Mercedes 'My Service' at what cost?

[Tigris]

They use Nespresso machines at my dealer, I buy around 200 capsules a month at home and that costs me about 26p a coffee, they must be getting it trade so around 12p a coffee.
When they are charging me £205 for an oil service, using around £50 worth of oil, I think not charging for coffee while I wait is worth for more for custom relations than 10 coffees, which costs them about £1.50!

Audi don't charge, BMW don't charge, others I don't know? It just seems insane.

gIzzE, I know its off topic but I am curious Which Nespresso machine do you use? I was actually looking at these today in Costco with the Mrs but couldnt make up our mind

 

[Doodle]

I get offered a drink even when I'm going in to collect parts. That said, my purchase history during the SL rebuild has been...extensive.

 

[gIzzE]

I just use one of the basic ones, I only ever drink espressos or lungos, so don't any more than that.

This is the one I have....

Nespresso - Machine Detail Page

If I was buying again I would probably buy this one.....

Nespresso - Machine Detail Page

 

[markjay]

Keep in mind that if you sit there and wait they have to carry out the service in a timely manner, they can not expect you to sit there for more then a couple of hours.

If you drop off the car before 10am they can squeeze it in for a service any time between 10amd and 4pm, so it's easier for them to sort out their daily workload.

Anyway, I think that £135 for a dealer A Service (LITE) is reasonable - given that this includes Mobilo and extension of the anti rust warranty.

(Some 3 years ago I paid £260 for an A Service at a London dealership - it was the car's third service from new - but I guess they offer discounts as the car gets older).

 

[artz]

and here was me thinking that the MBClub was all about grass roots motoring for the financially challenged Mercedes lusting masses who have managed to pick up an 'old C class slapper' from Bremen... which still needs a bit of servicing now and again... arf arf!
Did I read £608 for a service somewhere in this thread... that amount would feed a small Baltic state for 78 years, at the very least!

 

[gIzzE]

Anyway, I think that £135 for a dealer A Service (LITE) is reasonable - given that this includes Mobilo and extension of the anti rust warranty.

When it says 'from £135....' does it say what car?

Isn't the Smart car around that price for an A service?

Mercedes-Benz UK - Mercedes-Benz of Norwich - Fixed price servicing - Our service pricing

 

[millo777]

If Cartridge World can provide free coffee and chocolates while you wait for a £5 ink cartridge to be filled, I would have thought Mercedes could step up and offer the same for service customers.

I'd love to hear of someone getting charged an extra £20 if they want to wait while they're car is being serviced. Surely no dealership is that dumb?

 

[gIzzE]

If Richer Sounds can provide free coffee to every single browser that comes through the door then Mercedes certainly should be able to as well.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I've never been to a dealer for any reason without complimentary drinks being available: different dealers, different franchises, and MBUK Retail all seem to make drinks freely available.

There are two notable exceptions:

1. Some parts counters are separate because they're used for trade, and so unless you make the effort to go into the main retail area then you won't get a drink.

2. MB Direct (in Birmingham) seem to hide it away and use it as part of their hard sell tactics. I was there at the weekend, and they reinforce pushy sales stereotypes.

 

[prprandall51]

Keep in mind that if you sit there and wait they have to carry out the service in a timely manner, they can not expect you to sit there for more then a couple of hours.

If you drop off the car before 10am they can squeeze it in for a service any time between 10amd and 4pm, so it's easier for them to sort out their daily workload.

...

Markjay has already explained the reason you are being charged for the Lounge option - it has nothing to do with the price of coffee supplies, the wear and tear of your bottom on their sofas or the carnage that you wreak on the neatly folded papers.

If you wait for your car then it has to be prioritised through the service bay. If you drop it off, the work will be done during times that the mechanics would otherwise be under-utilised.

I spoke to my dealer a while back. He said that most people book their car in for an early slot and close the conversation with the words: "I will bring the car in at 8.00!". They then drop the car in at any time from 9.30 onwards with some lame excuse or other and still expect the car to be worked on immediately.

