Service plans again

[oldguy57]

I was quoted £67 a month for a service plan renewal earlier in the year and have been pondering since. Passing MB Preston today I called in and they confirmed that that was the correct price, no discounts available. When pushed details were entered on the computer which told the service girl the price was £49 a month. Deal done since I didn't think the cost was too shabby for a V12 AMG. Documents printed off and checked so no possibility of an error. Bit of a result in terms of MB Dealer servicing.

 

[st13phil]

I was in my local dealer (Inchcape Oxford) yesterday for a "waiting" service appointment. Throughout the entire time I was there (3+ hours - don't ask ) I saw not one potential sales customer, and not one salesperson, despite wandering around both the new showroom and the outside used cars deliberately looking as though I might be persuaded to "open my wallet" (even though I'm not).

My guess is that dealerships are struggling and that service plan prices had climbed to a level that was discouraging private customers to use dealer service facilities. Perhaps "market price adjustments" are being made to encourage those who have been walking away to come back to the fold?

 

[TC350]

I'm paying £44/month on a plan I renewed in August. Mind you, I only have half the number of spark plugs to renew every how ever many years it is.

 

[oldguy57]

I was in my local dealer (Inchcape Oxford) yesterday for a "waiting" service appointment. Throughout the entire time I was there (3+ hours - don't ask ) I saw not one potential sales customer, and not one salesperson, despite wandering around both the new showroom and the outside used cars deliberately looking as though I might be persuaded to "open my wallet" (even though I'm not).

My guess is that dealerships are struggling and that service plan prices had climbed to a level that was discouraging private customers to use dealer service facilities. Perhaps "market price adjustments" are being made to encourage those who have been walking away to come back to the fold?

Pretty much the same at MB Preston. the place was deserted. I had received about 8 texts and 2 calls from them reminding me that service was due. smacking a touch of desperation. Whilst previously I had to wait at least a couple of weeks to get booked in, they could do the service this Saturday ( they could never do a Saturday on mine before). They had masses of stock as well.

 

[GrahamT]

£42 monthly on my e220d . Due for renewal in 12 months. I have a good local Independent. What should I do ?

 

[st13phil]

Pretty much the same at MB Preston. the place was deserted.

In fairness, while the sales side of the business at Oxford was flatter than Bonneville salt flats, the workshop seemed to be pretty busy, but - possibly a sign of an effort to cut costs by reducing the number available - if you want a courtesy car you have a 6-7 week wait!

 

[kam09]

All depends on how many services the plan covers tho, and which services are due.. major/minor, additional items.. I'm contemplating maintaining the full dealer on my newly purcahsed c250d whereas I would normally stay away from them!

 

[kam09]

Oh and if I take out the 3 year plan my next services will be 11,12 and 13 with additional items like pan roof, fuel filter n auto gearbox service plus glow plugs! Decisions..

 

[kcsun]

I was quoted £67 a month for a service plan renewal earlier in the year and have been pondering since. Passing MB Preston today I called in and they confirmed that that was the correct price, no discounts available. When pushed details were entered on the computer which told the service girl the price was £49 a month. Deal done since I didn't think the cost was too shabby for a V12 AMG. Documents printed off and checked so no possibility of an error. Bit of a result in terms of MB Dealer servicing.

Is that a 1,2,3 or 4 year plan
kc

 

[TC350]

Is that a 1,2,3 or 4 year plan
kc

You're right to ask, because it does make a difference.

I've had my car from new in 2012 and always taken out the maximum length of service plan available. If nothing else, it's protected against price rises during each period - and we all know how the prices of everything have been rising in recent years!

 

[oldguy57]

Is that a 1,2,3 or 4 year plan
kc

Price per month was the same no matter what the length of the plan. Before the price hike the next service after this one would have been £1500 ish without the plan.

 

[markjay]

Someone posted here that if you pay in advance (as opposed to monthly), you can pick and choose which services you want done on the plan, i.e. you could decide to pay cash for a Service A with no additional items that is 'stuck' in the middle of the next few services. If that's true, then it will allow owner to maximise the benefit that they get from the plan (for those owners who are able to pay upfront).

 

[tonysmb]

Ref the 'pick and choose', I'm not sure that that is correct. I had a quick look at the Ts & Cs and all I saw was that it finishes after either the number of services or the specified time plus 6 months, nothing at first scan to say any different. However, happy to be corrected as it was a quick look on a small screen, not a proper study of it.

What I did notice was a change since I last took one out in that oil/filter is done at every service but pollen filter is now 'time or mileage' based (always was, but always listed as 2-years on a B). For cars on a 1-year schedule, brake fluid and key fob battery will be changed every 2-years, ie B service, whereas cars on a 2-year schedule only have brake fluid changed every 4-years. As it's the same brake fluid, as far as I'm aware, why are some 2-years, some 4-years. Are some pollen filters now also 4-years, or 3-years? Funny that, in some cases, not as much appears to be being changed now.

 

[markjay]

Ref the 'pick and choose', I'm not sure that that is correct. I had a quick look at the Ts & Cs and all I saw was that it finishes after either the number of services or the specified time plus 6 months, nothing at first scan to say any different. However, happy to be corrected as it was a quick look on a small screen, not a proper study of it.

What I did notice was a change since I last took one out in that oil/filter is done at every service but pollen filter is now 'time or mileage' based (always was, but always listed as 2-years on a B). For cars on a 1-year schedule, brake fluid and key fob battery will be changed every 2-years, ie B service, whereas cars on a 2-year schedule only have brake fluid changed every 4-years. As it's the same brake fluid, as far as I'm aware, why are some 2-years, some 4-years. Are some pollen filters now also 4-years, or 3-years? Funny that, in some cases, not as much appears to be being changed now.

I think that in theory you can 'opt out' of any service either way (monthly payments or one off), but the difference is that with the monthly payments you have to take the services within the payments period, while with the one-off you can take the services with no time limit.

In effect this means that you can decide to opt out for specific services only with the one-off.