So I have a 2015 Mercedes C250 AMG Line premium + bluetec and it is due a ‘B service’. I have got a quote from Mercedes at £468 and for a full service at Halfords it’s £189. Just wanted some advice on which one, as the previous services were done at Mercedes garage before I bought it, but at half the price is it worth going to Halfords? I don’t plan on selling this car in the foreseeable future so not too worried about resale value when buyer sees Halfords stamps. The mileage is 25,400. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Servicing at Mercedes or Halfords?
- Thread starter Adi101
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If you don’t want to pay main dealer prices then I suggest you find a local independent MB specialist.
I notice you are in Newcastle, I’m sure someone will be along with some suggestions.
Don’t use Halfords.
I notice you are in Newcastle, I’m sure someone will be along with some suggestions.
Don’t use Halfords.
It is a little steep and I find it quite hard to justify but if there is no other alternative then it would have to be at Mercedes dealership. I’ll wait and see if anyone local can give me some advice. Thanks for your reply
I understand some places are dodgy (wouldn’t consider Kwikfit ever!!) but my local Halfords I’ve had parts replaced on an Astra in the past and the experience was pretty decent, however big difference between an Astra and a Mercedes. Also not too worried about having a non-Mercedes stamp as like I mentioned I won’t be selling it in the near future. Thanks for your reply
MikeInWimbledon
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No question: neither.
Find a Mercedes specialist. He'll charge you about the same as than Halfords, but will know why there's no handbrake lever (i.e. he'll actually know the cars and their idiosyncrasies), and won't rip you off on the price of parts.
Leave Halfords to women who don't care, are scared of cars, and who like a tidy reception area so that they can read Grazia while waiting to pick the car up.
Find a Mercedes specialist. He'll charge you about the same as than Halfords, but will know why there's no handbrake lever (i.e. he'll actually know the cars and their idiosyncrasies), and won't rip you off on the price of parts.
Leave Halfords to women who don't care, are scared of cars, and who like a tidy reception area so that they can read Grazia while waiting to pick the car up.
leef44
Active Member
If you are asking on here then you must care enough about your car. As said by MikeInWimbledon, if you care enough about your car then don't use Halfords.
It is a case of you get what you pay for. Like you said, a Mercedes is very different from an Astra.
If you are intending to keep the car then you will want it looked after properly. Use an Independent specialist.
If you are not intending to keep the car then you will want it serviced properly by at Independent specialist to keep the value.
So either way, if you buy a Mercedes, don't go cheap and don't use Halfords.
It is a case of you get what you pay for. Like you said, a Mercedes is very different from an Astra.
If you are intending to keep the car then you will want it looked after properly. Use an Independent specialist.
If you are not intending to keep the car then you will want it serviced properly by at Independent specialist to keep the value.
So either way, if you buy a Mercedes, don't go cheap and don't use Halfords.
400ixl
MB Enthusiast
Did Halfords just quote you for their standard full service? Does it cover the additional "4 year" service items your car requires which would have been included in the Mercedes service?
People are being hard on Halfords (you will most likely get a technician with limited experience at a main dealers being assigned to the basic stuff, so no real difference). But saying that, much better to find a local reputable independent and make sure you get all of the required items done.
People are being hard on Halfords (you will most likely get a technician with limited experience at a main dealers being assigned to the basic stuff, so no real difference). But saying that, much better to find a local reputable independent and make sure you get all of the required items done.
GeordieN
Active Member
I would not let Halfords or kwikfit fix a kiddies car, period. There are so many bad experience stories surrounding them and often your bill ends up bigger as they suggest work not needed, seriously find a decent Indy and if work isn't MB specific and you want to cut costs more ie servicing, brakes ect use a recommended run of the Mill garage that has a good reputation.
Some will disagree with me but a car is a car, its a machine but different makes has different needs, the fault finding software for MB is quite specific so hence you need an Indy or dealer, other things such as auto box service etc also need this software. everything else that does not require this software could be done from any respectable garage.
Some will disagree with me but a car is a car, its a machine but different makes has different needs, the fault finding software for MB is quite specific so hence you need an Indy or dealer, other things such as auto box service etc also need this software. everything else that does not require this software could be done from any respectable garage.
I have nothing against Halfords I used them for my last MOT as they were offering it for free and I had just had my car main dealer serviced, but there is little difference between Kwik Fit and Halfords when it comes to servicing, try talking to the Mechanics, ask them Mercedes related questions such as do you need to change the ATM fluid and you will soon realise that they are only used to family saloons.
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MB servicing prices is a joke ,with their service plan i was averaging £500 pa over four years when i had the CLS for nothing more than an annual oil change and one gearbox oil change and it is doubtful if the work was actually getting done as they were caught out more than once by me. I dont know what Mercs servicing prices is now but i just booked my first main dealer service on my two year old BM and it was just £230.
I dont think i would trust Halfords with a car as new as yours as it may need specialist diagnostic equipment (STAR) , access to the MB service portal to update its history which i would want on a newish car. Having said that we use Halfords for all our MOT`s and ,to date , they have been fair and anything that has caused the car to fail has genuinely been an issue.
