Service costs for a 2003 R230 SL500?

[pioneercollector]

Greetings all,

I am new to the world of MB! And recently grew a pair and purchased a car that has been on my wish list since it came out - The stunning R230 5L, I have done some necessary things such as changing the consumer battery, getting a spare key made ( I lost a key once many years ago and get very twitchy if i only have one key! ) and having a drivers door window switch changed - All at my local MB dealership, and i have to say that i have been happy with the service and the prices ( Well it wasn't out of the realms of getting my Shogun looked at by the main dealership! In fact MB was cheaper....)

I have quite a lot of service history, but the last few years have been non MB companies, So i have made an inquiry with my local MB ( Synter Group ) about a full service..... They showed me the service plan ....

Service Plan

www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

Now i was expecting a fairly heart stopping quote, But i was not expecting £96 per month! That is almost £1200 per service! Is this normal??? My car is not new, it is a 2003 model...

What do you guys and gals normally do for your precious cars?

 

[W1ghty]

Greetings all,

I am new to the world of MB! And recently grew a pair and purchased a car that has been on my wish list since it came out - The stunning R230 5L, I have done some necessary things such as changing the consumer battery, getting a spare key made ( I lost a key once many years ago and get very twitchy if i only have one key! ) and having a drivers door window switch changed - All at my local MB dealership, and i have to say that i have been happy with the service and the prices ( Well it wasn't out of the realms of getting my Shogun looked at by the main dealership! In fact MB was cheaper....)

I have quite a lot of service history, but the last few years have been non MB companies, So i have made an inquiry with my local MB ( Synter Group ) about a full service..... They showed me the service plan ....

Service Plan

www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

Now i was expecting a fairly heart stopping quote, But i was not expecting £96 per month! That is almost £1200 per service! Is this normal??? My car is not new, it is a 2003 model...

What do you guys and gals normally do for your precious cars?

Steve at Avantgarde Mercedes is an MB specialist just outside of Bristol (Clevedon) , he knows these cars

 

[W1ghty]

You have grown a big pair by the way . Welcome to the forum

 

[V6GBJ]

Greetings all,

I am new to the world of MB! And recently grew a pair and purchased a car that has been on my wish list since it came out - The stunning R230 5L, I have done some necessary things such as changing the consumer battery, getting a spare key made ( I lost a key once many years ago and get very twitchy if i only have one key! ) and having a drivers door window switch changed - All at my local MB dealership, and i have to say that i have been happy with the service and the prices ( Well it wasn't out of the realms of getting my Shogun looked at by the main dealership! In fact MB was cheaper....)

I have quite a lot of service history, but the last few years have been non MB companies, So i have made an inquiry with my local MB ( Synter Group ) about a full service..... They showed me the service plan ....

Service Plan

www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

Now i was expecting a fairly heart stopping quote, But i was not expecting £96 per month! That is almost £1200 per service! Is this normal??? My car is not new, it is a 2003 model...

What do you guys and gals normally do for your precious cars?

As already said - take it to an independent MB specialist. They are licensed by MB and have full access to MB online diagnostics, history etc. Their labour rates are usually much lower than dealerships. A big service will cost matbe £500 and a smaller one maybe £200. I have used my local Indie for every MB I have owned since they were all out of MB warranty. When selling privately I have found that service records from Indies ar perfectly acceptable to prospective buyers of older cars. Such records become part of the MB database for that car.

 

[pioneercollector]

Steve at Avantgarde Mercedes is an MB specialist just outside of Bristol (Clevedon) , he knows these cars

Hi There,

Yep Space hoppers! Thank you for the tip about Avantgarde, I am originally from Clevedon so know the area well ( It was full of scrumpy farms and retirement homes when i lived there!)

Cheers

 

[pioneercollector]

As already said - take it to an independent MB specialist. They are licensed by MB and have full access to MB online diagnostics, history etc. Their labour rates are usually much lower than dealerships. A big service will cost matbe £500 and a smaller one maybe £200. I have used my local Indie for every MB I have owned since they were all out of MB warranty. When selling privately I have found that service records from Indies ar perfectly acceptable to prospective buyers of older cars. Such records become part of the MB database for that car.

Now those prices are what i was expecting,.... But £500 for a big service is exactly what i am looking for! As the service record is a bit sketchy over the last few years i just want to make sure everything is right - And i bought this car after lots of searching with a wedge of independent invoices, so it didn't phase me - Not that i am planning to sell this car, i tend to keep my vehicles for some time - I purchased an Yamaha XJR1300 in 2000, and i still have her!

