Mis-sold FMBSH car - Any comeback?

[markjay]

The only time you will get told full mb service history makes a difference is if you trade it in at an mb dealership without one.

That depends on the age of the car. If it is too old or has too high mileage to be sold by the dealer network as approved used, the dealer will auction it off - at which point they won't care much about the FMDSH. Which is why on low value cars this is unlikely to be an issue anyway.

 

[st4]

I've viewed a couple of ml's recently advertised with full mb history the first had 60k on the clock & was 41/2 years old with 2 mb stamps at 29k & 2 years/53k/50 months the second 45k & 41/2 years old also 2 mb stamps 23k/2 years,44k 49 months nither had had the atf/filter changed(due at 37,500) & the servicing is scheduled at 15,500 or annualy-personally i would have been more inclined to buy either if an mb specialist/indi had serviced them as scheduled & the atf/filter service had been carried out at 37,500,you pays your money & takes your chance!

Both missing the 1st service like my car and both missing the ATF changes.

Where are these money pits being sold. Name and shame.

 

[steve333]

Both missing the 1st service like my car and both missing the ATF changes.

Where are these money pits being sold. Name and shame.

The later i named on the other thread steve(first one an independant garage a fellow forum member kindly viewed for me close to where he was working recently).

 

[st4]

The later i named on the other thread steve(first one an independant garage a fellow forum member kindly viewed for me close to where he was working recently).

Seems to me loads of cars are getting skrimped on. Perhaps the 1st "owners" and I use that word loosely, cannot really afford the upkeep of such a car.

Caveat Empor

 

[steve333]

Seems to me loads of cars are getting skrimped on. Perhaps the 1st "owners" and I use that word loosely, cannot really afford the upkeep of such a car.

Caveat Empor

Could be that these particular cars were leased from new & the minimal/cheapest servicing was carried out & any extras(atf/filter etc) were passed on?

 

[st4]

Could be that these particular cars were leased from new & the minimal/cheapest servicing was carried out & any extras(atf/filter etc) were passed on?

Thats the problem I am aluding to. Right now there is an advert on this forum that gets you an SLK 200 for £266 + VAT. That kind of budget doesn't lend itself to £300 ATF changes on a car thats about be canned it.

Actually, I might look into an SLK200 for £266 + VAT. Nice car for touring in.

 

[markjay]

Could be that these particular cars were leased from new & the minimal/cheapest servicing was carried out & any extras(atf/filter etc) were passed on?

Indeed. If you had a company car on 3-years contract why would want to carry out any more than the minimum required by the manufacturer?

And, even if you own the car privately, if you buy new or nearly-new and intend to replace it say every two years, do you really care if in 10 years times the engine will last 200k or 300k miles?

 

[steve333]

Indeed. If you had a company car on 3-years contract why would want to carry out any more than the minimum required by the manufacturer?

And, even if you own the car privately, if you buy new or nearly-new and intend to replace it say every two years, do you really care if in 10 years times the engine will last 200k or 300k miles?

Agree but a lot of these cars appear to be ending up on mb forecourts as aproved used & joe public that are none the wiser/don't understand servicing/additional items are being sucked in.

 

[st4]

Agree but a lot of these cars appear to be ending up on mb forecourts as aproved used & joe public that are none the wiser/don't understand servicing/additional items are being sucked in.

I'd actually mind less if the dealer put up the price by £500 and really ensured the cars were just serviced. Fresh discs, fresh pads, over 34k miles, fresh ATF. Less cheap overspray paint and proper bodywork repairs carried out if more than cosmetic wear and tear.

To be fair the car I got had all that, but they neglected to punt the car down the auctions as it was missing its first service. The respray they did was really shoddy and the MB bodyshop people really didnt want to know, pulling teeth from a Rhino would be easier.

The approved used car scheme should be as close to getting a new car as possible and be hassle free and punting cars that just need serviced IMHO isnt very good.

However, in saying all that, bar the body work issues (the dealer just forgot to call me back despite me taking the car to them to get checked on the PTG for a warranty claim) on my current car, the tier one warranty was exemplary and loan cars etc provided.

My previous AUC came from Glasgow and it needed a service about a week in. The dealer couldnt have been better at taking the bill £586 and more appologetic about the situation and put it right. That car (my E220) came with an FSH and it was a good one with no problems whatsoever.

