Service plan vs indie approach

[oldguy57]

Yep another hoary old question about MB history v indie. The CL 65 has reached the gigantic mileage of 15.500 and is due it's last service under the second (discounted) 3 year service plan I have had. Since there is no sign of a discount being offered, the cost of the same plan will approach £2k. The car is fairly rare and fully loaded and very much niche interest, but at this point I don't really want to move it on anyway.
I'm considering a more measured approach to servicing in terms of getting my indie to do an oil change every year with him checking brake wear etc and advising on other issues (I can trust him), I can do simple filter changes myself although changing the 24 plugs is not for me! The car is 13 years old so getting any sympathetic payment in the event of major component failure from MB if it had full MB history is unlikely anyway.
Any thoughts?

 

[W1ghty]

My vote is put the £2k into your own account , start doing your own servicing items that you can and get the Indy to do the rest at your chosen schedule .
That’s what I do with both my 2009 MB’s , obviously my cars are not as classy as yours though

 

[Deleted member 126251]

My vote is put the £2k into your own account , start doing your own servicing items that you can and get the Indy to do the rest at your chosen schedule .
That’s what I do with both my 2009 MB’s , obviously my cars are not as classy as yours though

Interesting.

Whenever someone posts about a (preowned) car they like and asks the forum’s opinion, the first think everyone says is “does it a a full service history?“.

 

[W1ghty]

Interesting.

Whenever someone posts about a (preowned) car they like and asks the forum’s opinion, the first think everyone says is “does it a a full service history?“.

The op says that he doesn’t want to move it on , so if he keeps it another 3-4 years , the car is then 17 years old so won’t be worth anything anyway .
Regular oil and filter changes and an ABC freshen up every few years still makes it a very cared for car .
Those of us that are mechanically minded to do our own work wouldn’t be put off . After all both my cars are serviced more regularly than any “MB” schedule requires but I know this doesn’t really add to any second hand value .
The op seems to be looking to save a few quid I’m just trying to help him

 

[oldguy57]

Interesting.

Whenever someone posts about a (preowned) car they like and asks the forum’s opinion, the first think everyone says is “does it a a full service history?“.

That's the point if I ever decide to sell, although I suspect ultimately I'll get the "Dad have you finished with the CL yet ?" from one or both of sons, expecting a no cost transfer of ownership.

 

[W1ghty]

That's the point if I ever decide to sell, although I suspect ultimately I'll get the "Dad have you finished with the CL yet ?" from one or both of sons, expecting a no cost transfer of ownership.

Don’t forget your old buddy W1ghty

 

[oldguy57]

The op seems to be looking to save a few quid I’m just trying to help him

It's not solely about saving dosh though. I haven't been over enamoured with the MB dealers I have dealt with. The first lost the start button and covered the cream upholstery on the dash with oily finger prints. The second has lost air filter grommets on 3 occasions causing the cover to bounce around and left the door open during a thunderstorm getting the alcantara headlining to get soaked. Don't get that with my indie.

And I don't think anyone could forget W1ghty.

 

[daveenty]

I'm the same as the rest really Pete, FMBSH doesn't mean an awful amount at that age, even with the low mileage and especially if you're not thinking of moving it on.

I also agree with you about the dealerships, they all seem to have been on the same "ignore the customer and do as little as possible" course. Mine's just been done at Stockport (flagship dealership?) though, apart from the free refreshments, I was pretty underwhelmed with the whole experience and will probably not be going back. I'll keep some dealership servicing for a bit longer but only for the breakdown cover which hopefully won't be needed. I think that my last positive main dealer experience was from Norwich when I bought the car. Yes, they were selling it but the whole experience was exactly as it should have been, keeping me aware of the whole process. I can't envisage anything like that at my (or your) local ones.

As for the getting rid of it to an offspring, this will probably happen, though you can always bear me in mind for that old '57 ragtop.

 

[Funkyboy]

Do the basics yourself if you can. Keep all the receipts. Most important thing is oil changes using correct grade of oil. Lots of YouTube videos showing you how to do things. Then as others have said use an independent for certain jobs you don't fancy doing

 

[oldguy57]

I'm the same as the rest really Pete, FMBSH doesn't mean an awful amount at that age, even with the low mileage and especially if you're not thinking of moving it on.

I also agree with you about the dealerships, they all seem to have been on the same "ignore the customer and do as little as possible" course. Mine's just been done at Stockport (flagship dealership?) though, apart from the free refreshments, I was pretty underwhelmed with the whole experience and will probably not be going back. I'll keep some dealership servicing for a bit longer but only for the breakdown cover which hopefully won't be needed. I think that my last positive main dealer experience was from Norwich when I bought the car. Yes, they were selling it but the whole experience was exactly as it should have been, keeping me aware of the whole process. I can't envisage anything like that at my (or your) local ones.

As for the getting rid of it to an offspring, this will probably happen, though you can always bear me in mind for that old '57 ragtop.

Actually not surprised about MB Stockport. Why spend £60m and offer lacklustre service? Met a former GTS owner at an event last Sunday and he was so put off by MB Stockport he sold the car at 3k miles. (The '57 sedan delivery is now apparently on permanent "loan" to said offspring and I suspect that everything will follow suit)

 

[AMGeed]

I would agree with Daveenty and others , do what you can re filters etc but leave the main servicing/plugs/ATF/ABC to a good indy.
There is always a point when it no longer becomes necessary to use the main dealer for servicing. I had a service plan on my E63, but otherwise would have used an indy on what was an 8 year old car. The Mobilo is a nice back up to have should you break down but there are plenty of inexpensive alternatives.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

That's the point if I ever decide to sell, although I suspect ultimately I'll get the "Dad have you finished with the CL yet ?" from one or both of sons, expecting a no cost transfer of ownership.

Don’t forget your other son Bobby

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

CL 65 with perfect main dealer service history is a very very very very very rare. A low mileage one is 10x rarer. I gave up trying.

Personally I would keep it up and make a day trip to a different dealer who wants your business. Or sell it to me, but I’d be grateful if you could wait a few months.

 

[oldguy57]

Don’t forget your other son Bobby

I absolutely deny parentage. It wasn't me I didn't do it. Honestly.

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi , No far from where I live a company claims to be a Mercedes Benz service specialist along with Audi , BMW , Mini , Skoda.

To be a specialist is just that , a company that knows the company brand inside out.

I have a service plan with Mercedes Benz and I found that my local Mercedes dealer fell short of the mark I required but a Mercedes dealer a couple of junctions on the M5 is generally very good.

A local Audi specialist does general inspection / oil changes that are carried out at 6 months interval.

I found that an independent Mercedes specialist using genuine OEM parts was over £200 cheaper for a full front / rear disc pad change.

 

[Skd884]

Had my w202 c43 serviced at mb guildford for £139, use them for the service only and do any extras diy/indie.

 

[markjay]

One typical way of doing it is to get all the scheduled servicing done via an MB Service Care Plan thus maintaining full main dealer service history, and everything else (brakes, various faults, etc) at a trusted indie - 'the best of both worlds'.

 

[oldguy57]

That's exactly what I do at the moment. On the first service I had, MB dealer said the lower wishbones required replacing urgently at a cost of £1200. MOT had only been done the week before by a very fastidious MOT er at the indie I use, so I declined. In the 4 services since by the same dealer the wishbones have never been mentioned again. Trust them? - not hugely.