Newcomer

[Abzo]

Hi everyone I am new here and I am glad I have found this forum.

By the end of next week I will be receiving my first ever Mercedes which I have purchased from a Mercedes dealer online. This car in particular is a 2016 C200 AMG Line night package model. It was initially put up for sale a month ago at: £20780 which I tried to get the dealer to reduce as the car was almost immaculate in and out except for the tyres and brakes which seemed worn. My initial offer to them was £18500, they did not get back to me on that until the beginning of this month when they reduced their price to £18900. I thought well that's good enough for me called them up did all my checks like asking them about previous owners, fmbsh, any faults etc. Now due to the timing of everything the lockdown came at the wrong time so I was unable to test drive the car and get a feel of how its like to drive, add to that I live in London and the car is based in Chichester so is quite some distance away from me so I decided to purchase this car remotely online and have it delivered to me. I know its risky purchasing a car without seeing it in person. But this is from a Mercedes main dealer and I would have extra protection from the distance selling regulations, so I thought I would give this a try. Now my car is due to be delivered hopefully by next weekend as my sales advisor from that dealership is trying to sort out a transporter to get my car delivered to me by next weekend.

Now I plan on doing the following once I receive my car next week:

- Test and inspect everything in and out of the car along with driving it on different roads and conditions to see if there is any faults or issues
- Have security features like Trackers & Ghost immobiliser fitted (Due to my car having keyless go its very risky)
- Install Dashcam
- Get an independent inspection of the car
- Get GAP insurance

As for servicing I was informed by the dealer this was carried out last month along with the MOT which it passed with no advisories. I do not need to worry about servicing for the time being. But what I do like to know from you good folks on here is:

- What is generally better getting a service plan or pay as you go?
- Getting car serviced at main dealers or Independent Mercedes approved specialists?
- Any known issues with the Mercedes Benz M274 Engine?
- Any issues you guys are aware of with the W205?

I am open to hear your opinions on this and any recommendations is welcome. Thanks

 

[MissyD]

Hello and welcome

 

[Sweetooth]

Hi and welcome to you

 

[Pauln1982]

Welcome

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Hello and welcome to you.

 

[togthecat]

Welcome, look forward to seeing your car

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome.

 

[Abzo]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. And togthecat here's a few pictures I got from the dealers site. But will be taking more in person when they eventually deliver it to me

 

[Abzo]

 

[AMGeed]

- What is generally better getting a service plan or pay as you go?
- Getting car serviced at main dealers or Independent Mercedes approved specialists?

Welcome to the forum Abzo

To answer a couple of your questions, you will probably get differing opinions as to which is the best way to go about servicing your C200.
You should have a printout from the dealer listing which services have been carried out so far. If you wish to maintain full main dealer history, check to see if you have the more extensive B service due next. If so, you may want to take out a 3 year service plan that would involve getting 2xB and 1xA service which could be more beneficial than paying for each service as it occurs.

Then there is the alternative of getting a good Mercedes specialist (indy) who will use OEM parts, have access to and update your digital service record and generally take care of your car whilst charging far less per hr in labour costs. Once the car is out of its 3yr warranty, plenty of owners choose this route.
Although he is in NW London (Harrow) Wayne Gates seems to recommended regularly. I've not used him, but haven't read a poor report about his services.

Wayne Gates Specializing in Mercedes-Benz Servicing & Repairs

The Independent Merc Specialist you can trust. Based in Harrow, Middlesex servicing the surrounding areas and Hertfordshire. Call now to book

www.mercservicing.co.uk

Enjoy your car, it looks very nice.

 

[Abzo]

Welcome to the forum Abzo

To answer a couple of your questions, you will probably get differing opinions as to which is the best way to go about servicing your C200.
You should have a printout from the dealer listing which services have been carried out so far. If you wish to maintain full main dealer history, check to see if you have the more extensive B service due next. If so, you may want to take out a 3 year service plan that would involve getting 2xB and 1xA service which could be more beneficial than paying for each service as it occurs.

Then there is the alternative of getting a good Mercedes specialist (indy) who will use OEM parts, have access to and update your digital service record and generally take care of your car whilst charging far less per hr in labour costs. Once the car is out of its 3yr warranty, plenty of owners choose this route.
Although he is in NW London (Harrow) Wayne Gates seems to recommended regularly. I've not used him, but haven't read a poor report about his services.

Wayne Gates Specializing in Mercedes-Benz Servicing & Repairs

The Independent Merc Specialist you can trust. Based in Harrow, Middlesex servicing the surrounding areas and Hertfordshire. Call now to book

www.mercservicing.co.uk

Enjoy your car, it looks very nice.

Hi AMGeed, Thanks for your advice, I have checked to see what service is up next on the Mercedes service site and it seems like the A service is next, I guess this means if I was to get a 3 year service plan it would go in the following order: A,B,A. If that is the case then Its probably better for to do the A service with an indy and then when the B service is due take out a service plan that includes 2xB services and 1xA service.

I will check out the indy you mentioned along with any others operating in London and see which one suits me. Are all the services that have been carried out logged on the Digital Service Record? I would have liked a physical service book as that's what I had with my previous car. But if that's how it works with Mercedes then I'll be alright so long as the workshop doing the service updates this.

 

[AMGeed]

Mercedes stopped issuing a service book sometime ago and its all done digitally now. If an indy or main dealer has done the previous services they will be recorded. Did you receive a printout of previous services when you bought the car? If not, your local main dealer should be able to print one off if you take in your V5.

Re servicing now, if an A service is due next, then yes I would pay for the A service either at an indy or a main dealer, then consider a service plan. It really depends on whether you want to preserve a full main dealer history. Double check with the indy if you go that route whether they can update the DSB.

This site is handy to check what is due next depending on date of registration and mileage.

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

 

[Abzo]

I have asked the dealership that I purchased my car from to provide all the services carried out on my car. But they are yet to get back to me on that. And is the access to the digital service record only restricted to the Mercedes dealers or can we the owners get access to it as well?

As for the servicing, yes I will likely take the route of doing it with an indy for the A service and then will work out whether a service care plan or pay as you go with indy will be more cost effective.

Problem right now is the waiting around for the dealership to respond to confirm a date of delivery which should be by the end of this week along with providing me all the documents like the full service history, details of 1 year warranty and road side assistance along with any additional documents related to my car.

 

[AMGeed]

As an owner, the only way to access the DSB is through a main dealer or an indy with Star Diagnosis connected to Mercedes DSB.
I wouldn't stress too much about not getting the service records yet as long as they do match whatever you have been told when buying. (eg....Yes sir, the car has a full and complete main dealer service history).
Hopefully the delivery, and full documentation goes as planned later this week.

 

[Abzo]

I appreciate all your help AMGeed, will update you all on here when I receive my car.

 

[Abzo]

Also if anyone is interested in purchasing a car soon, I have a discount code from Bedford Mercedes. Feel free to check it out below.