MB Servicing Berkshire / Surrey area

[BaldGuy]

I'd use Ollie's team at PCS, great bunch of guys/gals who actually care for the cars they work on and know what they are doing, also have all the up to date dealer diags and equipment.

I echo Alp's comments - I live in Wokingham Berkshire and have used Ollie and his team at PCS in Horndean for around 12 years, just over an hours trip each way but always worth it IMO...

 

[Will]

I don’t think anyone would’ve regret the drive to PCS, well worth it for the service and value

 

[malluboy77]

It's ironic, isn't it? One might think it would be worth keeping the service within the dealership to keep the record intact. But to what avail if you end up with a premature advisory note which might devalue your car when you come to sell?

Yup..don't need that one.

 

[Gnominateur]

Yup..don't need that one.

What kind of advisories? The only gripe I have with main dealers is that they all seem too aggressive in complaining about tyre tread. I drive into one with two rear tyres that are barely a month old and 300 miles driven and car comes out with the service booklet reporting tyre tread depth as 5mm!. I never take their advice on tyres anymore, I go to a specialist tyre shop.

 

[malluboy77]

What kind of advisories? The only gripe I have with main dealers is that they all seem too aggressive in complaining about tyre tread. I drive into one with two rear tyres that are barely a month old and 300 miles driven and car comes out with the service booklet reporting tyre tread depth as 5mm!. I never take their advice on tyres anymore, I go to a specialist tyre shop.

Brake line corrosion

 

[markjay]

I was very pleased with the service from Olly at PCS, he was looking after my W203 at the time.

With regards dealers, as per my previous post, I used Brooklands for 5 years, and not once did they suggest that anything needed doing (tyres or otherwise) during the annual service.

 

[markjay]

It's ironic, isn't it? One might think it would be worth keeping the service within the dealership to keep the record intact. But to what avail if you end up with a premature advisory note which might devalue your car when you come to sell?

There are no 'advisory notes' on the Digital Service Book, so no one will know what the dealer told you needed doing (rightly or wrongly).

With regards MOT, yes advisories are a bummer, but that's just pot luck, in this respect MB dealers are no better or worse than any other MOT testing station.

My Suzuki had flawless MOT history, and this is what the Suzuki dealer did to it during the last MOT:

That unbelievably stupid... I complained to the service manager to no avail, I even called the DVLA who said that since the car passed there's nothing they can do, and the MOT testers have the right to put anything they want in the 'advisory notes' section.

 

[Will]

There are no 'advisory notes' on the Digital Service Book, so no one will know what the dealer told you needed doing (rightly or wrongly).

With regards MOT, yes advisories are a bummer, but that's just pot luck, in this respect MB dealers are no better or worse than any other MOT testing station.

My Suzuki had flawless MOT history, and this is what the Suzuki dealer did to it during the last MOT:

That unbelievably stupid... I complained to the service manager to no avail, I even called the DVLA who said that since the car passed there's nothing they can do, and the MOT testers have the right to put anything they want in the 'advisory notes' section.

I declined brake replacement on one of mine a while back when in for service and MOT (fronts were getting there but had a few thousand miles left - I have the parts ready to fit when needed - and the rears were only recently replaced). I had fitted 3x new wiper blades (genuine MB parts) the night before the service too.

Upon collection, was presented with MOT with four advisories for the brakes (a separate one for each corner). I’d already had a phone call advising me I needed new wipers too which was interesting!

Not on the DSB but it’s irritating to have stuff like this on the history, on what is a perfectly maintained car.

 

[KWER]

Has anyone had any recent experience of servicing their AMG (c63s) at either MB Ascot, Slough or High Wycombe? Looking at a decent dealer and reasonable price in the Berkshire/Surrey area.

There is of course MB Brooklands too, however they seem very expensive.

Grateful for any recommendations.

I had awesome service at MB Guildford recently The polar opposite to that at Brooklands yesterday when I went in to inquire about a part. Rather rude and dismissive I felt

 

[C63PP]

I'm booked in for an oil and filter change at AutoMerc in Newbury in a fortnight's time, glowing reviews and they apparently know AMG very well and can update the online Mercedes Service book thing which is handy, plus they only use OEM bits. Extremely well priced and also throw in a complementary courtesy car too, depending on my upcoming experience I will seriously consider taking the C63 there for its B service due in August. Full MB history it's whole life but the cheaper servicing is a serious draw

Hi... I'm about to be looking for someone locally to look after my W204 C63 so very interested in your experience at AutoMerc... would you recommend them for specialist work?

 

[TTManUK]

I had awesome service at MB Guildford recently The polar opposite to that at Brooklands yesterday when I went in to inquire about a part. Rather rude and dismissive I felt

Guildford is part of Sandown Group, I had similarly good service at Farnborough and Basingstoke. Their dealerships give discounted labour and parts rates on older cars too, for a dinosaur like my C63 its 40% off

 

[Doodle]

Guildford is part of Sandown Group, I had similarly good service at Farnborough and Basingstoke.

They also bought Newbury from Sytners a couple of years back.

 

[Fastcar155]

There are no 'advisory notes' on the Digital Service Book, so no one will know what the dealer told you needed doing (rightly or wrongly).

With regards MOT, yes advisories are a bummer, but that's just pot luck, in this respect MB dealers are no better or worse than any other MOT testing station.

My Suzuki had flawless MOT history, and this is what the Suzuki dealer did to it during the last MOT:

That unbelievably stupid... I complained to the service manager to no avail, I even called the DVLA who said that since the car passed there's nothing they can do, and the MOT testers have the right to put anything they want in the 'advisory notes' section.

Hi , totally agree with your comments , advisories can be said to be a badly looked after car.

However , many years ago a friend of mine was a mot tester who worked for a main dealer. Car came in for a MOT with an elderly lady driver , he picked up three minor faults and repaired them. ( 5 minute job in total )

Unfortunately this car was similar to the secret shopper and was a test car placed by the Ministry of Transport.

He was given a real telling off ( boll**king ) , garage was threatened in lossing the MOT status.

From that day forward every car was tested to the book , and I mean to the book.

It unbelievable why a car could fail an MOT test , his favourite that is was dirty inside , was not even tested but car owner had to pay the test fee.

The only car that passed the MOT was his , ( don't think that an MOT tester can inspect his car now )

He retired from the spanners when he was 40 because he was a first class mechanic and became totally sick and tired of the motor trade.

He worked as a stores manager for a few years before finally retiring.

Ferrari came knocking and was not interested.