New here and to the world of MB's - Servicing advice for 6yr old C250 if possible

[MattC250CDI]

Morning, Ive spent a good couple of hours reading through the posts on here so I've come to the right place for sensible advice.

Iv just bought a 2014 C250 cdi diesel auto 61k on the clock. in its 6 years its only 1 A and 1 B service so the SH isn't great (but i got it for a good price and a petrolhead came to buy it with me and was happy with it)

I went to an indie who obviously wasn't impressed with the SH and reckons it will be it the region of £800 to get it up to scratch including serving and gearbox service. (didnt say if his quote was just for the servicing or for any additional parts)

and other indie recommended - Due to the age of the vehicle it is also due a gearbox service (every 5 years) and a brake fluid change (every 2 years) Here are the prices for you which include VAT.
‘A’ Service £245
Gearbox service £298
Brake fluid £65.

so my actual questions are

1) if the last service was 2 years ago (20k miles ago) then wouldn't it need an A+B to bring it up to scratch? plus the gearbox and brake fluid?

2) is it necessary to use a merc specialist indie for the services or would using a decent local garage for a 6 year old car be alright to carry out the all the same job as the indies, is there something they do different? I expect garages need access to the DSH to know whats been done in the past. Im in West Sussex if anyone has any recommendations.

3) I know its hard to say without looking at the car but for a car that age and millage are you aware of additional known extras that always seem to be needed?

Any advice would be great. I'm going to change to pollen filter myself,

 

[14emerc]

If I was you, I would call or email PCS and ask the cost for an oil and filter service for the gearbox, brake fluid and coolant renewal.
As a side note, Halfords brake fluid renewal is £40 as is a coolant change. Expect to pay around £200 for the gearbox ATF at PCS.

 

[W1ghty]

1) you can’t have an A and B service together because you have missed a service . Both A and B have oil and filter changes , it’s just the B has more checks
Don‘t Get a normal garage to do the gearbox service , it’s a specialist job , get an Indy to do that .

 

[whitenemesis]

Put your vehicle details into this website for recommended service info

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

 

[MattC250CDI]

Hi

Thanks. I spoke to PCS and MBS both very helpful and said the same thing, I've actually booked it in with PCS.

Many thanks for the reply, Matt

 

[W1ghty]

Hi

Thanks. I spoke to PCS and MBS both very helpful and said the same thing, I've actually booked it in with PCS.

Many thanks for the reply, Matt

Let us know how you get on buddy

 

[MattC250CDI]

Let us know how you get on buddy

cheers will do, had the car for 48 hour and keep finding reasons to go out in it. I had the same MGF for 11 years before this so its a step up. Its great to know this is a place I can come with questions. thanks again for the help.

 

[jsnmac]

Morning, Ive spent a good couple of hours reading through the posts on here so I've come to the right place for sensible advice.

Iv just bought a 2014 C250 cdi diesel auto 61k on the clock. in its 6 years its only 1 A and 1 B service so the SH isn't great (but i got it for a good price and a petrolhead came to buy it with me and was happy with it)

I went to an indie who obviously wasn't impressed with the SH and reckons it will be it the region of £800 to get it up to scratch including serving and gearbox service. (didnt say if his quote was just for the servicing or for any additional parts)

and other indie recommended - Due to the age of the vehicle it is also due a gearbox service (every 5 years) and a brake fluid change (every 2 years) Here are the prices for you which include VAT.
‘A’ Service £245
Gearbox service £298
Brake fluid £65.

so my actual questions are

1) if the last service was 2 years ago (20k miles ago) then wouldn't it need an A+B to bring it up to scratch? plus the gearbox and brake fluid?

2) is it necessary to use a merc specialist indie for the services or would using a decent local garage for a 6 year old car be alright to carry out the all the same job as the indies, is there something they do different? I expect garages need access to the DSH to know whats been done in the past. Im in West Sussex if anyone has any recommendations.

3) I know its hard to say without looking at the car but for a car that age and millage are you aware of additional known extras that always seem to be needed?

Any advice would be great. I'm going to change to pollen filter myself,

The gearbox should be serviced at around 77k miles. Did mine at 73k and the filter was already clogged up, so I would do it early if you can. This should be around £200 but I found that the oil was more expensive in my 7g (with stop start) gearbox than in my previous cars 5g gearbox. Changing the brake fluid is also advised. Apart from that change the oil to good quality oil, filter, air filter and pollen filter and you are pretty much there. Do it yourself (i didn’t do the gearbox myself though) and it will cost around £350.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

You’re in very safe hands with @BlackC55 at PCS. Excellent service, fair pricing, and as trustworthy as they come

 

[W1ghty]

cheers will do, had the car for 48 hour and keep finding reasons to go out in it. I had the same MGF for 11 years before this so its a step up. Its great to know this is a place I can come with questions. thanks again for the help.

How did it all go buddy

 

[UrbanM]

All great info here. I am in sort of the same position. I recently bought my first Merc and it has FMBSH. I am considering a service plan or going to an indie but have no idea of any near me in Sutton, Surrey.

Would the service plan cover ALL servicing required for a fixed fee? I don't want to be paying for a plan and then find out that the gearbox oil service is another £500 say.

 

[Skd884]

All great info here. I am in sort of the same position. I recently bought my first Merc and it has FMBSH. I am considering a service plan or going to an indie but have no idea of any near me in Sutton, Surrey.

Would the service plan cover ALL servicing required for a fixed fee? I don't want to be paying for a plan and then find out that the gearbox oil service is another £500 say.

Yes all items due are covered.

 

[markjay]

Yes all items due are covered.

As above.

Check here:

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

Everything that is showing as due for your car on the next service will be included and covered under the Service Care Plan.

What is not included are repairs (if any faults are found), and things such as brakes, tyres, wheel alignment, battery, etc.

 

[UrbanM]

As above.

Check here:

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

Everything that is showing as due for your car on the next service will be included and covered under the Service Care Plan.

What is not included are repairs (if any faults are found), and things such as brakes, tyres, wheel alignment, battery, etc.

Thats brilliant advice. Thanks a million. I did run a check a few days ago and it appeared to say that the ATF would cost several hundred pounds on top of the service. Maybe I didn't read it properly. Thanks again, I am reassured about what I will be paying for.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thats brilliant advice. Thanks a million. I did run a check a few days ago and it appeared to say that the ATF would cost several hundred pounds on top of the service. Maybe I didn't read it properly. Thanks again, I am reassured about what I will be paying for.

For anything other than an A service, or maybe an A service plus brake fluid, the Servicecare Plan usually works out less expensive than paying full price at a main dealer, and in some cases can be as cost-effective as using an independent garage.

 

[markjay]

Thats brilliant advice. Thanks a million. I did run a check a few days ago and it appeared to say that the ATF would cost several hundred pounds on top of the service. Maybe I didn't read it properly. Thanks again, I am reassured about what I will be paying for.

It's still a good idea to double check this with the dealer, specifically regarding your car's VIN, before committing to the plan.

There's a specific issue with ATF change, and that is that for some model years the transmission has been designated as 'sealed for life', meaning that according to the official MB maintenance schedule the ATF never needs changing, and for these particular cars an ATF change won't be covered under the Service Care Plan, because in this case the ATF change will be considered an 'elective' service item rather than a mandatory one.

On some other models the ATF change is showing as 'once at xxxxx miles', meaning that if the ATF has already been changed once in the car's history, it won't be changed again under the plan.

(Either way, of course the ATF needs to be changed, and changed regularly, regardless of what MB say).

 

[UrbanM]

Thanks for an informative reply. I hope to find some time to research this all before committing.