His other nightmare was people bringing loan cars back - supposedly first thing in the morning, so the dealer relies on it coming back at opening of business in order to loan it to another customer. He said that loan cars come back hours after they were supposed to and sometimes even the following day - without any word of apology or any real excuse, except that it was inconvenient.

 

[donshl]

I recently had the A service done on my CLS 55 AMG for £420 inc. a hire car for the day.

The service included (from what I remember):

Oil,filter change (I supplied my own oil)
Brake fluid change
Poly V belt

They were very polite and helpful and gave me the lowest price compared to quotes I had from other dealers.

I wanted to get the service done at the dealers as it was the first service since I've owned the car.

 

[Mr. B]

I recently had the A service done on my CLS 55 AMG for £420 inc. a hire car for the day.

The service included (from what I remember):

Oil,filter change (I supplied my own oil)
Brake fluid change
Poly V belt

They were very polite and helpful and gave me the lowest price compared to quotes I had from other dealers.

I wanted to get the service done at the dealers as it was the first service since I've owned the car.

With the exception of oil are there any other items that one can take to a MB dealership at the time of service and ask them to use instead of their own (assuming said items are MB approved) ??

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

With the exception of oil are there any other items that one can take to a MB dealership at the time of service and ask them to use instead of their own (assuming said items are MB approved) ??

Never tried, but I do take it a step further with some service items, for example I buy air filters from the service department and fit them the night before I drop the car off for service, and they accept that as having been done in line with the service schedule. Air filters are shocking expensive when fitted by a dealer as the time that's allowed by the systems is ludricrous, like 0.75 hours, which even with say 30% discount is silly expensive.

 

[Tan]

I spoke with a dealer to near me that is operating this scheme and if I just want the B service for our A-class and not the additional items, they have said they they won't stamp the service book.

Additional items have or will be completed elsewhere.

Is this normal practice?

Tan

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

I spoke with a dealer to near me that is operating this scheme and if I just want the B service for our A-class and not the additional items, they have said they they won't stamp the service book.

Additional items have or will be completed elsewhere.

Is this normal practice?

Tan

As I understand it yes. Some items/services are due to be done on time lapsed, ie every two years. Service A plus plug change/service B plus brake fluid change for example.

 

[gIzzE]

I had in interesting conversation with the dealer I was buying my E350 from.
As the car was approaching 2 years old I 'mentioned' the servicing.
He said that because it was more than 4000 miles till the next service it wouldn't be done.
I was a bit miffed at this and said that being 2 years and 35k miles it would be a big one, service, with filters, brake fluid and gearbox fluid, said I could be hit with a £500+ bill 2 months into ownership.
He said it wouldn't be that much.
Hmmm?

I said I didn't want to go ahead unless it was serviced.

He did the service yesterday, and although the standard service was £349 the additional work brought the total to £1050.

Now, if I was paying the £34 a month for 3 services in 3 years, would all that be included or would I have to pay all the additional work?

 

[The _Don]

Included.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

I bought my B200T used. It had 2 main dealer stamps and an indi Merc service. Is there any point in getting it done at Mercedes now?

 

[Mr. B]

I spoke with a dealer to near me that is operating this scheme and if I just want the B service for our A-class and not the additional items, they have said they they won't stamp the service book.

Additional items have or will be completed elsewhere.

Is this normal practice?

Tan

I don't have and wasn't given a service book from MB. All service records are kept on MB computer. I was given print-outs from the two previous services.

 

[steve333]

I bought my B200T used. It had 2 main dealer stamps and an indi Merc service. Is there any point in getting it done at Mercedes now?

As long as you use a good mb specialist independant garage you won't have any problems(despite what mb tell you your car won't be worth anymore with full mb history when you come to sell it)the only thing you miss out on(if it bothers you)is mobilo(mercedes breakdown,lasts 1 year from an mb service & is renewed each time you take it back to mb for servicing.