Cheers both I will let you know how i get on.

 

[flowrider]

Here are all the service items I did on my SL500 when I bought it, I have included the recommended service intervals. I tend to take the advice of my indy as I do very low annual mileage.

Engine oil & filter - 2yrs
ATF - 4yrs or 40k miles
Brake fluid - 2yrs (I have mine changed every 3yrs)
ABC fluid (inc. filter) - 2yrs (I have mine changed every 3yrs)
Fuel filter - 4yrs or 50k miles
Coolant - 15yrs or 155k miles
Spark plugs - 4yrs or 60k miles
Air cleaner - 4yrs or 50k miles
Pollen/Combination filter - 2yrs or 30k miles

 

[Monkeylegend]

I used an Indy for mine with no issues.

The chances of finding a technician in a main dealer who knows these older cars well is much less likely than than finding a knowledgeable indy in my view.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

In addition to finding a reliable independent who will charge you half the main dealer rate, five things:

Batteries go flat easily. It's the way the cars were built and the way that people use them. Please just buy, or borrow, a battery conditioner and charge it before Winter, and if you're leaving the thing unused for a month or more.

Check the boot for damp ingress and avoid closing or opening the boot if it's raining, where possible. Rubber window seals fail or go unmaintained and it can cost at least a grand if you get water in the electrics at the bottom of the spare wheel well.

Make sure that the ABC oil has been replaced recently.

As with any old car, just use the thing, and make sure that the different bits are stirred into life occasionally: opening / closing the roof, windows, switching on the air con, yada yada. The fastest route to failure is to leave functions unused for a year or few.

Check the (four digit) date stamps on the tyres. if they more than six years old, inspect them carefully. They'll probably be fine, but a lot of SL's run around on very old tyres because they do such low mileages.

 

[V6GBJ]

Now those prices are what i was expecting,.... But £500 for a big service is exactly what i am looking for! As the service record is a bit sketchy over the last few years i just want to make sure everything is right - And i bought this car after lots of searching with a wedge of independent invoices, so it didn't phase me - Not that i am planning to sell this car, i tend to keep my vehicles for some time - I purchased an Yamaha XJR1300 in 2000, and i still have her!

Cheers both I will let you know how i get on.

I forgot to say Welcome to the Forum! The collective knowledge and experience here is amazing!

 

[Teego]

Mercedes have two standard services.
Service A is an oil change and inspection.
Service B (the BIG one!) is the same as Service A but with more inspections.
Service A plus an MoT test covers more ground than Service B for a fraction of the price.
All other stuff like filters, plugs, fluid changes etc etc are additional items which may be bolted on to an A or B service depending on time and mileage.
Rather than rely on MB computers I built my own service schedules on Excel.

 

[ToeKnee]

I have a more modern SL and my service care plan is only £45 a month, for three years/ three services, have they made a mistake with your pricing?

 

[Petrol Pete]

Hello and welcome . Give Ben or Luke a call at Parkway in Bristol as well. No frills MB indy . Does the 'big stuff' on my C55 AMG . No complaints so far.

Parkway Mercedes – Care Care – The Right Way

www.parkwaymercedes.com

 

[pioneercollector]

Hi Everyone,

Great tips and advice thank you!

I am trying to work through get my head around what i really need to do with mine as some of the servicing is vague over the last few years - I know that the ABC pump has been changed ( one of the reasons i purchased this particular car ) So 'Thank you flowrider' that is just the list i am going to use!!

I was wondering if the quote for the servicing varies from MB place to place? And if my local MB place is actually a franchise?? ( Synter Group ) ....??

One question i do have? I do put the rear battery on trickle charge when the car is at home, but i have a nice dry lock up that i was going to store the car in for the winter..... Alas it has no power... Is it better to disconnect both batteries when in storage, or rely on taking the car out for a quick spin every other weekend ( If the weather is OK and no salt on the roads! ) I was looking at something called a 'Battery Brain' but not sure if that would work well....

By the way i absolutely love this car! And the insurance was ridiculously cheap!

 

[Teego]

Hi Everyone,

Great tips and advice thank you!

I am trying to work through get my head around what i really need to do with mine as some of the servicing is vague over the last few years - I know that the ABC pump has been changed ( one of the reasons i purchased this particular car ) So 'Thank you flowrider' that is just the list i am going to use!!

I was wondering if the quote for the servicing varies from MB place to place? And if my local MB place is actually a franchise?? ( Synter Group ) ....??

