Mercedes Service or Garage?

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merckdan

New Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2019
Messages
16
Location
Manchester
Car
C Class Coupe C220d AMG-Line PremiumPlus
I have a 16' plate C Class Coupe which has done 24,000 miles. It has had 3 years of MB servicing and is now due its Service B. MB quoting me £428 for the service but I have also gotten a special (NHS offer) quote from Mercedes independent specialist garage in Manchester for £234. Of course I understand the resale value of the car is normally increased when it has full MB service history but I'm wondering how much of an effect does it actually have? Not sure which way to go with it.

Also my brake wear indicator has come up recently too so will need to get that done. Worth getting MB to do it and pay the premium or a Merc garage?

Thanks in advance
 
I have a 16' plate C Class Coupe which has done 24,000 miles. It has had 3 years of MB servicing and is now due its Service B. MB quoting me £428 for the service but I have also gotten a special (NHS offer) quote from Mercedes independent specialist garage in Manchester for £234. Of course I understand the resale value of the car is normally increased when it has full MB service history but I'm wondering how much of an effect does it actually have? Not sure which way to go with it.

Also my brake wear indicator has come up recently too so will need to get that done. Worth getting MB to do it and pay the premium or a Merc garage?

Thanks in advance
If it where me i would go with an independent garage
 
Independent mercedes specialist is the way to go, especially if you are getting a service and brakes done. Price difference will be significant.

Also staff at independents are often far more experienced mechanics than at a main dealer.

Support your local Indy in these difficult times.
 
It is a very common pattern, to have the first 3 services done by a dealer i.e. while the car is still under warranty (though it is not a must!), then carry future services at a reputable specialist. The resale value won't be affected.

If your car is due a big service in the next two years, then you might be able to save some money by opting for fixed-cost dealer service, look for MB Service Care Plan. A dealer service will also get you free Mobilo roadside assistance for one year.

But unless the car is due some major servicing, and you are willing to commit to 2 or more services in advance, then a specialist will be your best bet.

With regards to how good they are... my experience in the UK is that a good specialist is priceless. Dealer are OK if you are happy talking to a 'service advisor' around a coffee table who will read from a script, instead of talking to a mechanic under the car with many years of experience.
 
Independents may vary in what facilities they offer. You want to look for outfits that offer full access to the Mercedes STAR diagnostic system and can update the MB digital service record. This shows a degree of commitment/ investment by said independent which you can benefit from when the car is serviced?
 
I would use a known-good (!) independent to do the service and the brakes and save the cash.

Often the service of said type of inde is better than the the main dealers as they have only themselves to rely on for their reputation, whereas sometimes technicians in a dealer can hide behind the dealer.

So I would rather pay less for more.

There are some who would argue they wouldn't buy a car because it doesn't have a full history and that's fair enough.

But I personally don't give a flying about that with regards to my own car and I've even had a service done by an inde when my car was under MB AUC warranty within the first three years and it was fine with a subsequent warranty claim.

There will always be plenty of people who won't mind a non-FMBSH and if you keep the invoices you can demonstrate the car was looked after if you sell it privately.

And if you trade it, who gives a monkey's anyway!
 
Agree with John - if I was looking at a s/hand MB then I would feel more comfortable that it had a service history from a good independent rather than a main dealer parts swap operation.
 
So, what's the difference from MB, Indi, Corner garage or even DIY. I have an older 2005 c180 and do most of my own so I feel any trustworthy garage can do it for you.
 
So, what's the difference from MB, Indi, Corner garage or even DIY. I have an older 2005 c180 and do most of my own so I feel any trustworthy garage can do it for you.

A dealer or a specialist will know the model inside out and its typical issues, a corner garage may just change the oil and not look for any other 'known' issues.

A dealer or a specialist will have access to the online Digital Service Book and will know exactly was done so far and what is needed now. A corner garage won't know any of that, they'll simply do what you ask them to, or will endeavour to replace all filters and all fluids to be on the safe side.

A dealer or a specialist will have STAR with subscription, and will be able to update the software on modules where there is a benefit in doing so, or where there's a TSB regarding a required update.

A dealer will routinely check your car's VIN against recalls during servicing, and apply any that that are outstanding (though I am aware that some Diesel car owners weren't too happy about this).

A dealer or a specialist will have the list of checks required for Service Schedule A and Service Schedule B, while a corner garage will just change fluid and filters without checking anything else, or at most will only carry-out a generic look-over.

As for DIY, it's a bit of a mixed bag... some DIYers do a botched job, or will just replace items and not carry-out any checks in order to get away with the lowest running costs. Others will be experienced and competent DIY mechanics, have access to all the relevant information, and use a proper diagnostic tool, or even MB STAR. So it can vary considerably.

As for resell value... you'll need to convince the potential buyer that the car has been properly looked after. Ideally you'll have a stamped service book, or a printout of the Digital Service Book. Receipts from a corner garage, or receipts for service items purchased for DIY servicing are also OK, as long as they are complete and regular rather than a random collection of bills.
 
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It will affect resale value, people will try and haggle based on that, no matter what you say.

If you try and trade it in, dealers want a full history, it will affect trade in value.

It doesn't matter that the car may be better serviced, they just want to screw you for cash and a non dealer service history is one way.

Even though Independent specialists for the marque offer a service just as good/better for me.

I plan to use an independent specialist but I do know it may affect value, but I didn't buy it for resale value.
 
It will affect resale value, people will try and haggle based on that, no matter what you say.

