Servicing Costs

[santefe999]

This post is more to ease my blood pressure than anything else. I have just had a major service carried out on my 2000 W202 C220 CDI. I had a reputable Mercedes Independant carry out the service to an a pre agreed price and as an addition I had to have the rear flexi brake pipes replaced as well as thge brake fluid. Total bill £509. Ouch!! but I wanted my pride and joy properly serviced and felt it worth paying the extra. The car has done 133,000 miles and now runs like a dream. While the car was in the garage they telephoned me to say the auxilliary drive belt needed replacing. A quote of £136.00 inc VAT was given but I felt it excessive and declined the work.
Having got the car home I had a case of the "seconds" and decided that I should have the job done. Fortunatly, for me, I was introduced to a Mercedes mechanic who did the job privately using genuine Mercedes parts. I watched in bisbelief as it took him 12 minutes to replace the belt 5 of which were spent fixing the bonnet in the fully upright position. (Catches were seized)
I was more than happy to pay his bill and more than happy to note his telephone number for future reference.
Why is that because we drive a prestigious marque of vehicle we are expected to pay such exhorbitant repair costs?
Santefe999 (now feeling slightly better)

 

[wemorgan]

It seems to me that some garages will charge what the customer perceives to be an acceptable price, rather than what it actually costs them.

 

[television]

Like the dealers all indies may not be very good, and yes some charge almost as much as MB for repairs.

We have a section on the forum where you can Name and praise or Name and blame the indie workshops.

Just loging on here and following some post you will se quite a lot on this subject and who are the best ones to go to

 

[fredfloggle]

This post is more to ease my blood pressure than anything else. I have just had a major service carried out on my 2000 W202 C220 CDI. I had a reputable Mercedes Independant carry out the service to an a pre agreed price and as an addition I had to have the rear flexi brake pipes replaced as well as thge brake fluid. Total bill £509. Ouch!! but I wanted my pride and joy properly serviced and felt it worth paying the extra. The car has done 133,000 miles and now runs like a dream. While the car was in the garage they telephoned me to say the auxilliary drive belt needed replacing. A quote of £136.00 inc VAT was given but I felt it excessive and declined the work.
Having got the car home I had a case of the "seconds" and decided that I should have the job done. Fortunatly, for me, I was introduced to a Mercedes mechanic who did the job privately using genuine Mercedes parts. I watched in bisbelief as it took him 12 minutes to replace the belt 5 of which were spent fixing the bonnet in the fully upright position. (Catches were seized)
I was more than happy to pay his bill and more than happy to note his telephone number for future reference.
Why is that because we drive a prestigious marque of vehicle we are expected to pay such exhorbitant repair costs?
Santefe999 (now feeling slightly better)

TBH you will find that (surprisingly) you can do a great deal yourself.

I also was impressed as to how easy the serpentine belt is to change. About 10 minutes as you say and five of those spent making a drawing.

Unfortunately the only thing that will stop you in your tracks is when you need diagnostics.

 

[television]

TBH you will find that (surprisingly) you can do a great deal yourself.

I also was impressed as to how easy the serpentine belt is to change. About 10 minutes as you say and five of those spent making a drawing.

Unfortunately the only thing that will stop you in your tracks is when you need diagnostics.

Oh no no no you can buy a good one these days for £2-£3k. And at £500 a service thats only 4 to break even

 

[fredfloggle]

Oh no no no you can buy a good one these days for £2-£3k. And at £500 a service thats only 4 to break even

Do you have a genuine system set up with genuine licenced software?

Do you find it has paid for itself?