Serrvice care plan dilemma

[borz]

Hello
four moth ago I took up a service care plan which is good for two service ,this week I booked her in for B service and asked for the spark plugs to be change but was refused on the grounds that the car is three years old and they only change the plugs ofter 4 years ,is that true or should it be for me to ask for as it is part of the B service?

 

[Hi-Ho Silver]

As far as I am aware, MB parts tend to have a lifespan. This varies for different components. MB will only change the components which need to be changed as per their servicing schedule. So if the plugs were changed 2 years ago and they have a 4 year lifespan, they won't change the plugs. Another way to look at this is that you are not being charged for parts which do not need changing.

If you want something to be changed which is not part of that schedule (A or B), you could request it and they might change it, though my guess is that the part might have to be genuine MB parts, as otherwise they cannot guarantee them and you will be charged for something which did not need to be changed anyway. Why spend money you don't have to spend on something which is still perfectly good.

There are people on this forum who are far more experienced than I am, so wait for their replies before doing or saying anything to MB.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rory]

I had the predecessor plan - Mercedes ServicePlus. I would take my car in and the service advisor would regale with me with great lists of work that needed doing. Then they'd ask how I'd be paying and when I said "ServicePlus" they visibly slumped!

Surprise surprise, when I picked the car up "the technician discovered that it only needed the oil changing and the horn beeping"! I don't think I've ever owned a car that's needed so little work doing at services as my MB. Yet I'm convinced that if I'd been a cash paying customer they'd have cheerfully done all the work they could think of.

The good news in your case is that, as mentioned in the previous post, quite a bit of stuff needs doing at 4 years, so you should get it done at the next service as part of the plan, and then you'll be clear until the next 4 years (depending on mileage).

One interesting thing, if you have an auto, is whether they'll do the 4yr/37,500 mile ATF change as part of the plan.

If you put your car details in here Mercedes-Benz ESS it will tell you what needs doing.

 

[Hi-Ho Silver]

Veering slightly off-piste here.

Anyone know where the oil filter is on my clk230k? I've spotted something which looks like an oil filter but it's on top, upside down and to the front right of the engine. Small, black, domed, cylinder of some sort.

 

[quasarman]

Veering slightly off-piste here.

Anyone know where the oil filter is on my clk230k? I've spotted something which looks like an oil filter but it's on top, upside down and to the front right of the engine. Small, black, domed, cylinder of some sort.

That'll be your filter (or rather its cover) does it have something like tighten 45nm written on it

 

[borz]

hello
thank you for your advice ,the person dealing with me said that the spark plugs will be change at next service and Rory is right because before I told them about the service plan I asked for the plugs to be change there was no rejection until I mentioned the plan,I really do not understand because I paid £600 pounds for these two services.
appreciate your respond

 

[Hi-Ho Silver]

I just paid about £400 (slightly more) for an A service at my MB main dealership.

For £600, I would expect everything to be changed regardless of age. Doesn't sound as if it's been that straight a deal to me - just a feeling i'm getting though not sure of where any 'catch' might be.

 

[Dryce]

Hello
four moth ago I took up a service care plan which is good for two service ,this week I booked her in for B service and asked for the spark plugs to be change but was refused on the grounds that the car is three years old and they only change the plugs ofter 4 years ,is that true or should it be for me to ask for as it is part of the B service?

Check the service sheet. On my car the plugs were specified as being due at 4years or a specified mileage.

They provide an online service sheet based on model, age, and mileage at:

Mercedes-Benz ESS

 

[Rory]

...I really do not understand because I paid £600 pounds for these two services.

The deal is that the plan covers whatever Mercedes scheduled servicing is required.

The problem you're having is a Mercedes scheduled service is a very basic thing - an A service is an oil and filer change, and a B service is the same, plus pollen filter and key battery. On both service they do the routine safety checks, supposedly in a bit more detail on the B service.

Everything else is "additional work" and is carried out based on time and mileage. Ie brake fluid every 2 years, spark plugs every 4years or XXXXX miles (I have a diesel so don't know the mileage) - same for fuel and air filters, poly v-belt check etc.

The dealer has to get authorisation from Mercedes so they get paid for the work, and Mercedes won't authorise things to be done before their required date/mileage. This is absolutely standard fleet maintenance practice. It's one of the pains if you have a company car - you can never get the garage to do anything non-routine as they know they'll have trouble getting paid!

 

[borz]

Hello
thank you Roy and every body else for your constructive comments and it Simms fir decision by MB as far as they will change the plugs on next service I am happy.thanks again to every body who answer my question