Servicing Costs

[torvil]

I'm thinking of starting a service plan with MB as the car is still in manufacturers warranty and realise the advantage of full history and how it effects the residual value of a car.
My question is are prices for these plans fixed nationally or can dealers set/discount their own prices to compete.
I ask as a family member worked as a service receptionist at VW, and we used to pay a fraction of the cost on parts and service compared to the advertised price.
So far I'm waiting for Drayton mercedes to offer a price

 

[Dryce]

the advantage of full history and how it effects the residual value of a car.

Well if you believe this how much do you think the effect on the residual value is? 10%? 1%? £50? £500?

It's a simple test. Can you put a number of some sort on the 'effects the residual value'?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Which Drayton dealer are you using?

Most dealers will do a deal if you ask, including Drayton, even Mercedes Retail (actually owned by Mercedes, and service enquiries are routed to a call centre). I'm guessing for you will be Birmingham, Tamworth, etc but with 30 dealers in and around London, Birmingham, and Manchester.

 

[torvil]

Well if you believe this how much do you think the effect on the residual value is? 10%? 1%? £50? £500?

It's a simple test. Can you put a number of some sort on the 'effects the residual value'?

It might be the difference between someone wanting to buy your car or not if you sell privately.

 

[torvil]

Which Drayton dealer are you using?

Most dealers will do a deal if you ask, including Drayton, even Mercedes Retail (actually owned by Mercedes, and service enquiries are routed to a call centre). I'm guessing for you will be Birmingham, Tamworth, etc but with 30 dealers in and around London, Birmingham, and Manchester.

Drayton at Wolverhampton or maybe Stafford.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Try Charlie @ Walsall

When asking for prices with any dealer, I find the following helps - ultimately your dealing with a person, and a business who has ramps to keep busy - at smaller dealerships the person you book with is likely to be responsible for keeping a team of technicians busy and will be keener to do a deal, and larger dealerships tend to see bookings as admin and the person you deal with has little incentive to strike a deal which wins them the business:

1. Be clear about what is actually due based upon the mileage and age of your car, so you know whether "additional items" are really required, as this really bumps up the price a lot, and typically there's some room to negotiate on them. Use the list of scheduled service operations in your handbook, service record, invoices and ESS to work it out for your car: Mercedes-Benz ESS

2. Do what you can yourself, with air filters being a great example. Satisfying and very difficult to argue with if your bought the parts from the parts counter at the same dealer. Provide your own oil, with Costco being by far the cheapest - expect to save about £50 after accounting for the cost of the oil, but tell the dealer when you get prices, to avoid surprises on the day.

3. When calling ask for a Service person by name, it pays to build a relationship, and asking by name kick starts that process.

4. Ask for a breakdown of costs for any additional items which you haven't done yourself already, eg brake fluid, spark plugs, etc. Then ask for discount, and ask if they can do a keener price if you leave the car with them, wait as long as it takes, get in really early or really late to suit their quiet times etc. Ask for a discount on parts too.