If you try and trade it in, dealers want a full history, it will affect trade in value.

It doesn't matter that the car may be better serviced, they just want to screw you for cash and a non dealer service history is one way.

Even though Independent specialists for the marque offer a service just as good/better for me.

I plan to use an independent specialist but I do know it may affect value, but I didn't buy it for resale value.
I think the average buyer (trade or private) will tend to pay a little more for a car with full main dealer history, although as the car gets older the difference will reduce. That said, the extra cost of using a main dealer and following the schedule perfectly will never be fully paid back at resale on anything other than very specialist cars, or those which become mint examples of a modern classic.

However generally I believe that a car with a full main dealer history is worth slightly more than a full marque specialist service history, which is worth slightly more than a full non-specialist service history, which is worth slightly more than a DIY service history, which is worth slightly more than a patchy service history, which is worth slightly more than no service history.

As long as people don't expect to make a saving on running costs and then command maximum resale value then people won't be disappointed. Similarly for those buying cars cheap, unless they fully restore them, then they shouldn't expect to get maximum resale value. Some people expect these things to work both ways, and that's rarely the case.
 
I think the average buyer (trade or private) will tend to pay a little more for a car with full main dealer history, although as the car gets older the difference will reduce. That said, the extra cost of using a main dealer and following the schedule perfectly will never be fully paid back at resale on anything other than very specialist cars, or those which become mint examples of a modern classic.

However generally I believe that a car with a full main dealer history is worth slightly more than a full marque specialist service history, which is worth slightly more than a full non-specialist service history, which is worth slightly more than a DIY service history, which is worth slightly more than a patchy service history, which is worth slightly more than no service history.

As long as people don't expect to make a saving on running costs and then command maximum resale value then people won't be disappointed. Similarly for those buying cars cheap, unless they fully restore them, then they shouldn't expect to get maximum resale value. Some people expect these things to work both ways, and that's rarely the case.

You are not wrong, but it also depends on the circumstances. Say you keep a car for 10 years, during this time you get it serviced at a specialist, and eventually advertise it for sale for £3,000. How much would be knocked-off for not having main dealer history? Only an insignificant amount, if any, and definitely nowhere near what you have saved by avoiding main dealers over the years.
 
You are not wrong, but it also depends on the circumstances. Say you keep a car for 10 years, during this time you get it serviced at a specialist, and eventually advertise it for sale for £3,000. How much would be knocked-off for not having main dealer history? Only an insignificant amount, if any, and definitely nowhere near what you have saved by avoiding main dealers over the years.
I absolutely agree, so much so that I even said in my post that as the car gets older the difference in value will reduce :)
 
It will affect resale value, people will try and haggle based on that, no matter what you say.

If you try and trade it in, dealers want a full history, it will affect trade in value.

It doesn't matter that the car may be better serviced, they just want to screw you for cash and a non dealer service history is one way.

Even though Independent specialists for the marque offer a service just as good/better for me.

I plan to use an independent specialist but I do know it may affect value, but I didn't buy it for resale value.

I've previously traded the car which I had serviced by an inde before the first three years were up.

We agreed a likely price for the car which I beat them up on slightly based on trade in values I'd already had.

Then, during the subsequent talks the salesman asked about service history and I said it was full. He asked if MB and I said no, a mix. I then asked if that makes any difference. He said no... although I got the sense that the no was not 100% genuine!

I'm sure it can make a difference but EU Block Exemption makes life difficult for dealers to hammer down on non-MB history.
 
Although I don’t follow this advice I think when most see a mb service history they would think the cars sweet.
Sweeter than my local garage does.
Guess it gets lower when you say you service it yourself
 
It still matters to me who serviced it though.

Any old back street garage is no good although I'd make exceptions based on the situation - I'd rather see invoices from trusted indes from here.

Does depend on the age of car too.

As the car ages, I don't expect to see an FMDSH.
 
Our Viano has always been serviced from new by a Mercedes dealer. This time it is going to a local of a national tyre chain. The reason being the dealer is a 60 mile round trip and needs a loan car. Dealer tells me because of the virus there are not loaning cars so really there is no choice. Always valued the service history and we have had the Viano for some years now and see no reason to change it even if we could afford its replacement. Pity really but have been impressed with their tyre service and their listed service looks OK and they say they can reset the Assyst. There is of course the issues that would be Mercedes like electronics etc.
 
Our Viano has always been serviced from new by a Mercedes dealer. This time it is going to a local of a national tyre chain. The reason being the dealer is a 60 mile round trip and needs a loan car. Dealer tells me because of the virus there are not loaning cars so really there is no choice. Always valued the service history and we have had the Viano for some years now and see no reason to change it even if we could afford its replacement. Pity really but have been impressed with their tyre service and their listed service looks OK and they say they can reset the Assyst. There is of course the issues that would be Mercedes like electronics etc.
Are you using the Viano? If not then the service schedules have been extended by 6 months, so no need to rush.

If you’re doing 1500 miles every week then of course that’s a different matter!
 
Having a full main dealer service history will definitely make your car worth more than when you come to sell it but very rarely will that “extra” cover the difference between what you’d have paid at a good German specialist.

Main dealers do tend to get a bad rep but that’s as much down to slink salespeople as the actual servicing and parts department; my Mitsubishi main dealer recently changed a cambelt on one of our L200’s which only cost £300 and then for another £195 they did a big service (fuel filter etc) so it does pay to at least ask the question.
 

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