 

[steve333]

I'd actually mind less if the dealer put up the price by £500 and really ensured the cars were just serviced. Fresh discs, fresh pads, over 34k miles, fresh ATF. Less cheap overspray paint.

To be fair the car I got had all that, but they neglected to punt the car down the auctions as it was missing its first service.

The approved used car scheme should be as close to getting a new car as possible and be hassle free and punting cars that just need serviced IMHO isnt very good.

However, in saying all that, bar the body work issues (the dealer just forgot to call me back despite me taking the car to them to get checked on the PTG for a warranty claim) on my current car, the tier one warranty was exemplary and loan cars etc provided.

My previous AUC came from Glasgow and it needed a service about a week in. The dealer couldnt have been better at taking the bill £586 and more appologetic about the situation and put it right. That car (my E220) came with an FSH and it was a good one with no problems whatsoever.

^The first sentence sums up what many believe an aproved used mb is/should be when in reality you need to double check everything!

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

The value of the car with FSH or FMBSH is probably nothing.

I would tend to trust the indie actually doing the work...

Oh and the fact

My old ML, my wifes A class, my wifes new B class, my E class, my dads SL and my dads new ML are ALL serviced and looked after by MB wirral !!

they know their stuff.

 

[steve333]

Hello

The value of the car with FSH or FMBSH is probably nothing.

I would tend to trust the indie actually doing the work...

Oh and the fact

My old ML, my wifes A class, my wifes new B class, my E class, my dads SL and my dads new ML are ALL serviced and looked after by MB wirral !!

they know their stuff.

^ If you get good service & trust a garage it doesn't matter whether it's mb or specialist/indi.

 

[ET4]

Basically to gauge an opinion then . .
Most members value independant service and care over a main dealer . . . .and if you do need any 'After care' from a main dealer it's akin to getting into a ring with Mike Tyson . . .
I am happy with my purchase . Thanks.

 

[steve333]

Basically to gauge an opinion then . .
Most members value independant service and care over a main dealer . . . .and if you do need any 'After care' from a main dealer it's akin to getting into a ring with Mike Tyson . . .
I am happy with my purchase . Thanks.

There are good & bad mb/specialist dealers,key is finding a good one & sticking with it,good luck with your new purchase.

 

[jaymanek]

To be fair the name makes them sound like a dealer and if the dealer doesnt know about MB's then you could forgive them for thinking "MB Wirral" is a main dealer... there stamp looks fairly dealer like too from memory..

I also agree that it makes not a jot of difference..

 

[Mr E]

Indeed. If you had a company car on 3-years contract why would want to carry out any more than the minimum required by the manufacturer?

In my experience, the lease company does everything that the dealer recommends. I get to see and sign off the work sheets every time the car goes into the dealership, so I know what's been done. Only once has anything been queried by the lease company, and the dealer rang to let me know - a quick word with the and the lease company authorised it.

It probably helps that we have a fleet of >4000 vehicles across two lease companies, and that they have a pretty good discount structure with dealers, tyre companies, etc, that mean they can afford to do everything needed.

 

[markjay]

In my experience, the lease company does everything that the dealer recommends. I get to see and sign off the work sheets every time the car goes into the dealership, so I know what's been done. Only once has anything been queried by the lease company, and the dealer rang to let me know - a quick word with the and the lease company authorised it.

It probably helps that we have a fleet of >4000 vehicles across two lease companies, and that they have a pretty good discount structure with dealers, tyre companies, etc, that mean they can afford to do everything needed.

I was not suggesting that fleet vehicles are neglected.

What I am saying is that the manufacturer's specified service intervals are a minimum requirement.

Many private car owners will opt for an interim oil change between scheduled services, which is a sensible move if you intend to keep the car for the longer run. Or replace the air filter more frequently than the 4 years specified by MB. Or change the ATF even on autboxes that MB (and BMW, and Vauxhall, to name a few) say are 'sealed for life'. Or use premium fuels e.g. Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate to keep the engine cleaner and healthier for longer.

There is no commercial sense in doing so on a fleet car. Its re-sale value will peak with full FMDSH, any additional servicing will not increase the sale price. There will also be no impact on short-term reliability i.e. during the first 3 years which is when the fleet runs the car. So why spend the money?

But I do take your point. With proper fleet management you know the car has minimum servicing, no more no less. With a privately owned car, the situation is far less certain - the previous owner may have taken very good care of it, or neglected it completely.