MB servicing - sky high prices but nothing new

[Teego]

I’m in a similar position regarding what to do for the upcoming service on mine in a month or so.
E400D 2019 (69 plate ) 22k on it , doing about 4k a year. Up until now it’s had main dealership servicing annually but I’m swithering about main dealer or indie this year.
No plans to sell the car as I usually buy new / ex demo and keep them until the wheels are about to fall off.
Decisions decisions……

FWIW … also have a 2016 Mini Countryman 2.0 diesel from new, currently had its last main dealership service about 6 years ago , 115k on it , all it gets is an oil and filter service at an indie every year and the Mot lets me know what else it needs.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. An oil change and MoT exceeds the B service requirements. RAC personal cover is great.

 

[MSG2004]

I almost 100% decided to go for oil and oil filter change around Nov/Dec and I agree re "mot check."
I may go with the AA as they appear to fix more cars on the spot but I will consider the rAC and one other, the name of which escapes me but its all in the link I posted on this thread, IE, Which magazine top ten 'breakdown recovery.'

I also posted that just across the river my car's B service was just over 200 cheaper as the place belongs to another company. However, they are about 5 quid more expensive when I last looked about a week ago and that is a first as they always been miles cheaper. (Dartford Vs Lakeside MB)

As I've only driven the car less than 2k miles since last service in Oct - I may wait until late Nov, early Dec for oil/filter change. Previously the car had a FSHMB, on time history. I'll get the fuel filter, carbon filter and another filter changed sometime next year. The cars done less than 4k in two years. We went to Eastbourne for a couple of days - 2hrs 20/25 mins both ways 67 miles, but manged to get the car hot and drive over 50 around 60/70 for a good time. We are hoping to go to Bournemouth, subject to weather on Sunday. monday for a few days a 320 mile round trip, should clear out dpf etc.

Re services, most items are checks and I agree with those that compare the checks to mot's. I do try to keep my car 100% spot on

 

[Skd884]

I almost 100% decided to go for oil and oil filter change around Nov/Dec and I agree re "mot check."
I may go with the AA as they appear to fix more cars on the spot but I will consider the rAC and one other, the name of which escapes me but its all in the link I posted on this thread, IE, Which magazine top ten 'breakdown recovery.'

I also posted that just across the river my car's B service was just over 200 cheaper as the place belongs to another company. However, they are about 5 quid more expensive when I last looked about a week ago and that is a first as they always been miles cheaper. (Dartford Vs Lakeside MB)

As I've only driven the car less than 2k miles since last service in Oct - I may wait until late Nov, early Dec for oil/filter change. Previously the car had a FSHMB, on time history. I'll get the fuel filter, carbon filter and another filter changed sometime next year. The cars done less than 4k in two years. We went to Eastbourne for a couple of days - 2hrs 20/25 mins both ways 67 miles, but manged to get the car hot and drive over 50 around 60/70 for a good time. We are hoping to go to Bournemouth, subject to weather on Sunday. monday for a few days a 320 mile round trip, should clear out dpf etc.

Re services, most items are checks and I agree with those that compare the checks to mot's. I do try to keep my car 100% spot on

Check the £ at Mb Southend

Get LS to match it.

 

[MSG2004]

Check the £ at Mb Southend

Get LS to match it.

Thanks - Just over 200 quid cheaper but 760 is still a lot. As the car has been had a mass of servicing already and hardly any miles, I feel I should go for just the oil/filter changed and then RAC/AA or possibly one other once I've fully compared the three.
Thanks.

 

[Fastcar155]

so is that is why some car dealers use the MOT as part of the service history.

 

[gassygassy]

I changed the ATF on my Sprinter at 16,000 miles. I read on here someone was quoted I think £480 at their MB dealer for the job. Buying genuine MB parts - ATF, filter and gasket cost me £103, but the guy sold me twice as much ATF as it would take so in reality ut used £73 worth of parts. Now I have a spare unopened 5litre can of Genuine MB ATF going for £30 if anyone wants to come and collect it . . . .
Interestingly as you probably know, Ford reckon all their gearboxes and diffs are 'lubricated for life' but they forget to tell you that if you do that the life will be 70,000 miles. It is as logical as saying a baby is fed for life when it is born. I read in the owners manual (I think) that the recommendation for Sprinter Auto gearboxes is to change the ATF at 15,000 miles and then again at 65,000 mile intervals. In my opinion examining the oil that came out at 16,000 miles, it is a prudent thing to do, as there was a very fine layer of grey 'sludge' though that is putting it very strongly on the inside of the sump. I wiped it off with blue towel paper. Anyway now I drive along with a shiny sump inside and all is well. It doesn't need any special tools, just a (I think) 11mm socket and your soon-to-be-an-ex washing up bowl. Of course you have to present your nearest and dearest with a shiny new one, so that bumps up the price by about £3.50.

