Servicing choices

[Barker44]

My C63 is up for its first service and have received the obligatory email from Mercedes..

Now my dilemma, although when I bought the car around about a year ago this week the Mercedes garage was owned by an independent Merc dealer but has recently been taken over by Arnold Clark.. A Scottish franchise!!

Now I have heard most the specialists have left because of this and the next nearest dealer is Edinburgh, an hours drive!!

Do I trust the quick fit fitters to service my pride and joy or take the 3hr round trip to Edinburgh :-/

Anyone had dealings with Arnold clark?

 

[SeeSixty3]

I bought my C63 from Arnold Clark Perth if that helps....they were alright

 

[Barker44]

Hmmmm, well that was my other choice, going through to Perth..
Suppose I could give them a go!!

What's involved in the first service? Anyone know?

 

[wemorgan]

What's involved in the first service? Anyone know?

https://www.mymercedesservice.co.uk/home

 

[FastLaneJB]

I can understand your concern. I wouldn't trust a Scottish dealer with my car either. Come down to England and your pride and joy will be safe

Hopefully you'll stay in the UK for a long time to come. Be a shame for the country to split up plus just think you'd have to register on a new mbclub.co.scott. More hassle than it's worth setting up a new login and password, even more so than a new currency

I'm just kidding by the way, I couldn't resist.

 

[Barker44]

Haha... Oh god not another membership setup!! It's as bad as having to apply for a Scottish passport.

I'm tempted in having a run to Edinburgh to have it serviced but after looking at the service plan, an oil and filter change can't be that difficult for them... I could do it with one hand tied behind my back but I need that stamp.. :-/

Wonder if there's a Merc garage in Aberdeen, could pop it in after the LSD gets fitted.. Hmmmm.......

I'm actually from Yorkshire so appreciate the banta more that the sweaty socks...

 

[paulshep69]

I have mine serviced at Arnold Clark in Inverness and receive a 25% discount each time. The A service was around £320, the B service was £360 I believe, so cheaper than the service plan.

There is a good indie near Edinburgh going by the name of Cocoskustoms.co.uk he was an AMG mechanic for 16 years, he extensively works on VW camper vans but still will turn his hand to the Mercs too.

There is a dealer in Aberdeen but I'm afraid I have no experience of them personally, one of my work mates used them though for his C63 servicing, he did not have anything negative to say about them but I believe they were quite pricey.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Any main dealer, regardless of their reputation or loss of experienced technicians ought to be able to perform an A service - if they can't then they should lose the franchise!

Ultimately there's nothing different involved in performing an A service on an 63 than any other model, except the diff (which IIRC is a one off operation). There are so many 63s around these days they'll be very familiar with what's involved.

Complex diagnostics may be different, as experience helps even in an age computer based diagnostics.

Whether service or value is better elsewhere is a different question.

 

[V8andTurbos]

Just checked my car on the MB site. Over £650 for a Serv B (C63)

All I can see is oil and filter, trans oil and whole lot of checks. Seriously over priced

 

[wemorgan]

^ think of it as the RRP. Negotiation/haggling is quite expected these days. Plus if you provide your own oil then price falls significantly.

 

[V8andTurbos]

I'd rather take the car to MSL and have the diff oil and every other olil changed in the car for considerbly less. They would Prob take more care too.

Only probelm there is lack of digital serv history come resale

 

[omnipresent]

MB Edinburgh wont let you supply your own oil... They will negotiate though. They used generic Merc oil in mine as i wanted to buy 1ltr in case of top ups, they couldnt tell me anything other than it was the correct oil for the car. My service sheet says 5w30, the check list says 5w40...They only sell 5ltrs at an 'enhanced' cost if i ever need a top up. I was due to pick the car up at 4:30pm and was still waiting at 5:55pm!!
I got an mot at 50% discount.
I reckon i'll shop around for next service however, MB Edi is nearby which is why i went.

 

[Barker44]

What a mine field!!! I'd love to take it to M-tech in dundee as there cares usually range between Astons, M3/5's, RS4 and last time I dropped by an R8 was sat there with the inlets off for cleaning.

But I got a service package with the car so it's Mercedes all the way..

Guess I'll try dundee and report back... But I will not drop the car in till I know it's approved AMG oil..

Does the diff oil get changed in the first service? Didn't see it on the service plan

Oh was also quoted £360 for an A service... If u were interested..

 

[The _Don]

Lsd oil should have been changed at approx 1800 miles.

 

[Barker44]

Cheers guys..

Not got an LSD as yet but I get one fitted on the 9th June so I guess I'll be changing that diff oil out pretty soon after..

Thanks don.. And thanks guys for the input

 

[paulshep69]

Cheers guys.. Not got an LSD as yet but I get one fitted on the 9th June so I guess I'll be changing that diff oil out pretty soon after.. Thanks don.. And thanks guys for the input ddc4dcdffb

I assume you will be fitting a Quaife LSD?

If so, there is no need to change the oil at 3000 km as per the OEM MB LSD, they are just a fit and forget diff in comparison.

 

[V8andTurbos]

How often should the limited slip diff fluid be changed? My car has a quaife fitted, might be going to BHAM soon so could pop into msl at same time

 

[paulshep69]

How often should the limited slip diff fluid be changed? My car has a quaife fitted, might be going to BHAM soon so could pop into msl at same time

I'm not sure it needs replaced at all with a Quaife diff, it just doesn't wear like an MB diff.

Non LSD diffs are sealed for life, I'm assuming the Quaife is the same once fitted.