If it were my car and cash i would entrust my car to a local , recommended , independent specialist. Just wish i had taken my advice before i signed up for the MB service plan.
Kenny
I dont think i would trust Halfords with a car as new as yours as it may need specialist diagnostic equipment (STAR) , access to the MB service portal to update its history which i would want on a newish car. Having said that we use Halfords for all our MOT`s and ,to date , they have been fair and anything that has caused the car to fail has genuinely been an issue.
If it were my car and cash i would entrust my car to a local , recommended , independent specialist. Just wish i had taken my advice before i signed up for the MB service plan.
Kenny
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a. Both Service A and Service B cover engine oil and filter change.
Service B also includes a long list of specific checks that Halfords most probably won't do.
b. Your car is due this year the following:
Service B, plus:
Brake fluid change
Air filter change
Fuel filter change
The Cabin/Pollen filter is also due change this year, but with dealer service it is already included in the cost of Service B.
When comparing prices, check that the non-dealer service covers all of the above.
c. The dealer, or the specialist, will record the service on the MB central computer and it will be included in the car's Digital Service Book (DSB).
Check if Halfords have access to update the DSB.
d. The dealer, or the specialist, will check the car for faults using STAR.
Halfords are likely to use a generic snap-on type tool.
c. If you take the car to Halfords, make sure they use:
- Oil approved to MB Spec Sheet 229.51 or 229.52.
- Brake fluid to the correct MB Spec Sheet for your car.
- Oil, air, fuel, and cabin/pollen filters made by known brands (Hengst, Mahle, Mann, Bosch, etc) and not some 'own brand' filters.
d. Non-dealer service won't renew your Mobilo roadside assistance cover, or the anti-rust warranty.
e. Have you considered an MB Service Care Plan?
The next service will include ATF change (if the car is automatic) and it will be expensive without a service plan.
So a service plan to cover the next two services might be your best move
f. A Halfords service on a 2015 car won't help its resell value.........
Service B also includes a long list of specific checks that Halfords most probably won't do.
b. Your car is due this year the following:
Service B, plus:
Brake fluid change
Air filter change
Fuel filter change
The Cabin/Pollen filter is also due change this year, but with dealer service it is already included in the cost of Service B.
When comparing prices, check that the non-dealer service covers all of the above.
c. The dealer, or the specialist, will record the service on the MB central computer and it will be included in the car's Digital Service Book (DSB).
Check if Halfords have access to update the DSB.
d. The dealer, or the specialist, will check the car for faults using STAR.
Halfords are likely to use a generic snap-on type tool.
c. If you take the car to Halfords, make sure they use:
- Oil approved to MB Spec Sheet 229.51 or 229.52.
- Brake fluid to the correct MB Spec Sheet for your car.
- Oil, air, fuel, and cabin/pollen filters made by known brands (Hengst, Mahle, Mann, Bosch, etc) and not some 'own brand' filters.
d. Non-dealer service won't renew your Mobilo roadside assistance cover, or the anti-rust warranty.
e. Have you considered an MB Service Care Plan?
The next service will include ATF change (if the car is automatic) and it will be expensive without a service plan.
So a service plan to cover the next two services might be your best move
f. A Halfords service on a 2015 car won't help its resell value.........
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Depends where you are in Newcastle, but Stan's Garage in South Shields is recommended by a lot of people I know in that area. It's a poor website as he's only just got round to joining the 21st century...
He knows Mercedes well and has a rather interesting one as his own daily.
As for Halfords, apparently they are OK with bikes but I'd be checking every nut and bolt on one before I dared ride it.
He knows Mercedes well and has a rather interesting one as his own daily.
As for Halfords, apparently they are OK with bikes but I'd be checking every nut and bolt on one before I dared ride it.
Flyinspanner
MB Enthusiast
Halfords.... just NO
D
Deletedmember130310
Guest
so MB never changed the brake fluid (every 2 years) didn't change the air filter, didn't change the pollen filter, didn't check the brakes, didn't change the spark plugs?
Didnt replace the air filters as i checked them when i did the glow plugs and they were clogged , the service manager admitted they had been overlooked.
Didnt check the brakes as they told me there was 6.5mm of pad material remaining , 1500 miles later they were down to the wear sensors, service manager admitted they had been overlooked.
ATF was replaced , i know this as they left the gearbox leaking from the gasket.
Oil was impossible to check as it was a diesel and was manky as soon as it was ran for a few miles.
No need for spark plugs , it was an oil burner.
I took the car for a healthcheck at my local indy and after inspection it was deemed it needed £1200 to bring it up to scratch ,some of this was to replace a damaged hub that had been wrecked when MB replaced a suspension arm the previous year. The indy asked the mileage and said the engine was either a high mileage unit (which it wasnt - 39k) or one that hadnt been serviced , my ££ is on the latter.
K
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D
Deleted member 6183
Guest
I serviced my last E class at Kwik Fit from 3 to 9 years old, until the last few weeks of ownership I needed only to spend £80 on repairs.
When I traded it in the dealer didn't even look in the service book.
When I traded it in the dealer didn't even look in the service book.
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