 

[wongl]

I changed the ATF on my Sprinter at 16,000 miles. I read on here someone was quoted I think £480 at their MB dealer for the job. Buying genuine MB parts - ATF, filter and gasket cost me £103, but the guy sold me twice as much ATF as it would take so in reality ut used £73 worth of parts. Now I have a spare unopened

It is worth mentioning that on some MB models, the AFT requires a special tool to drain and to refill. The tool is not expensive to buy, but requires pre-planning as I don't think you can pickup the tool at your local halfords and I don't think MB stocks this tool.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

It is worth mentioning that on some MB models, the AFT requires a special tool to drain and to refill. The tool is not expensive to buy, but requires pre-planning as I don't think you can pickup the tool at your local halfords and I don't think MB stocks this tool.

Where would one buy this tool then ?

 

[wongl]

Where would one buy this tool then ?

You can try eBay.

 

[zedmeister]

So I'm in a similar situation with my 2019 w205. It's got full mb history. Service contract just ran out and the next service will be in March. It had service A and gearbox done last time. Should I go indie or get another service contract for 2 services at about £48p/m?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

So I'm in a similar situation with my 2019 w205. It's got full mb history. Service contract just ran out and the next service will be in March. It had service A and gearbox done last time. Should I go indie or get another service contract for 2 services at about £48p/m?

It depends upon which age/mileage related additional items are due in your next two services. Take a look at your service book to find the frequency or use the Mercedes ESS.

You can access ESS using the link below however it’s currently down for maintenance. I suspect it may not come back up.

Mercedes-Benz | ESS

 

[OneForTheRoad]

So I'm in a similar situation with my 2019 w205. It's got full mb history. Service contract just ran out and the next service will be in March. It had service A and gearbox done last time. Should I go indie or get another service contract for 2 services at about £48p/m?

I'm doing my own once mine runs out.

 

[fabes]

It's actually not (just) the cost that's put me off maintaining the full MBFSH on the now 8 year old SLK55

MB Southampton quoted me nigh on £1,200 for the MOT and A Service plus time due brake fluid and plugs - all of them!
I then pointed out I could get it from them for £800 by taking up a service plan - not offered over the phone. They then agreed that would be sensible.....

But I will be taking it to MBS in three weeks time (who are booking that far out!)

Not only as they quoted me over £100 less,

Not only that they are the ones that correctly picked up the time due items (MB didn't, I had to enquire, which means they would have been sprung on me mid service no doubt)

Not only as that service plan would have been something like £400 more overall over the 2 years assuming next B service is £500 ish

Not only because I trust and have been going to MBS for nigh on 10 years now so have a good relationship with Norma, Cole, Graham +

Not only because the all important MB warranty advisor confirmed cover would continue without issue

Not because the complete AA cover I have replaces the (very good) Mobilo cover at nil cost

But also because when the E400 was in for the airbag recall last winter, they parked it out front just as a tremendous rain storm hit with the drivers window down and left me to grab Blu roll to wipe up the pool on the seat, the mats and the door pockets (and never once said sorry, not once!)

That's the lack of care and attention you can't put a price on, especially when it's would be on something 'personal' as the AMG is to me.

PS the sun is out and so are we (for lunch) so a V8 trip it will be

 

[gassygassy]

If you want any genuine MB servicing done, get on a ferry and go to France. I had a job done on my Sprinter - the heater was blowing only cold air. The Commercial MB dealer quoted me, did the job and then charged €130 less than their quote. That was nice enough, but when they printed the bill I was astonished to read that they divide each skill down to several different price levels. The servicing time for each skill was costed in units of 0.1 hour. The labour rate, get this, ranged from €60 per hour to €80 per hour. So for example taking the vehicle in and putting it on the ramp took 0.1 hour at €60, i.e. €6. The next item was diagnosing the fault - which they had come across before so they knew what it would be anyway, was 0.2 hr at €80, i.e. €16. How does that compare with the average "Plug it in for a diagnosis" fee of £100 here - at a non franchised garage? My local commercial MB garage charges £180 an hour . ..
Apparently it is French law that they have to break down any job into parts of an hour and charge different rates for different skills.

So it's cheaper to pay the ferry fee, go to France and have your car serviced at an MB garage there, have a holiday and return, than it is just to have the service here in Treasure Island, as we are known by the motor manufacturers.