Mercedes dealer workshops ...work dwindling?

[BTB 500]

Volvo now give the 10 year old cars a 40% discount to get work in

Some Merc dealerships do the same, because my SL is over 6 years old I get 40% off labour and 10% off parts ... plus free MOTs, and a book of vouchers (20% off accessories, free aircon service, additional cash off next service, free safety & winter checks, money off tyres, etc). For cars 4-6 years old you get 20% off labour and 10% off parts.

This has applied since I've had my SL (3 years).

 

[television]

An air mass fitted should be no more than £200 ish pounds plus a bit of diag on that car.

No wonder they are quiet.

MB of Pompey run out of work at 11am most days. I laugh in their face.

None of the techs can earn bonus therefore they are miserable. Miserable staff = miserable work

When they did my struts 2 eeks back, I saw the car being worked on, I saw them fit the exhaust back on and put the wheels on ,but no rodeo test to get the air out, so I had the red light on several times.

Makes you think

 

[Rory]

Mine (part of a biggish group, Inchcape) just mailshotted me again with pretty heavily discounted servicing. I also called just after the last offer ran out and they said they would honour the price any time.

However, I decided to go for ServicePlus as my car comes out of warranty.

So I took it in yesterday for its first MOT and I was first there at 8AM. They fannied around for 35mins taking the car off me yet managed at the same time to make me feel I was a nuisance. The courtesy car was a manual B150 that was just *horrible* (I had wondered if B Class might displace C Class). It had a wicked rattle (so bad I had to stop and see what was wrong) and *no* fuel (putting in 5L still didn't turn the warning light off).

I hadn't heard from them by 4.30 so called to see what was going on and they said the car had been ready for a while but they'd been too busy to call! So that meant I had to hack through rush hour traffic to pick it up.

They passed the MOT but issued an advisory due to x/s wear on NSF tyre edge - then told me the wheel alignment was 'probably' fine (I'd asked them to look at the 'drift left' thing), and they couldn't fault the Sat Nav, which gives instructions too late.

 

[Merc-C180K]

... and I had the pleasure of her ...

Yup... one of those Innuendo Bingo days today...

 

[television]

Yup... one of those Innuendo Bingo days today...

Not for me,she was French and married

 

[crockers]

Not for me,she was French and married

Qui est la problem?

 

[graeme73s]

From speaking to various mechanics this does not appear to be just a MB related issue. People are still buying expensive cars but neglecting servicing them.

 

[c240yaz]

Mercedes dealer workshops ...work dwindling?

I was chatting to a Mercedes approved bodyshop owner at the weekend who told me that Mercedes workshops are empty a lot of the time .....except for routine servicing of new cars ...... they have less and less to do so will we see dealer prices changing for other work ...........

Could this be due to all of us, on this Forum and the other Forum ?

 

[scotth_uk]

In Australia the fact is that work has dropped off due to improved quality. Some of the dealers are struggling. MB's part sales are down.

 

[television]

Could this be due to all of us, on this Forum and the other Forum ?

Dont think this is the case, in Lyme Regis where I live there must be at least 200 MB's and I am the only one on the forums

 

[rf065]

I find it hard to believe this thread dates from 2007 and MB still have empty workshops 4 years later.

Someone posted a link to a MB site that gives you a discount on servicing or repairs which I signed up to about 10 days ago. I received a reply stating that I had been given a discount of £50 and MB Hamilton would contact me within 5 days to arrange a convenient time and date.

Since then nothing, you cannot reply to the e mail and MB Hamilton are obviously not interested in contacting me, so looks like an Indie will be getting the service work this year again.

Russ

 

[flango]

That's because most of the dealers can't handle anything other than routine servicing on new stuff. If it gets complex they sub the work out, pay trade rates and charge the customer MB rates.

Most good MB trained mechanics usually leave and start up their own businesses

 

[markjay]

Why are MB dealers out of work?

My before-last (A) service was carried out at an MB main dealer.

I was charged for 5.5L of rather expensive engine oil (Shell Helix Ultra) at £15.00 per L.

Yet they only filled it up to the minimum mark. i.e. 2L below the max - which means they only put in 3.5L...

The service advisor 'explained' that the oil expands when hot so should not be filled to the max...

Which is all good and well, but why did they charge for 5.5L of oil if they only put in 3.5L in the first place?

So the next (B) service was done by Olly at PCS... who gave me far better service, at lower price, and even applied an MB Club members discount...

Sorry, what was the question again?

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

During the past few months , motor factors nationally have seen a downturn in business , with a number of them closing . If the factors are not busy it is fair to assume that garages are finding the same. People are skimping on servicing/ repairs due to financial constraints. Many garages are worried at the government considering a 2 yearly M.O.T. as this will have a further adverse effect on business .

 

[trapperjohn]

During the past few months , motor factors nationally have seen a downturn in business , with a number of them closing . If the factors are not busy it is fair to assume that garages are finding the same. People are skimping on servicing/ repairs due to financial constraints. Many garages are worried at the government considering a 2 yearly M.O.T. as this will have a further adverse effect on business .

Cue Eurocarparts on here perchance.

 

[C43AMG]

I was just about to ask when did Television come back when i noticed the original date.

 

[biturbo]

i got a phone call from inchscape asking whether they could send a mechanic out to me to give my s600 a free checkup. lol prob looking for another 4k repair bill.

 

[effbee584]

Just had new front Discs and Pads done at local MB dealer (Robinsons) for a fair menu price (I think) of £320. Very local, done promptly.

HOWEVER I had a call late morning from one of their Service Team Managers advising that I also needed a new nearside caliper at an additional cost of £374! Lots of heavy 'safety' comments 'duty of care ' etc'. As an ex military aircraft technician, I know a fair bit about engineering so never take these comments at face value. It turns out that the piston dust cover is split and it MAY allow dirt etc on to the piston, which MAY lead to uneven braking etc which MAY cause accident/injury. I am quoting from the detail added to the invoice. I told him the extra cost was outrageous, challenged the amount and was told, that he, the The Service Manager understood, and therefore led me to believe, the brakes were was dismantled and awaiting my go-ahead on the new caliper (which it turns out they did not have in stock anyway). I told him to put the old parts back, I'll pay their labour cost and take the car away. Only then when he wnet and checked for himself that the car was already re-assembled and moved outside. It transpired that that out they were short of workshop space. Most of the £374 was labour because they would have to re-strip the brakes again!
So I feel was misled. I don't mind replacing worn and defective parts but I checked with ECP and a new caliper is less than £80, theirs was £76, so an extra £300 ish to re-dismantle what was done and charged for today is unreasonable.
Its the last they'll see of me, even if their menu prices are reasonable.
I think if I had been given the full facts initially and they had made some labour charge concession, I might have agreed.

Service is due soon at my Indie (Autotechnic at Loddon) I'll seek their opinion.

Sorry if I've rambled on a bit, still a little worked up at an obvious attempt to get more money out of me.

 

[corned]

i got a phone call from inchscape asking whether they could send a mechanic out to me to give my s600 a free checkup. lol prob looking for another 4k repair bill.

That's pretty funny. So, that 'free' checkup works out at something like -

1. an hour or so's labour,
2. mileage.

Then add a margin and bingo! - minimum generated 'work' requirement of £300 - and that's just to cover the journey!

 

[IanA2]

That lot also have the P'boro Main Dealership which is about twenty minutes away from me. If I ever need the services of a Main Dealer, I go to Northampton, some forty minutes away.