Mobilo service and non main stealer

[fabes]

Hi

Recently joined the MB crowd and bought a nice little C class coupe (with Evolution pack)

So far so good, though the seqential auto is taking a little getting used to

Its a 53 plate with 53k on the clock, ex fleet car bought from this lot (www.carsite.co.uk)
Reasonable buying experience, but I did get the car for a song

Its got full MB dealer sevice and the display tells me an A service (£300?) is due in 2000 miles, so 3 months or so I guess
The main dealers nearby at Southampton airport are a tad expensive, and Burseldon motors seems to be the recommended local alternative

Question - Will going to them for a service (and any repairs etc) cause me a problem with Mobilo or if I stay with main stealer for service, will repairs elsewhere cause me grief down the line (given that burseldon commit to using genuine MB parts)

Not the biggest issue in the world today, but its the little things in life that can really err.... annoy you

RSVP, your thoughts appreciated

PS nice forum you seem to have here

Fabes

 

[Dieselman]

Hello fabes.

Just get teh car through the MB dealer. yes it will be expansive but you get continued Mobilo cover for the next 24 months.AND, and it's a big and, your corrosion warrantee will remain valid.

You might need this somewhere down the line and that saving of £100 on the service will just make you sick if you do..

 

[pammy]

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the club

 

[timskemp]

Question - Will going to them for a service (and any repairs etc) cause me a problem with Mobilo or if I stay with main stealer for service, will repairs elsewhere cause me grief down the line (given that burseldon commit to using genuine MB parts)

Ring around your nearest few dealers, see if you can get a deal. As for mobilo I seem to recall it runs 24 mths from last dealer service - as I run 2-3 services per annum (40-50k miles) I save a lot of money by only getting A services done at main dealer, anything big is done independant using original parts, at just over 1/3rd the labour cost.

 

[hawk20]

Even on my S320cdi the A service is only £235 inc vat. I get that done at Southampton. They are excellent. Ask for Sarah in Service or Greg's team.

The labour in that service is one hour at £85 plus vat. You save little by going elsewhere unless they use cheaper oil etc. If you use the best oil (which Merc recommend) you will go far further between services. For me it means £10k miles fixed on ordinary oil or about 15k miles if on synthetic. They tell the ASSYST programme which oil you use and it affects distance between services.

But think of this. The labour is only £100 inc vat in the A service and you get free breakdown cover (which for me and wife from AA would cost £150). A bargain. AND it gives you free cover in Europe -as many trips as you like. (for that the AA want over £100). Add to that the 30 year rust guarantee and the fact that you can resell with Full MBSH and in my view it is a no brainer.

It is odd the lengths people will go to save on servicing yet it is the small change of motoring. Try the sums. The 'A' service - 15,000 miles on a diesel, approx, and costs £235. The B service costs about £450 for another 15,000 miles. That is 30,000 miles or so for about £700 or a bit over tuppence per mile.

Do the services with a dealer and keep full MBSH, breakdown cover and the rust guarantee and get other jobs done elsewhere if you wish.

 

[timskemp]

It is odd the lengths people will go to save on servicing yet it is the small change of motoring. Try the sums. The 'A' service - 15,000 miles on a diesel, approx, and costs £235. The B service costs about £450 for another 15,000 miles. That is 30,000 miles or so for about £700 or a bit over tuppence per mile.

Hmmm - 3 services a year for me, so about 5 hrs labour say, plus a disc/pad change so another hour on top.

6 hrs at £95+VAT main dealer price = 670 quid
6 hrs at £35+VAT indepenant price = 250 quid.

Parts are about the same, but that 400 quid difference is better in my pocket than anyone elses.

If you are running low miles then yes, it's probably less significant.

 

[hawk20]

Hmmm - 3 services a year for me, so about 5 hrs labour say, plus a disc/pad change so another hour on top.

6 hrs at £95+VAT main dealer price = 670 quid
6 hrs at £35+VAT indepenant price = 250 quid.

Parts are about the same, but that 400 quid difference is better in my pocket than anyone elses.

If you are running low miles then yes, it's probably less significant.

Now that is exactly what happens over and over on these threads. People add on to service costs the costs of brakes, or exhausts or even tyres. Nothing to do with the service. The A service is 1 hours labour and the B service is two hours labour -approx. For the average motorist on 12,000 miles max per annum that is 1.5 hours labour per year. And that gives you free breakdown, home and abroad, 30 year rust guarantee and a higher residual when you sell with Full MBSH. It is great value. And older Mercs get big discounts on servicing costs from Merc dealers.

Get the brakes, exhaust, shocks etc done elsewhere if you like

 

[Robbo]

And older Mercs get big discounts on servicing costs from Merc dealers.

from some dealers, not all. My local dealership doesnt so I have to travel.

