Mercedes Specialist near Edgbaston, Birmingham?

[tlbham]

Hi all,

Soon I'll be buying a nice old CLK 320 W208 off my dad and keeping it in Brum.

When I get the car, it will immediately need an 'A Service'. It has had Merc servicing from Hughes of Beaconsfield all its life - I've noticed there are favourable reviews of them on this site, plus my old man says they are excellent (recently fixed rust and replaced all his carpets for free!).

First off, would you agree the time has come to avoid Merc due to the high cost? OR should I go back to Hughes before returning to Brum because they can be trusted to do a good job?

Secondly, if I'm going to go to a specialist in Birmingham, can anyone recommend a specialist? I'd prefer somewhere in the centre or South Birmingham - don't know anywhere the other side of the M5, north of the centre or towards Solihull. ...I was thinking Howard Williams, B1 1NX? Anyone used them?

---------------- Now playing: Rage Against the Machine - Freedom via FoxyTunes

 

[neilrr]

Andy Gayle (Smethwick) used to look after a car I bought up in Birmingham some time ago. The car, a 2.5-16, ran like a scalded dog & was in tip top shape. I spoke to him before buying the car & was impressed.

This was a few years ago so can't vouch for him now. Maybe someone from the Midlands can give an update.

http://www.mercedesservicing.com/contact.asp

 

[jaymanek]

Ive heard good things about both howard williams and andy gayle.

 

[tlbham]

Cheers guys.

Any view on whether I should use Mercedes instead of an inde?

 

[jaymanek]

Stealers? dont be silly.

 

[CE230]

I wasn't impressed with Howard Williams when they did my head gasket.

The coupe is currently with WMD in Perry Barr having new front discs and pads fitted, flexible hoses, fluid changes, handbrake cable and MOT. I'll let you know how I get on with them.

 

[Grahamcol]

Think you mean WDM, Perry Barr. I've used them, my mate too. They're very good indeed.

 

[CE230]

Think you mean WDM, Perry Barr. I've used them, my mate too. They're very good indeed.

You're quite correct.

From another thread

Just collected y car from WDM after an oil and filter change and MOT.
New brake discs all round, new front pads, new flex hoses, front anti roll bar bushes, new o/s track rod, brake fluid change, handbrake fixed (shoes) and a over voltage protection relay. All for the princely sum of £706.

Wayne recommended that I have the underside waxoiled and has offered me the use of their facilities to do it myself.

The o/s/r lower ball joint is a bit stiff but they have drilled a small hole in it to enable regular squirting of oil into it that should free it off eventually.

Work to do;
Front prop shaft coupling (Good for another 20k though)
Polybelt cracked (No idea what this is)
????? box cooler pipe rusty (Writing difficult to read)

Overall I am very happy with the work done and found Wayne to be very helpful.

 

[Racebred3point2]

There is a place in B11, specialists. I always take my C32 there for its service or if it has a problem. Stratford Road. Place is called MSL. Hope this helps.

 

[kusanku]

I lived in Birmingham for 6 years, during which time I tried Howard Williams, Andy Gayle, WDM and some cowboys in Wolverhampton (only because I was working around the corner).

WDM get my vote. Good service, good value for money, and equally at home with modern and classic mercs. If you ask in advance, they have courtesy cars available. I even carried on taking my car back to them for two years after I moved to Cardiff, because I was unhappy with the local alternatives.

 

[nick mercedes]

Cheers guys.

Any view on whether I should use Mercedes instead of an inde?

I took my latest project to Howard Williams today, John who works there is possibly the best MB mechanic around, and managed to sort out my numerous fault codes, and reset everything back to normal (possibly due to SAM not being properly coded by MB dealer), long trip, but car now happy.

Some pics:

They had a S400 (V8 Diesel!!) in for front air struts:

And here's the proof that 163 rear springs can be changed on their own, without the need for complete springs/shocks:

 

[jaymanek]

yep we change the springs alone too..

 

[tlbham]

I now have my car. Love it already!

Turns out the service is due in about 2000 miles - it did a lot of motorway miles in its last couple of months so the interval has extended. I reckon city life in Birmingham will bring it back down to nearer 1000 miles, i.e. soon.

I'm really torn between WDM and Howard Williams, based on the positive comments above. I think I'll call them both and decide which to use based on price. Do Howard Williams do courtesy cars too?

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[landywood]

M J H Cars Walsall 01922 643157 or 01922 643257

 

[ACID]

MSL CENTRE LTD 0121 772 8282 or Howard Williams

 

[tlbham]

I've just come back from having my MOT and B Service at WDM in Perry Barr.

Very good service - turned the car around in a few hours, after being dropped off at 9am.

Provided a diesel A-class courtesey car, in decent nick. When I said I would rather not have a manual, they were absolutely fine about moving a couple of cars in order to get to their auto. Some garages might huff and puff in that situation.

They were very courteous (I hate being called 'mate'....I'm not your mate! - they used 'Sir').

All in all, £244. My only queries: They did not replace the spark plugs and they used semi-synthetic oil. Is this weird or normal practice? My service book indicates all previous Main Dealer servicings included spark plugs and fully synth oil (I think).

They suggested (as have a couple of my more-knowledgable-than-me mates) that I get the gearbox and rear axle oil done fairly soon to prolong the car's life. I will probably go back there, based on today's experience.:bannana:

 

[jaymanek]

Spark plugs are not part of a B service, they are an optional extra.

Semi Synthetic is probably ok depending on its spec but you dont mention which car you have.

 

[tlbham]

Spark plugs are not part of a B service, they are an optional extra.

Semi Synthetic is probably ok depending on its spec but you dont mention which car you have.

Sorry, forgot! 320 petrol W208 CLK.

 

[jaymanek]

semi is ok as long as meets the mercedes criteria. We tend to use fully synthetic as a lot of the newer cars require a spec that only fully synth satisfies but a good semi will be fine for a W208.

 

[tlbham]

semi is ok as long as meets the mercedes criteria. We tend to use fully synthetic as a lot of the newer cars require a spec that only fully synth satisfies but a good semi will be fine for a W208.

Good stuff - they used Mobil 1. So it looks like I have no reason to be concerned. Cheers.

£244 well spent.

However...
Just retaxed her too!
And renewed breakdown cover.
And the tracker is up for renewal.

Despite the expense, it could be worse...I could be driving some other car. Love the Benz!!!