Service Plans

[willie45]

Are they worth it? The service lady at the dealer where I bought my car reckoned I could have two years of servicing done for £26 a month instead of paying about £850 for the services at the time they appeared. This way I would save £200 and not have to shell out all at once.

I realise I could go to a Merc specialist instead. I believe I would lose the roadside assistance Mercedes offer but I'm not sure if I'd lose anything else. Also not sure if it would be hugely cheaper or not or whether the £26 a month might be a good deal by comparison.

I'm not very savvy re this sort of thing so I'd appreciate advice from those in the know.

Thanks

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Hi, I think a lot depends on how old the car is, plus the service history so far.

 

[This is Pete]

Generally speaking, the MB service plans are good value.

 

[willie45]

Thanks guys. The car is a 59 plate and has done 31,000 miles. It has a FSH.

Would you advise the service plan rather than going with a specialist? It certainly sounded attractive when she described it.

Willie

 

[This is Pete]

I asked the same question a while ago and was convinced that it was a good deal and a good saving.

And you get peace of mind that you keep up the dealer service stamps.

 

[willie45]

Great. Thanks for that. I will sign up this week

 

[akhan48]

I was informed by the salesman at my local MB dealer that "MOST" people get the service plan... How true that is, I don't know! Obviously he was trying to sell it to me

 

[harrim00]

As I do 30k per year my dealer said I should pay for the first service myself as it was quite inexpensive and then start the plan as that would then cover the expensive 4th service and it would cost me the same as if I started straight away.

 

[krisw123]

We started one on a 3 yr old c class coupe with 21000 on the clock. Took a 2 year deal and it covered the 4 yr service last year which includes the auto box oil change. Would have cost us just short of £1000 so a good deal I think. Also just taken a 3 yr deal on my new c class coupe. It also fixes the cost if labour costs go up which they surely will over 3 years.

 

[camerafodder]

Don't waste your money, use a decent indy, they cost a fraction of the price and care about their work.

 

[robtt]

Don't waste your money, use a decent indy, they cost a fraction of the price and care about their work.

First question , when trading in your car, has it got full MB service history.If no, then dealer will reduce price as, if MB dealer, will not put car on sale.Added depreciation more than saving on service cost ! If your car over four years old then, yes, an indie service is fine IMO.

 

[Dryce]

when trading in your car, has it got full MB service history.If no, then dealer will reduce price as, if MB dealer, will not put car on sale.

Really?

 

[davidjpowell]

Really?

Yup. Even trading in at a non-dealer at three years old it will hit trade-in.

Obviously 7/8 years old probably less so.

 

[pagan]

I thought with the rules now that if it is serviced using original fit parts it did not affect the warranty and as such not affect the px price as it will have a full service history.I am thinking of buying a 1-2 year old MB and was interested in the indie servicing as opposed to the MB for the reasons of expense.I am on a pension so have to watch the pennies, but not at expense of safety and warranty coverage.

 

[Dryce]

Yup. Even trading in at a non-dealer at three years old it will hit trade-in.

Obviously 7/8 years old probably less so.

I'm aware of the trade in mind games. I've seen non-MB dealers spout BS and argue that a non MB FSH isn't even a FSH. And they'll try it on at any age. They'll try it on regardless.

I was actually questioning the statement: " if MB dealer, will not put car on sale"

 

[akhan48]

And if you have MB finance, you HAVE to have it serviced with an MB dealership otherwise you have to pay when handing it back.

 

[Rory]

We started one on a 3 yr old c class coupe with 21000 on the clock. Took a 2 year deal and it covered the 4 yr service last year which includes the auto box oil change. Would have cost us just short of £1000 so a good deal I think..

Well, it would if you paid list price. Most dealers will service the car way cheaper than list. I just had a B service, brake fluid, ATF change and some other bits and pieces done for £430 and I know someone who paid even less than that for the same work.

Be careful of making the decision based on the cost of the ATF change - it's not called for on all models (the later 5 speed boxes don't seem to ask for it) and the dealer will not do it if it's not called up by the Electronic Service Sheet.
Mercedes-Benz ESS


I do have a problem with the these plans - many other manufacturers offer them and they're way cheaper than MB charge.

 

[krisw123]

Well, it would if you paid list price. Most dealers will service the car way cheaper than list. I just had a B service, brake fluid, ATF change and some other bits and pieces done for £430 and I know someone who paid even less than that for the same work.

Be careful of making the decision based on the cost of the ATF change - it's not called for on all models (the later 5 speed boxes don't seem to ask for it) and the dealer will not do it if it's not called up by the Electronic Service Sheet.
Mercedes-Benz ESS


I do have a problem with the these plans - many other manufacturers offer them and they're way cheaper than MB charge.

Ok that sounds like a good deal. But they did produce the invoice before I said we had a Service Plan. I still think it is worth doing but each to their own.

 

[davidjpowell]

I thought with the rules now that if it is serviced using original fit parts it did not affect the warranty and as such not affect the px price as it will have a full service history.I am thinking of buying a 1-2 year old MB and was interested in the indie servicing as opposed to the MB for the reasons of expense.I am on a pension so have to watch the pennies, but not at expense of safety and warranty coverage.

That's what they say, but it does affect p/ex price. Been there and done that.

Nothing to stop you getting the service at the dealers and brakes etc. at an indie though.

 

[Bircham]

The indie servicing does not affect the warranty as such but a merc dealer can't sell a car that doesn't have a full merc history as it makes up part of the approved used plan. I would have thought that servicing at merc but other items done elsewhere would be okay. (as already stated). If your car is older then a decent indie service history would be fine I would have thought.