MB Remote Key Batteries/Screenwash Rip Off !!!

[travelininstyle]

Took my car to MB Harrogate dealership for its 'B' service and despite earlier in another thread commending them - I reserve the right to retract the endorsement.
I supplied my own oil for the service,but was charged nearly £6.00 for two replacement key fob batteries (as per the service schedule handbook) and the usual rip off of screen wash charge - even when the wash bottle is full to bursting - one of my pet hates with all garages !!!! - what has added insult to injury this time is that two weeks after the service,I nearly got locked out of the car as the batteries were plainly spent ! - eventually I managed to get into my car after several attempt,without having to resort to the manual key.
I always carry a spare set of batteries in the glove compartment,so when I got home I changed them straight away - no problems,what a difference.The point I am making here is,that unless you mark the old batteries with a marker pen when they go in,how do you know they even bother to change them ? - its just one of those garage rip offs that gets my goat - I have let this one go over my head,as I already had the bill knocked down by £28.00 - but guess what - next year,I will be not only providing my own oil,but batteries and possibly screen wash to - what do the members of this forum think ?

Alex

 

[wongl]

I simply tell the dealership not to change the batteries as I usually change them before the service.

 

[franey]

I can never work out when you buy a McDonalds Big Tasty 'medium' meal and opt for a small bottle of milk instead of a coffee or Coke they do not refund the difference.
Menu pricing.

No flexibility.

Ideally when you take your car to the dealer you should be offered a sheet of all the work they intend to do and a box next to each item where you have the option to 'tick if not required' therefore reducing the final bill.

That way everybody is happy and you don't feel as ripped off as in the case of the screenwash.

 

[Smiley]

After you have bought the oil, batteries and screenwash just add the filters, plugs, etc etc and then get a decent indy to do it or do it yourself - much less aggro than main dealers.

 

[corned]

In the case of screenwash, I believe the service sheet states that the mechanic should place any unused remainder with the customer for his onward use. I do not believe it states "charge the customer anyway but keep the bottle on the stores shelf".

When I had Jaguars in the past, following a service I always found a half-used bottle of Jaguar screenwash in the boot tidy, plus the little bottle of Jaguar screen polish. They were in the service kit, so got passed on to the customer because he had paid for it.

 

[flango]

Just change dealer next year?

 

[MD5]

Another one is 'faded' indicator bulbs. I took my 129 SL to the Main Dealer for the first 3 years of ownership, and they replaced the front bulbs on the first service, saying the colour had faded and it was fiddly job, so I'd agreed. They tried exactly the same thing the following year, so I took them to task, and was then told it was only advisory.

As for knowledge of older cars, I took my 124 cab to the same dealership for its MOT a couple of days ago, and asked the service receptionist what was involved in adjusting the gearbox for slippage. He said they would carry out a Star diagnostic check to see what fault codes came up. On a '94 124 gearbox?

 

[cayotcas]

hello i am new to forums and cannot seem to reply to your ad re the wheel caps for sale ,if you still have them can i buy them please i appreciate you are away from tomorrow i would send you a postal order and would really appreciate it if they could be sent asap not sure whether you can as i note you are away but you mention your wife could post if needed?
many thanks david

 

[Shude]

Another one is 'faded' indicator bulbs. I took my 129 SL to the Main Dealer for the first 3 years of ownership, and they replaced the front bulbs on the first service, saying the colour had faded and it was fiddly job, so I'd agreed. They tried exactly the same thing the following year, so I took them to task, and was then told it was only advisory.

They tried that on me too but I swapped them myself (one of them - a cheapie was peeling a bit), they wanted about half an hour labour for it IIRC!

 

[SG CL500]

They tried that on me too but I swapped them myself (one of them - a cheapie was peeling a bit), they wanted about half an hour labour for it IIRC!

Must be coming commonplace - had that one tried too - "virtually completely faded, no yellow left at all" - so I put the hazards on and asked him to point out which corner was showing white.

