Service A due with Mercedes approved dealer or general

[Learner]

Hi All,
I have a 7 year old C Class due for a Service A in few days. I am trying to decide, if i lose anything by getting is serviced by a non Mercedes dealer, all it's services until now have been by Mercedes Dealer and also what my good options are in/around my area (Kingston - KT)

Thanks

 

[Will]

Hi and welcome to the forum

If you’re in Kingston, it could be worth the short trip to MB Guildford if you want to keep your main dealer history?

Mercedes-Benz Guildford (Sandown Group) - Good Service | General Discussion

Just thought I’d give them a mention, as I’ve used them a few times over the years now. Not my nearest dealer but have always had great service from these guys - good communication, no pressure, work always completed promptly and excellent pricing for a main dealer. My local dealer is closed...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

Have you got separate roadside assistance? If not that might help you work out the cost of alternatives (it’s included with Mobilo from dealer servicing)

 

[markjay]

There will be very little difference in the sale price at this age between a car with full dealer history and one that has partial dealer history and partial specialist. So you have nothing to lose long-term by opting for service at a specialist.

In terms of cost, the next service will be just a Service A with no additional items, so a cheap one, and a specialist will be cheaper than a dealer.

That said, the following service, in year 8, will be a big one and comprise of Service B, brake fluid change, air filter change, spark plug change (if petrol), and fuel filter change (if Diesel).

If done under a Mercedes Benz Service Care Plan, this service will work out cheaper at a dealer than a specialist.

The service after that, year 9, will again be Service A with no additional items, so cheaper at a specialist.

The following service, year 10, will be a big one again, and will include Service B, brake fluid change, and ATF and filter change (if automatic), so again cheaper at the dealer under the MB plan.

The bottom line is that if you opt for an MB Service Care Plan that covers the next 2, 3, or 4 services, then the overall cost of a dealer service will be roughly the same as that of a specialist.

(The above assumes that you car does average annual mileage and thus get serviced once a year, obviously if the annual mileage is high then it will get services more frequently)

The link below will show you what is due on the next service:

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

The link below will show the cost of an MB Service Care Plan:

Service Plan

servicecare.mercedes-benz.co.uk

See also:

PSA: Service Care Plans 20 Discount Code | Parts, Maintenance & Servicing

I was just about to put my E500 back on a service care plan as I paid cash for the cheap A service last year. The next two are going to be the pricey ones - spark plugs, gearbox oil etc ... The plan was £42/month for two years but Mercedes are currently offering a 20% discount if you quote code...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

EDIT: and, as Will said above, the dealer service will also provide you with Mobilo roadside and recovery assistance for one year from the date of last dealer service, covering the UK and Europe.

 

[Learner]

Hi and welcome to the forum

If you’re in Kingston, it could be worth the short trip to MB Guildford if you want to keep your main dealer history?

Mercedes-Benz Guildford (Sandown Group) - Good Service | General Discussion

Just thought I’d give them a mention, as I’ve used them a few times over the years now. Not my nearest dealer but have always had great service from these guys - good communication, no pressure, work always completed promptly and excellent pricing for a main dealer. My local dealer is closed...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

Have you got separate roadside assistance? If not that might help you work out the cost of alternatives (it’s included with Mobilo from dealer servicing)

Thanks Will,
I have bought this in Feb end, so still have a complimentary roadside assistance.

 

[Learner]

There will be very little difference in the sale price at this age between a car with full dealer history and one that has partial dealer history and partial specialist. So you have nothing to lose long-term by opting for service at a specialist.

In terms of cost, the next service will be just a Service A with no additional items, so a cheap one, and a specialist will be cheaper than a dealer.

That said, the following service, in year 8, will be a big one and comprise of Service B, brake fluid change, air filter change, spark plug change (if petrol), and fuel filter change (if Diesel).

If done under a Mercedes Benz Service Care Plan, this service will work out cheaper at a dealer than a specialist.

The service after that, year 9, will again be Service A with no additional items, so cheaper at a specialist.

The following service, year 10, will be a big one again, and will include Service B, brake fluid change, and ATF and filter change (if automatic), so again cheaper at the dealer under the MB plan.

The bottom line is that if you opt for an MB Service Care Plan that covers the next 2, 3, or 4 services, then the overall cost of a dealer service will be roughly the same as that of a specialist.

(The above assumes that you car does average annual mileage and thus get serviced once a year, obviously if the annual mileage is high then it will get services more frequently)

The link below will show you what is due on the next service:

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

The link below will show the cost of an MB Service Care Plan:

Service Plan

servicecare.mercedes-benz.co.uk

See also:

PSA: Service Care Plans 20 Discount Code | Parts, Maintenance & Servicing

I was just about to put my E500 back on a service care plan as I paid cash for the cheap A service last year. The next two are going to be the pricey ones - spark plugs, gearbox oil etc ... The plan was £42/month for two years but Mercedes are currently offering a 20% discount if you quote code...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

EDIT: and, as Will said above, the dealer service will also provide you with Mobilo roadside and recovery assistance for one year from the date of last dealer service, covering the UK and Europe.

Thanks markjay for advice. If i am reading your post correctly. It will be cheaper for me to get this service by a specialist and than next 3 with dealer. Any Mercedes specialist recommendation around here (Kingston -KT)...
I won't have a high mileage as i only drive for pleasure. I will be surprised if i hit 10,000 in a year

 

[markjay]

...It will be cheaper for me to get this service by a specialist and than next 3 with dealer.
..

