, and nobody any the wiser.

 

[MYE63]

OK, if you have receipts for Mercedes Dealer services for 2019, 2020, and 2021, then that's a very good start

Though it's not what you originally said?




Plus, you should be able to take out a Service Care Plan now, as you have proof the car is all caught up.

I didn't think it had it my self I went into the glovebox took out the manual of the car or the book and it was all stuffed inside with recipes and payments

I was actually quite surprised!

 

[MYE63]

OP, it looks as though you have your full Mercedes history after all. So, either the 'very highly rated dealer', or more likely the salesman concerned, didn't know it had been serviced and all that guff about the first owner doing his own servicing was a pack of lies to fob you off, or some sort of dirty deal has been done and the invoices are bogus. I can't see any other explanations.

If the latter, the mercedes dealer whose invoices they are either has to own up - vanishingly unlikely, I'd say - or the invoiced services will have to be recorded in the MB history.

I know which I think is more probable...

Go ahead with the service plan; if you do move the car on after a year or so, it will have a full Mercedes service history and the balance of the service plan, and nobody any the wiser.

I'm still missing 2018 service though right ?

What I'm trying to get my head around is all the services done by the same dealer only 1 showing up on the system yet paper work proofs otherwise? I think something definitely not right and I'm getting to the bottom if it!!

I've email the dealer with the proof and paper work I have for the services to see what they have to say about it and also have copied in the car dealer I bought the car from not had a reply from either one giving it till Monday until i pick up the phone and start questioning them

Regarding the saleman he could potentially be right as 1 year is still missing I found a recipt for all major service parts for 2022 bough last month directly from the dealer including break disk and pads totaling just over £1,500 and I was told that it was done by a local garage however parts from MB which I can confirm I was going to do service again regardless to have the record, when I took the car for a health check MB confirmed disk and pads where new so I'm assuming it was done as they said it was.

Regarding the service it self I'm not going ahead with any of it until I can make proper heads and tail of what's gone on here


1st original owner was from Isle of man and thats where the car was serviced at MB 2019 2020 2021 BUT ONLY 2021 on records for the dealer so yea something defo not right

 

[MYE63]

I didn't think it had it my self I went into the glovebox took out the manual of the car or the book and it was all stuffed inside with recipes and payments

I was actually quite surprised!

I actually went in to check regarding gear box service and spark plugs as MB Leicester was pushing it onto me to get it done but at 16,500 miles I didn't think it needed to be done so soon ?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

You’d need to check based upon your actual car details and registration date, but the Mercedes ESS suggests that if your car was a 46-month old E 63 S then in 2022 your car should have had the following additional service items completed, on top of a B service (which is the more comprehensive of the two service tyre).

Spark plus every 46,500 miles or 3 years
Automatic transmission service 31,000 or 3 years
Rear axle service every 31,000 or 3 years
Air filter every 31,000 or 3 years
Brake fluid every 2 yeras
Dust filter every 15,500 miles or 2 years

Is that the missing service? If it is then that’s a big one.

On face value the comments about being part of a collection and serviced by the collector itself sounds a little fishy to me, but especially now that you’ve found some paperwork.

 

[E55BOF]

I'm still missing 2018 service though right ?

I'd assumed the car was 2018 reg, so the 2019 service was the first one due. If it wasn't, the plot thickens... I can't see that a first owner would pay through the nose to buy the car new, but penny-pinch and miss the first service, though. Possible, but unlikely; you may not get to the bottom of it. Does the registration doc state one previous owner? Could the car have been a cancelled order, and the original selling dealer kept it for quite a while before selling it?

I'd do an online vehicle history check with either Cazana or TotalCarCheck; it costs buttons, and they'll give you date of registration and all the ownership changes since then.

You're now still a lot closer to where you want to be, though.

 

[MYE63]

You’d need to check based upon your actual car details and registration date, but the Mercedes ESS suggests that if your car was a 46-month old E 63 S then in 2022 your car should have had the following additional service items completed, on top of a B service (which is the more comprehensive of the two service tyre).

Spark plus every 46,500 miles or 3 years
Automatic transmission service 31,000 or 3 years
Rear axle service every 31,000 or 3 years
Air filter every 31,000 or 3 years
Brake fluid every 2 yeras
Dust filter every 15,500 miles or 2 years

Is that the missing service? If it is then that’s a big one.

On face value the comments about being part of a collection and serviced by the collector itself sounds a little fishy to me, but especially now that you’ve found some paperwork

I've asked for all the service invoices for ones that I have payment for and see what comes up.

But yea it looks like it is a big service if those items haven't been done in previous services!

Appreciate the advise and feedback

 

[MYE63]

I'd assumed the car was 2018 reg, so the 2019 service was the first one due. If it wasn't, the plot thickens... I can't see that a first owner would pay through the nose to buy the car new, but penny-pinch and miss the first service, though. Possible, but unlikely; you may not get to the bottom of it. Does the registration doc state one previous owner? Could the car have been a cancelled order, and the original selling dealer kept it for quite a while before selling it?