 

[glojo]

Ring around your nearest few dealers, see if you can get a deal. As for mobilo I seem to recall it runs 24 mths from last dealer service - as I run 2-3 services per annum (40-50k miles) I save a lot of money by only getting A services done at main dealer, anything big is done independant using original parts, at just over 1/3rd the labour cost.

If your car is due a service then the way I read Mobilo it has to be done by a Mercedes-Benz main dealer, or an authorised agent? I have heard of owners having problems when they have had interim services carried out by Independents, or specialists because they have stamped the service booklet?

If my AYSST tells me the car needs servicing and I elect to go to an independent source then I make that decision in the full knowledge I am in breach of the terms and conditions of Mobilo.

The two year requirement is surely for the likes of myself that do a very limited mileage that would take the car over the mandatory two year service interval.

The cheap alternative is to get the service carried out at a main dealer and then if you wish, get a reliable specialist to carry out the extra work. However only allow the main dealer to stamp the book.

John

 

[BTB 500]

Its a 53 plate

Some dealers will give discount at 4 years old, e.g. at Tony Purslow group you get 20% off labour plus 10% off parts. At 6 years old this rises to 40% off labour (plus 10% off parts) - well worth having.

T P have a dealership at Basingstoke which is possibly a bit far for you, but other dealers may match or offer similar schemes.

http://www.tonypurslow.co.uk/mercedes/

 

[DieselE]

Hmmm - 3 services a year for me, so about 5 hrs labour say, plus a disc/pad change so another hour on top.

6 hrs at £95+VAT main dealer price = 670 quid
6 hrs at £35+VAT indepenant price = 250 quid.

Parts are about the same, but that 400 quid difference is better in my pocket than anyone elses.

If you are running low miles then yes, it's probably less significant.

I'd recommend that you (and Fabes) look at Service Plus on the Mercedes UK website. For a fixed monthly fee you get all servicing and repairs (excluding broken glass and worn/damaged tyres). OK the fee will be higher if your annual mileage is but there are no unexpected surprises.

If you do a forum search on Service Plus you'll find out that people have saved thousands by having unexpected repairs covered.

 

[Rory]

Now that is exactly what happens over and over on these threads. People add on to service costs the costs of brakes, or exhausts or even tyres.

To be fair you added on the saving of European breakdown cover which not everybody would need, and you price AA cover at £150. I have full breakdown, home start and UK recovery on my wife's Jazz (for the car, so any driver) and that costs £70 with Britannia Rescue.

One way you can save money on dealer servicing is by supplying your own oil. I was dubious about this, but my local dealer said it was absolutely fine and they seemed deighted to use my oil (bizarre, considering they must be giving up about 60 quid of pure profit). On the car in the OP then Mobil 1 from Costco at £23.50 for 4L (so £38 for the oil change, with 1.5L left over for very cheap top-ups) will be cheaper than the near £100 (mine charges £12.95+VAT per litre) the dealer is likely to charge.

 

[hawk20]

If your car is due a service then the way I read Mobilo it has to be done by a Mercedes-Benz main dealer, or an authorised agent? I have heard of owners having problems when they have had interim services carried out by Independents, or specialists because they have stamped the service booklet?

If my AYSST tells me the car needs servicing and I elect to go to an independent source then I make that decision in the full knowledge I am in breach of the terms and conditions of Mobilo.

The two year requirement is surely for the likes of myself that do a very limited mileage that would take the car over the mandatory two year service interval.

The cheap alternative is to get the service carried out at a main dealer and then if you wish, get a reliable specialist to carry out the extra work. However only allow the main dealer to stamp the book.

John

I agree with your view on this. That is how I read the small print,too

 

[fabes]

I'd recommend that you (and Fabes) look at Service Plus on the Mercedes UK website. For a fixed monthly fee you get all servicing and repairs (excluding broken glass and worn/damaged tyres). OK the fee will be higher if your annual mileage is but there are no unexpected surprises.

If you do a forum search on Service Plus you'll find out that people have saved thousands by having unexpected repairs covered.

Cheers for the steer

Main dealer for service it is then if they're good enough for Hawk20, they'll do me

As to repairs I have purchased a Warranty Wise contract.

I did look at the MB all in contract but at £65 per month for 2 years, that was just a little too expensive (yes I know what it covered, but still...)

WW contract is under £450 for two years, with only a little top up on the labour rate needed if I go to an indi for 'repairs'. I had to use them several times with my (un)trusty old Laguna and they paid, no quibble, ever. And I have the top level cover with a healthy claim limit. Won't ever need it on a Merc I know but......

Thanks for the advice

Another thread on parking sensors on its way.

Cheers

Fabes