Yes.

 

[markjay]

..Any Mercedes specialist recommendation around here (Kingston -KT)...

That's my own personal list:

Servicing and repairs - dealer vs independent | Parts, Maintenance & Servicing

Hi, I have a 5 year old c220 out of used warranty cover by a few months. Plan was to use a local independent for servicing etc going forward. However the 20% discount offer on the Mercedes service plan and the fact that the EML (P229F - NOx sensor) has made an unwelcome appearance is making me...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

As far as dealers go, MB Brooklands shouldn't be too far from you and I had very good experience with them.

 

[Learner]

That's my own personal list:

Servicing and repairs - dealer vs independent | Parts, Maintenance & Servicing

Hi, I have a 5 year old c220 out of used warranty cover by a few months. Plan was to use a local independent for servicing etc going forward. However the 20% discount offer on the Mercedes service plan and the fact that the EML (P229F - NOx sensor) has made an unwelcome appearance is making me...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

As far as dealers go, MB Brooklands shouldn't be too far from you and I had very good experience with them.

Thanks again

 

[Will]

Thanks Will,
I have bought this in Feb end, so still have a complimentary roadside assistance.

So I guess after February you’d need to include the cost of that if you were to move away from main dealer servicing.

See my thread on the link above - Mercedes Guildford offer a 40% discount on labour for cars 7+ years old and should be much better value than MB Brooklands. I paid £133 including VAT with me supplying the oil for my A-service plus cabin filter. 1-year Mobilo cover included

Get some quotes for comparison but I can’t see a specialist being much cheaper than MB Guildford for a basic A-service especially if you factor in roadside assistance once your current cover needs updating?

 

[W1ghty]

Take a drive out to see Ian at Star Mercedes , Reading , he is a well respected MB Indy

 

[Learner]

So I guess after February you’d need to include the cost of that if you were to move away from main dealer servicing.

See my thread on the link above - Mercedes Guildford offer a 40% discount on labour for cars 7+ years old and should be much better value than MB Brooklands. I paid £133 including VAT with me supplying the oil for my A-service plus cabin filter. 1-year Mobilo cover included

Get some quotes for comparison but I can’t see a specialist being much cheaper than MB Guildford for a basic A-service especially if you factor in roadside assistance once your current cover needs updating?

Just got an online quote for £225, it is cheaper than what i was quoted near my area. So looks good but is it better to call them to get a better discount)?

 

[Will]

Take a drive out to see Ian at Star Mercedes , Reading , he is a well respected MB Indy

I’m sure they’re good but a 2 hour round trip seems excessive for an A-service?

 

[Will]

Just got an online quote for £225, it is a lot better than what i was quoted near my area. Is it better to call them?

No harm in doing so, £225 is probably about right though with them supplying everything (I provided the oil for mine) - still decent value IMHO

 

[W1ghty]

I’m sure they’re good but a 2 hour round trip seems excessive for an A-service?

Day out and saving money , what’s not to like (save him for your B service quote )

 

[Will]

Be interesting to know how they would compare like for like to somewhere like MB Guildford?

A service plus Mobilo assistance and breakdown cover for 1 year - £225. Can’t be a lot to save on that?

OP you can supply your own oil, like I did, which would probably shave ~ £100 off that quote, if cost is a concern (or you have a preference of oil type!)

 

[markjay]

I drive / used to drive - from London to Horndean (PCS). And Chesham (WIM). And Brooklands (MB Dealer).... What price a good service?

 

[markjay]

Re Mobilo.... I just bought roadside assistance and rescue for the wife's car. Prices seem to be in the region of £70-£90 pa for the average Joe, though there are deals to be had if you can find a suitable special offer (SIL works in the NHS, and they have a 50% off AA membership, etc). And this is only for UK cover (though I don't need European cover for the wife's car anyway). So Mobilo can have an effect of cost calculations, if you will be paying for roadside assistance - though obviously if you already have this covered via one means or another, then Mobilo will be neither here nor there. But depending on your circumstances, Mobilo can constitute significant saving, especially if you would have otherwise bought the European cover.

That said, it is worth remembering the downside of Mobilo... they will only recover the car to an MB dealer, not to a specialist. Which, for many of us, won't be ideal, and for obvious reasons. I guess that's the sting in the tail... and also (possibly) why they can offer it for free.

 

[Will]

True - but I think Mobilo also cover some minor repairs for free, which on balance could counteract some of that. And if your car is recovered you get a replacement vehicle, they also cover stuff like taxis and accommodation if you’re out travelling etc IIRC - it’s not just a basic roadside assistance/breakdown cover

Eg - I remember a post on here whereby Mobilo covered the cost of a new crank sensor and fitting, and I think they cover mishaps like vehicle lockouts too (like on a recent thread on here)

I just see it as a useful benefit that you don’t have to pay for if you have main dealer servicing

 

[Learner]

Does anyone know the current grace period for a service? If i am able to delay it by 25 days, as i have an MOT due soon and Ideally i would like to do them together.

 

[Mr. B]

Does anyone know the current grace period for a service? If i am able to delay it by 25 days, as i have an MOT due soon and Ideally i would like to do them together.

Mine was serviced 2 weeks ago but was 4 weeks late overall. Didn’t cause an issue.