I'd do an online vehicle history check with either Cazana or TotalCarCheck; it costs buttons, and they'll give you date of registration and all the ownership changes since then.

You're now still a lot closer to where you want to be, though.

I definitely will look into that ASAP!

I wouldn't have expected this specially buying for a "trusted dealer" as they like like put it and spending alot to purchase the car!

Guess my fault for not doing the due diligence and just trusting on everything that was told !

Like mentioned above maybe not all doom and gloom and hopefully some sort of light at the end of the tunnel !

 

[ToeKnee]

Who is the "trusted dealer" you bought the car off?

 

[E55BOF]

On face value the comments about being part of a collection and serviced by the collector itself sounds a little fishy to me is a pack of lies, but especially now that you’ve found some paperwork that shows it's a pack of lies.

Fixed that for you...

 

[markjay]

Fixed that for you...

I'd agree that - in all liklihood - the 'collector' story was just creative salesmanship on the sales person part. It's probably not much different to salespeople telling you that a car previously registered to Mercedes Benz finance was 'driven by a senior MB executive'

 

[markjay]

I would try and check with the dealer who did services 2, 3, and 4 - perhpas they have also carried out service 1, but the receipt was lost? Who know, you may be on a lucky streak here!

 

[sgregory124]

There is a very good independent MB place in Nottingham. Can't remember the address but its just after the bridge over the river near the MB commercial dealer. The only reason why my car is still serviced by MB is that my local dealer is "only" a service point (that actually specialises in Commercial vehicle/vans but do cars). You don't get coffee or flashy premises, but then I don't get the 50% higher bill charged by the flashy main dealer group in town! For a humble 220d then no issues, but I suspect for the E63 it might be perceived as a false economy to take it outside of the MB network (if you can afford an E63 then you should be able to afford to maintian it might be the arguement?) [not suggesting this is you but a more general observation from the next buyer unless you intedn to keep it 20 years!]

Is it MB Nottingham? They are on Lenton Lane. Have to say they are superb, very trustworthy and do a top job. I've used them for a couple of years for ancillary work and have been very impressed - will be using them for everything after my final service plan service in February '23.

 

[Headhurts]

Personally I use main dealer for servicing, most of my cars have been under warranty the exception being the S350 which I purchased new in 2016, I did look at taking it to a specialist once the 3 years manufacturers warranty was finished but the cost differential was not enough to make it worthwhile.

All my servicing has been done by Mercedes in Norwich and I have not been disappointed by the service given.

As I’m in my 70’s I quite like to be able to wait whilst the car is serviced, I can sit in a nice environment drink their coffee or tea and read a paper or watch TV.

If for any reason the car has to be with the dealership all day they will supply me with a loan car free of charge.

If I was to buy a car privately I would personally look for a full service record by main dealers.

There are many great Mercedes specialists some who contribute to this forum but you would have to know them by name otherwise a purchaser would have no idea how good they are.

All the Mercedes dealerships in Norfolk are owned by the same company and they have fixed pricing but the last service I had they gave me a £70 ish discount which brought their pricing not far off the specialists In our area.

On one of the services it was pointed out that my shock absorber was leaking and needed replacing, as the car was very low mileage they suggested just the leaking one was replaced this was after liaising with Mercedes who agreed with their thoughts on this on top of that the dealership managed to negotiate a 30% contribution from the manufacturer.

Main dealers get a pretty bad rating on some forums but that’s not been my experience in fact quite the opposite, in comparison to a specialist the amount of work they do is vast and of course they will screw up occasionally.

These are just my experiences of course.

Robin

 

[Smiley]

I bought it of a very highly rated dealer who sold the car on behalf of the private individual due to the price of the car I wouldn't have ever gone and paid that kind of money upfront to a private seller

The dealers are very well known dealers and didn't think twice about not trusting them to be honest

One that is also full of BS by the sounds of it; what a surprise. Did they also tell you that the previous owner was a doctor or a vicar?
At least you seem to have come out of the experience unscathed and lessons learned for next time.
1. Car dealers will pretty much universally tell you what you want to hear; if it is not written down it is a good chance it is bo**ox.
2. It is always worth keeping a copy of the ad for the car even after you have bought it because it includes representations made by the seller.
3. Service history is easy to check - but rather than you running around checking make the seller get it - in writing - and present it to you as part of the agreement to buy the car. If it subsequently turns out not to be correct for whatever reason then it becomes the seller's problem - not your's.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Something to consider here:

1. If an independent specialist is carrying services in accordance with manufacturer stipulations, using genuine parts, and filling out the Digital Service Record. Then the manufacturers warranty is not affected. We often carry out the first services on brand new MB's, without affecting the factory warranty.
2. I have had many service quotes from MB, that have items that don't need doing, if you compare the ESS printout to the DSB history
3. We often work with the local MB dealer to facilitate "warranty" claims (subframe replacements etc)