Mercedes main dealer service quote: engine, gearbox, plugs, brake fluid = 1600

[philnewmerc]

So what do you think? It's for a CLS55: engine oil, g/box AFT, plugs, brake fluid for 1600 quid.
Basically a B service + g/box + brake fluid.
I haven't asked what my specialist is charging, but I guess it will be approx half that.

 

[W1ghty]

So what do you think? It's for a CLS55: engine oil, g/box AFT, plugs, brake fluid for 1600 quid.
Basically a B service + g/box + brake fluid.
I haven't asked what my specialist is charging, but I guess it will be approx half that.

That’s a shocking quote .
I would get a quote from the specialist

 

[Skd884]

So what do you think? It's for a CLS55: engine oil, g/box AFT, plugs, brake fluid for 1600 quid.
Basically a B service + g/box + brake fluid.
I haven't asked what my specialist is charging, but I guess it will be approx half that.

Get your oil + filter + what is all but an A service ( includes a underside video inspection/report ) done at this main dealer for circa £150

W204 2013 c180 main dealer service £139 | Parts, Maintenance & Servicing

Value service and air bag recall booked for December at a cost of £139 - ( essentially an A service )

forums.mbclub.co.uk

Brake fluid £20 plugs circa £80 and allow circa 2 hours labour at £100

Pay a indie to do gearbox service for circa £250.

Total = £600

 

[philnewmerc]

Interesting. I asked about the reduced cost for an older Mercedes and they said they don't do that any more?? I will have a look online

Edit: i can't see this online anymore, think it's gone

 

[pioneercollector]

All i can add is that the main dealership in my locations wanted around £1000 MORE than your quote for a full service...... I went to my independent MB specialist and the price tumbled to below £1000 - This included dropping the prop shaft to change one of the fuel filters ( the one that always gets missed by the main dealership as it is a PITA ) and all of the carbon filters, plugs oil etc ...

 

[Petrol Pete]

What year is the car ? If it has a M113 engine it ha 16 sparkplugs MB could charge 0ver £ 240 + VAT for those alone.

But , yes , I agree . £1600.00 is mad money for such basic work.

 

[AMGeed]

Get yourself a good indy and use him to do all servicing and repairs.
Main dealer service history is pretty rare for a 17 year old Mercedes.
After 7 years or so any car of mine goes to an indy for everything.
It's not worth the extra the main dealers charge for labour on an old car.

 

[Cyclone1]

When is the service due as you’ve only just bought it? An indie will be around £800-£900 for those service items.

 

[philnewmerc]

When is the service due as you’ve only just bought it? An indie will be around £800-£900 for those service items.

That's what I was thinking so good to have confirmation. It was allegedly serviced not long ago, but there is zero service history so i want to have peace of mind

 

[markjay]

That's what I was thinking so good to have confirmation. It was allegedly serviced not long ago, but there is zero service history so i want to have peace of mind

Dealer service could have made sense (arguably), if the car had 17 years of exemplary MDFSH.

But if the car has little or no history... then a one off dealer service in year 18 will make zero difference to its resell value. Don't waste your money....

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I’m sure you will, but make sure that you compare with like for like quotes from other garages. It’s been known that people are seduced by a much lower cost elsewhere but that the excludes the additional items, and is just a oil change which ends up costing more than the equivalent at the main dealer.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Before deciding, get a quote for a Mercedes service contract as they can work out much better value when the right combination of additional items falls due. They will only cover what’s due though; they won’t cover the cost to catch-up additional items which are overdue, or not yet due.

 

[markjay]

Before deciding, get a quote for a Mercedes service contract as they can work out much better value when the right combination of additional items falls due. They will only cover what’s due though; they won’t cover the cost to catch-up additional items which are overdue, or not yet due.

I think that the CLS55 might be too old a model to be eligible for an MB Service Care Plan.

 

[Will]

Get the gearbox serviced and brake fluid replaced at a decent specialist, and buy yourself some simple quality tools - no time like the present to learn how to replace the spark plugs and oil etc

Easy jobs, nothing complicated - just time consuming. You’ll know it’s done properly and learn stuff as you go along. You should be able to get all of those items including the ATF done for about a quarter of that quote too.

No point in buying a cheap/old car and haemorrhaging money on it, that’s not how bangernomics works!

 

[G7Wagen]

So what do you think? It's for a CLS55: engine oil, g/box AFT, plugs, brake fluid for 1600 quid.
Basically a B service + g/box + brake fluid.
I haven't asked what my specialist is charging, but I guess it will be approx half that.

I just had the same service at my Mercedes Indie..on my SL55.
Engine oil/ filter, gearbox oil/filter Spark plugs (16) and SBC brake fluid change as part of my (A) service. It cost £990 all in.

 

[philnewmerc]

I just had the same service at my Mercedes Indie..on my SL55.
Engine oil/ filter, gearbox oil/filter Spark plugs (16) and SBC brake fluid change as part of my (A) service. It cost £990 all in.

Great to know, cheers!

 

[philnewmerc]

Get the gearbox serviced and brake fluid replaced at a decent specialist, and buy yourself some simple quality tools - no time like the present to learn how to replace the spark plugs and oil etc

Easy jobs, nothing complicated - just time consuming. You’ll know it’s done properly and learn stuff as you go along. You should be able to get all of those items including the ATF done for about a quarter of that quote too.

No point in buying a cheap/old car and haemorrhaging money on it, that’s not how bangernomics works!

I've done all that in the past and saved as you rightly say. But, personally, it only takes one seized bolt or some other unforseen awkwardness to ruin my year and I can't be doing with that risk these days however small. (In my experience when someone very knowledgeable says it only takes 2 hours to do x what they actually mean "the second time you do X it'll only take 2 hours" ) . Maybe if i had a garage and could take my time i would - I'd actually quite enjoy it, but personally it's too stressful to do this on my own car i rely on (so I'd also need a spare car to use after the bolt snaps )

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

That's what I was thinking so good to have confirmation. It was allegedly serviced not long ago, but there is zero service history so i want to have peace of mind

"Zero service history?" Have you asked your main dealer or a specialist to look at the online records for the car?

As you are now its owner, they will print what records are on the system.

My latest has no "dealer receipts" but my printed online MB service history report shows 13 main dealer services meticulously done by London main dealers over the last 14 years (on the same month), and enabled me to see exactly what has & hasn't been done when and where.

 

[philnewmerc]

"Zero service history?" Have you asked your main dealer or a specialist to look at the online records for the car?

As you are now its owner, they will print what records are on the system.

My latest has no "dealer receipts" but my printed online MB service history report shows 13 main dealer services meticulously done by London main dealers over the last 14 years (on the same month), and enabled me to see exactly what has & hasn't been done when and where.

I have emailed customer service for the records, no reply yet. I only know it was last in a MB dealer in 2011... will be inteersting to see though as the mileage hasn't gone up that much since then.

 

[rich1068]

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it but aside from cost the other advantage of using a competent independent is that you can usually talk to the actual person who's working on your car. Have a chat, chew the fat, ask their opinion. I'd take that over a bad car wash and Biscoff biscuits any day. It suits a lot of people but I find the whole main dealer experience far too detached and often left with more questions than answers.