Service Dilemma

[lostinvegas]

I am in a real Dilemma over getting my CLK 55 AMG serviced. Its due a B Service. Its the first service that needs to be done since I have had the car. The car currently has a full MBSH. I took it for an MOT last month which it passed without a problem.

The car has 1 problem I know about which has recently developed, which seems is a whining noise at certain revs when accelerating. After searching this forum I am fairly sure this is a pulley that needs replacing.

The question is do I take the car to the Merc dealer in Tamworth (where I live) or do I take it to an specialist like Mercland who are not that far away. The Merc dealer in Tamworth has fixed price servicing on their website and a B Service is £499.00

I have always taken my cars to specialists and indys in the past, but I would like to keep up the MBSH. Is it worth it on a 2003 car with 60k on the clock or should I try and save some money and go to an indy specialist?

Chris

 

[Chattonmill]

I think you are best talking to Jay on this one....(Jaymanek)

 

[mattc]

where does the OP stand with Mobilo on a 7yr old car?

Personally I would take it to Jay (Mercland)

 

[BTB 500]

I've kept the FMBSH going on my SL, which is 13 years old. I get free MOTs from the dealer, plus 40% discount on labour and 10% discount on parts (this scheme applies to all cars six years and older). Might be worth seeing if anything like that is available in your area.

 

[moonloops]

I would get merc to do main service (stipulating no additional work to be done) and then use an indy to to spark plugs, oil/airfilter, coolant, brake fluid changes when and if then needed doing.

If you want to preserve mobilo as stated above that is. 40% off should be OK for most merc dealers on cars 7+ years old.

 

[npuk]

My car is due a service. When I spoke to two London dealers to get a quote they both said if I didnt do the additional work that is required for this service, in my case a brake fluid change and pollen filter change they would not stamp my service book and I guess that would also mean my mobilo cover would not be extended.

 

[st4]

I am in a real Dilemma over getting my CLK 55 AMG serviced. Its due a B Service. Its the first service that needs to be done since I have had the car. The car currently has a full MBSH. I took it for an MOT last month which it passed without a problem.

The car has 1 problem I know about which has recently developed, which seems is a whining noise at certain revs when accelerating. After searching this forum I am fairly sure this is a pulley that needs replacing.

The question is do I take the car to the Merc dealer in Tamworth (where I live) or do I take it to an specialist like Mercland who are not that far away. The Merc dealer in Tamworth has fixed price servicing on their website and a B Service is £499.00

I have always taken my cars to specialists and indys in the past, but I would like to keep up the MBSH. Is it worth it on a 2003 car with 60k on the clock or should I try and save some money and go to an indy specialist?

Chris

I thought this effected the supercharged engines, not the naturally aspirated 55 engine which is in the CLK55

 

[lostinvegas]

I thought this effected the supercharged engines, not the naturally aspirated 55 engine which is in the CLK55

The posts I read on here were for the N/A engine, it sounds like a pulley or belt to me. The cars performance is not effected at all.

This might sound like a silly question but what is "mobilo" and how do I know if I have got it?

Chris

 

[kwakdonut]

'Mobilo' is the cover MB give you as long as you have it serviced by MB. It is like RAC/AA highest level cover etc. It costs nothing but you have to maintain or re-start your services with an official MB stealership

 

[crockers]

Also with mobilio if your car breaks down you get a MB engineer with Star arriving to look at your car and a free MB loan car whilst yours is being fixed. Valid in EU .... deduct that from your service costs and then MB costs don't look so frightening.

As for not stamping your book - how would MB know that you have had the other items done and therefore in their view they may be providing mobilio on a not properly serviced car......devils advocate..

 

[vijilants]

It is true that some of the dealers refuse to stamp the book if the plugs, brakefluid change etc has not been done. However if you can get those items done by an Indie and provide the reciept as proof, they will stamp the book.

 

[rajinder_1]

TBH i think its all one big con!!!

Mobilo is ok but how can you justify the cost of the servicing just to keep mobilo which in all honesty will hardly be used on most cars.....

Imo you would be better using a indie and getting AA cover, you will defenately be saving money in the long run, like you said a B service at £500 for that you will be able to get your car serviced fully and probably get AA cover for the year

Raj

 

[crockers]

TBH i think its all one big con!!!

Mobilo is ok but how can you justify the cost of the servicing just to keep mobilo which in all honesty will hardly be used on most cars.....

Imo you would be better using a indie and getting AA cover, you will defenately be saving money in the long run, like you said a B service at £500 for that you will be able to get your car serviced fully and probably get AA cover for the year

Raj

But you don't get a full MB History that MAY affect residual value.

So if it's the same - why bother going elsewhere?

