So the S203 (10 years old, 75k miles) was due for an A service. M-B Ascot is about a mile away but the cheapest option there (drop & go) was £320. M-B Guildford is further away but it was only £250 there; a £70 saving is worth a bit of inconvenience so I booked it in.
First surprise was a phone call from the service team leader at Guildford who said that as he lives about 100 yds from us he would pick it up and deliver it back FOC!
Next came a phone call to say they'd found a couple of things they suggested needed doing, and if I wanted to go ahead to call them back after watching the 'StarView' video they'd just emailed (this was new to me). The video covered the initial inspection with the car on the ramp, and showed in detail the perished rear brake flexi-hoses and castor control arm bushes. There was also a rusting hanger on the exhaust system ... they advised this was OK for now but said if it caused a problem in future they would fabricate a new one and weld it on rather than replacing that section of the exhaust!
I called back and authorised the fixes on the brakes and suspension, then later in the afternoon received another video showing the new parts fitted followed by a phone call to arrange payment for this (£280 ... slightly lower than the original quote). The car was then delivered back this evening washed and valeted.
I've used M-B Guildford for nearly 13 years with the SL and they've been consistently good with that; nice to get the same treatment with the C Class.
First surprise was a phone call from the service team leader at Guildford who said that as he lives about 100 yds from us he would pick it up and deliver it back FOC!
Next came a phone call to say they'd found a couple of things they suggested needed doing, and if I wanted to go ahead to call them back after watching the 'StarView' video they'd just emailed (this was new to me). The video covered the initial inspection with the car on the ramp, and showed in detail the perished rear brake flexi-hoses and castor control arm bushes. There was also a rusting hanger on the exhaust system ... they advised this was OK for now but said if it caused a problem in future they would fabricate a new one and weld it on rather than replacing that section of the exhaust!
I called back and authorised the fixes on the brakes and suspension, then later in the afternoon received another video showing the new parts fitted followed by a phone call to arrange payment for this (£280 ... slightly lower than the original quote). The car was then delivered back this evening washed and valeted.
I've used M-B Guildford for nearly 13 years with the SL and they've been consistently good with that; nice to get the same treatment with the C Class.