 

[petermansell]

This is why I now make a 100 mile round trip to Horndean - to get service at a fair price from people I can trust! This is despite having a MB dealer about 500 metres from where I live.

 

[Rory]

Took my car to MB Harrogate dealership for its 'B' service and despite earlier in another thread commending them - I reserve the right to retract the endorsement.
I supplied my own oil for the service,but was charged nearly £6.00 for two replacement key fob batteries (as per the service schedule handbook) and the usual rip off of screen wash charge - even when the wash bottle is full to bursting - one of my pet hates with all garages !!!! -

I think the way (all) garages present their bills doesn't help here.

You call up and get a price for a B service which you may not be thrilled about but you agree to.

Then they present a bill which itemises out every item and you feel sick about it, yet the total will be the same (ish - in my experience it's rarely exactly the same) as you were quoted.

If the bill just said "B service £xxx" (as per quote) then you'd be happy!


I was bemused by the battery change on my keys. They said it gets done, so I asked what about the other key, and the girl seemed stunned, as if no-one had ever asked her about the spare key before! She asked someone and they said they leave a battery on the seat. Hmm...OK.

 

[Dryce]

Then they present a bill which itemises out every item and you feel sick about it, yet the total will be the same (ish - in my experience it's rarely exactly the same) as you were quoted.

If the bill just said "B service £xxx" (as per quote) then you'd be happy!

It's got to be a no win either way. Customer sees detail they question the individual costs. They get no detail and they question what was actually done given the cost.

 

[st4]

It's got to be a no win either way. Customer sees detail they question the individual costs. They get no detail and they question what was actually done given the cost.

I prefer the way MB does it and show the costs. Most indies do it too.

 

[Adam230K]

This is why I now make a 100 mile round trip to Horndean - to get service at a fair price from people I can trust! This is despite having a MB dealer about 500 metres from where I live.

I do exactly that, at least that way i can stand and watch my car being serviced and Olly/Jack will point out what needs doing without trying to rob me blind.

Dealers are thieving pikeys.

 

[remigius]

I've been told MB replace the key in the fob that's being used at every service, so make sure you send the car in with alterate keys every other service.

 

[LTD]

I wonder what their approach to cars equipped with Keyless Go regarding the fob batteries would be ............

 

[andy_k]

Dealers are thieving etc.......

offensive crap that is likely to annoy the dealers who do actually do their best to help out the membership here

May I suggest an edit/retraction?

 

[A170 Blue]

offensive crap that is likely to annoy the dealers who do actually do their best to help out the membership here

May I suggest an edit/retraction?

Totally agree..............There are some very good dealers out there!

 

[cheffy]

cheffy

I can agree with Alex on this one, I had service B done around April, I had just filled up washer bottle a couple of days prior to service and had had to change 1 key fob battery, only a few weeks earlier, but I was still charged for both when I got itemised bill for servive, I did not complain as I had an agreed price of £350 for B service + brake fluid change (normally 50 quid - I think) as you are all no doubt aware, it pays to phone around for prices, eg, my original price at my local MB dealer was around £450 + £50 for brake fluid change, I then called MB of Perth & Glasgow, and they were both around £100 cheaper, ie - £350 for service + I think it was £40 for brake fluid, I then called local one back to ask why they were £100 more than Perth/Glasgow, after a wee discussion, I was told, "OK we will do the service + brake fluid for £350 (inc vat), I said ok, booked the car in for a week or so later, but when I went to collect it, I was given this itemised bill for nearly £550 ! luckily I had my original price confirmed to me by email, which I printed off and had with me, this caused a real hoo-ha, no point me going on any more, but I did only pay the £350, luckily I didnt need plugs (12 of) as they are around £9 each ! My main gripe is, why are all these things extra, oil, washer fluid, filters etc,and not in the price quoted ? Gripe over !!! ps, didnt know you could take your own oil.