 

[Barbanasos]

I had the same thought a while back with my 55. I ended up taking to Mercedes Warrington just to maintain the full MB history for a B Service. They didn't fill me with confidence especially as looking at the history of the car it needed the brakes fluid flushing as well as the oil service and filters etc. They did not want to take on the flushing the system as they feared of breaking the nipples at the calipers due to some surface rust. Anyway told them not to do that and ended up paying just the £295 for the B Service and that price with me providing the Mobil 1 oil.

Stamp went on and then went to my specialist and did sparkplugs, autobox service, new brake disks and pads all around including the fluid flush for a lot lot less. The bleeding nipples were not rusted at all.

See how much they will quote you if you provide the oil (Mobil 1 from costco) and then use their judgement on what components need attention/replacing, which you can do at a specialist..

 

[w124coupe]

TBH i think its all one big con!!!

Mobilo is ok but how can you justify the cost of the servicing just to keep mobilo which in all honesty will hardly be used on most cars.....

Imo you would be better using a indie and getting AA cover, you will defenately be saving money in the long run, like you said a B service at £500 for that you will be able to get your car serviced fully and probably get AA cover for the year

Raj

If only that was true. Although I keep on buying them, Mercs are just not that reliable (in my 4 car experience). I have yet to complete a year in any of them without a breakdown or limp mode incident.

Also its great having the fault diagnosed with Star at the roadside - you can then decide how and where to have it fixed with a print out of the codes & info in your hand (via the HP printer in the boot of the R-class or VITO that comes to your aid).

You also get a replacement car if the dealer takes yours in to fix it - no chance via the AA!

AA will just recover you somewhere.

I have a fully stamped history and always change air and A/C filters myself and show them the receipts (from the same dealer) - ditto brake pads and disks and the glow plugs when they decided enough was enough.

I wouldn't expect a dealer stamp if I did my own fuel filter or brake fluid and certainly not if I did my own oil filter. I believe I'm on shaky ground with the air filters as well but will continue until they stop me.

We have the same little dance every time - I take the fixed price service (which is competitive as it includes Mobilo) we negotiate on extras brought up BEFORE the service and I decline everything they "discover" during the service unless the add-on price is right. I also get a good parts discount as they know me which is an extra benefit.

Finally, I have a near 100% record on goodwill for failures in Year 4 which has saved me thousands so far. This includes a B Class turbo at 90k/4 years where we paid 50% of the labour only - £200 instead of £1,350. I wouldn't pretend the goodwill is easy but if you persevere (and have the full dealer history), its there.

I change the cars at the end of Year 4 so I'm not sure what I would do in later life (although, as said earlier in the thread, there are extra parts and labour discounts to be had on older cars).

Evaluate both options FULLY and then decide.....


I like the Drayton Group dealers - pragmatic, easy to deal with and know what they are doing.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Tamworth are cheeky monkeys. They're wholly owned by MB Retail as part of MB Birmingham. When you call for a quote or to book you're directed to a call centre that deals with all of MB Manchester and MB London enquries and a call centre agent quotes a high figure from their screen. Mention AMG and the price goes up £200. Ask for a discount and they refuse. They say if you find it cheaper let us know and we'll try to beat it - too late, if they can beat another price they can discount.

As suggested, Drayton is a better bet - Walsall, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stourbridge...

 

[lostinvegas]

Thanks for the info. To be honest what you have all said has put me off going to a main dealer. Ive got free RAC and another car I can use. The only thing is the value but I plan on keeping it for a while so that might not be such a factor. I am going to mull it over, over the weekend and book it in somewhere on Monday.

Ive just searched on the Drayton site and their fixed price service is £382.99 compared to Tamworth at £495.00

Chris

 

[npuk]

Ask for a discount and they refuse. They say if you find it cheaper let us know and we'll try to beat it - too late, if they can beat another price they can discount.

Exactly what I found with London dealers. Also if you look on the fixed price service costs on London dealers websites they charge extra if the car is under 3yrs old where as dealers outside London dont. Ended up taking the car for a service today to Mercedes Benz Bedford. Their prices were better and they were more alot more friendly and helpfull on the phone when enquiring about booking the service than my local dealers. Their service today was very good, the staff were friendly and they didnt find extra bits that needed doing.

 

[lostinvegas]

I took the car to Mercland in Nuneaton in the end. I am really glad I did. The service I received was superb They called me about additional work that the car needed and quoted for the work over the phone. The problem whining noise was cured by changing the gearbox electrical plate. Mercland have a STAR diagnostics system so they could easily diagnose the problem. The car is now running superbly and to top it all off they valeted the car and fitted 2 new tyres which I supplied. The price was great too I would have probably paid twice as much had I gone to my local MB garage.

So I am one happy customer :bannana:

Chris