One question i do have? I do put the rear battery on trickle charge when the car is at home, but i have a nice dry lock up that i was going to store the car in for the winter..... Alas it has no power... Is it better to disconnect both batteries when in storage, or rely on taking the car out for a quick spin every other weekend ( If the weather is OK and no salt on the roads! ) I was looking at something called a 'Battery Brain' but not sure if that would work well....

By the way i absolutely love this car! And the insurance was ridiculously cheap!

According to my man at Merc, all dealerships outside the M25 are, or will become, franchises.

 

[G7Wagen]

Welcome.. check your boot seal very carefully.... water in the boot can lead to an expensive electrical repair... boot seal is only £100 or so... worth checking it is not leaking.

Great colour choice and year (Snap!)

 

[V6GBJ]

Hi Everyone,

Great tips and advice thank you!

I am trying to work through get my head around what i really need to do with mine as some of the servicing is vague over the last few years - I know that the ABC pump has been changed ( one of the reasons i purchased this particular car ) So 'Thank you flowrider' that is just the list i am going to use!!

I was wondering if the quote for the servicing varies from MB place to place? And if my local MB place is actually a franchise?? ( Synter Group ) ....??

One question i do have? I do put the rear battery on trickle charge when the car is at home, but i have a nice dry lock up that i was going to store the car in for the winter..... Alas it has no power... Is it better to disconnect both batteries when in storage, or rely on taking the car out for a quick spin every other weekend ( If the weather is OK and no salt on the roads! ) I was looking at something called a 'Battery Brain' but not sure if that would work well....

By the way i absolutely love this car! And the insurance was ridiculously cheap!

Most (if not all ?) dealerships are franchises and some are multi site/semi national like Sytner and Inchcape. The two Inchcape franchises near me charge the same. Take your car to an Indy and they will do a health check and probably free of charge. You will then be able to plan the work needed according to need/priority/urgency. My local Indy has done this with every used MB that I've bought.
If you cannot charge at your lock up I would not disconnect the batteries since you will lose all the memory stuff, of which there isa lot! Buy a volt meter and take it for a spin when the battery gets close to 12.5 V

 

[Petrol Pete]

Your car will 'die' pretty quickly in a lock up without power, they all do . It seems a bit of an MB trait , leave it standing for a few weeks and it breaks down .
The older cars seem to fair better , my 2006 C55 can sit for weeks and weeks and still start up but if you search you will find many a (newer) MB that breaks down after standing still for a short while. Usually battery related.

Not sure if there is a solar powered option out there for you ? A panel on the roof of the lock up maybe .

PS . Make sure the lock up is rodent free

 

[ChrisHGTV]

Your car will 'die' pretty quickly in a lock up without power, they all do . It seems a bit of an MB trait , leave it standing for a few weeks and it breaks down .
The older cars seem to fair better , my 2006 C55 can sit for weeks and weeks and still start up but if you search you will find many a (newer) MB that breaks down after standing still for a short while. Usually battery related.

Not sure if there is a solar powered option out there for you ? A panel on the roof of the lock up maybe .

PS . Make sure the lock up is rodent free

Not sure if it helps but i use a physical battery isolator on my Alfa as it would only last a couple of weeks before dying. It means the alarm is off but it's secure and i guess the isolator also adds a degree of theft protection. It works a treat but the SL may be a bit more complex electrically so not sure if you'd have issues!

 

[pioneercollector]

Hi All,

Sage like advice! I have been in contact with a local independent MB specialist, and for all of the items on the list posted by 'flowrider' it will be around the £750 mark - Which i didn't think was to bad - That included a full gearbox service...
List from 'flowrider' :
Engine oil & filter - 2yrs
ATF - 4yrs or 40k miles
Brake fluid - 2yrs (I have mine changed every 3yrs)
ABC fluid (inc. filter) - 2yrs (I have mine changed every 3yrs)
Fuel filter - 4yrs or 50k miles
Coolant - 15yrs or 155k miles
Spark plugs - 4yrs or 60k miles
Air cleaner - 4yrs or 50k miles
Pollen/Combination filter - 2yrs or 30k miles

I did do quite a bit of searching before i settled on this particular model, and yes the boot seal did appear on quite a few forums! I managed to get my hand on a really nice quality all weather car cover that is made for the SL - which i will use when the car is sat on the drive and the weather looks..... well this is the UK!

Oddly enough the battery that starts the car is really good, i left the car for three weeks, it fired up straight away, not the case with the consumer battery ( I replaced this one ), I do have a trickle charger set up on the drive.

Solar charging Hmmmm that might work - Thank you, i will look into that

Great forum by the way