Mercedes Fixed Price Servicing

[Ian_Mac]

About a month ago my parents took delivery of their E220 on a 57 plate with approx 38,000 miles on the clock.

Today they received a letter from Mercedes offering a package where by the service costs are covered for the next 2 or 3 years for a monthly premium of £31.

As part of the dealer prep before delivery the ATF & brake fluid were changed. The service indicator is showing a B service in 9000 miles I've been told. Their annual mileage isn't massive approx 7500pa.

My question is would the Mercedes plan prove cost effective or should they just put that money aside each month and hope for the best?

Thanks

 

[LTD]

Sounds like a crafty way of tying your into the dealer service network rather than taking out-of-warranty cars to independents.

I'd also expect that a few rather hefty bills might appear as things are 'discovered' during servicing ...

 

[Ian_Mac]

As it stands I've left them to look into the small print to see what exactly is included for the £31 per month. Given Mercedes servicing costs do you think the total would be greater than £1116 over the next 3 years?

 

[Dryce]

As part of the dealer prep before delivery the ATF & brake fluid were changed. The service indicator is showing a B service in 9000 miles I've been told. Their annual mileage isn't massive approx 7500pa.

My question is would the Mercedes plan prove cost effective or should they just put that money aside each month and hope for the best?

The car is presumably on annual servicing and so will reach the 12 month limit before it exceeds the mileage limit. So you're paying for an annual service by installments.

It will be the service-care package which covers scheduled service items. So will include normal oils, fluids and filters. But won't include things like disks and pads. Dealer servicing will also keep Mobilo active so in general terms replaces the need for separate breakdown cover from the likes of AA, RAC, or Greenflag.

The £31 / month is likely to be more than you'd pay for servicing with an indy and same or less than a dealer (depends on the dealer's pricing and negotiability). Watch out for the dealer trying to get extra work such as brakes and pads at full rates when the car goes in.

It's not a bad deal if you would otherwise pay for separate breakdown cover and like the implied comfort of dealer servicing. But it's not great deal either if you would otherwise negotiate service prices or use an indy.

 

[developer]

As it stands I've left them to look into the small print to see what exactly is included for the £31 per month. Given Mercedes servicing costs do you think the total would be greater than £1116 over the next 3 years?

Some dealers reduce the parts and labour rates for cars over 3 years old. It might be worth enquiring if the plan includes this - you may be able to get a better deal.

 

[tpwuk]

Just put £31 per month under your matress! Why help the cash flow of a stealer?

 

[Rory]

It's the 4yr service which is the dear one, when all of the service items need changing at the same time, including the ATF for the first one.

Once that's out of the way, then the other services are little more than oil changes, with brake fluid and pollen filter every 2yrs. Most dealers will do the oil change service (A) for around £200 and the B service with brake fluid change for around £375.

Check your local dealer and see what they offer (some list service pricing on their website).

One advantage of the service package is the dealer won't argue about what needs doing - if you're paying cash you'll be regaled with huge lists of "essential" items, but there's no point in the dealer doing this if you have a pre-paid package, they'll just do the bare minumum possible.

 

[Ian_Mac]

It's the 4yr service which is the dear one, when all of the service items need changing at the same time, including the ATF for the first one.

As the dealer has just changed the ATF and brake fluid on their car the next 3 services should then be 2 @ £200ish and 1 @ £375ish. The difference could then be put towards brakes and tyres etc.

 

[paul3408]

Just booked my w204 in for an A service and its £265