Servicing Info Please

[Scotsman520]

I have had my E250 Sport Coupe 125 Edition auto for ust over 12 months now so the first service indicator was warned me to get the service done. I have done just over 12K miles in the year. I booked it into my local dealer Mercedez Benz of Grangemouth (former John R Weir) and the service was done yesterday. There was no problems with the car so it was a straight forward service. The whole thing went ok and they did the collect and deliver option at my work so that was handy too, all in all it wasnt too bad at all. Well apart from when I had asked if the Sat Nav would be updated. I was told it takes too long (ie 6-8 hours outside the service time) is that correct??
I didnt check on the price before I booked it in as I was aware of the fixed price scheme for servicing. They charged me £269 inc VAT.
I am not too bothered about it but it did get me wondering are prices fixed by the dealer or MB, in other words could I have shopped around dealers?
The next thing is I am aware of the service deals offered for multiple years of services, can I still purchase this even though the first service in now complete?
The other thing that I have been wondering for some time is if I have to use a MB dealer at all for the servicing?
Can I use anyone else while the car is still in warranty?
If this is the case how do the dealers (and MB) feel about only being used for warranty issues only.
I know I could speak to the dealer about these issues but having only had the driver to speak to yesterday I thought I may get more sense here.

 

[grober]

I would suggest you continue to get your car serviced by a main dealer while it's under warranty. Build up a relationship with the service department and that way they are far more likely to be on your side should any faults arise under warranty. You may wish to shop around but effectively by location your choice is between Western Group Edinburgh,Jedburgh, J R WEIR aka ARNOLD CLARK [ Grangemouth,Perth,Dundee] and Stratstone Glasgow x2 ,Ayr

 

[Scotsman520]

Hi, thanks for the reply, I am inclined to agree with you, I have always used main dealers. One draw back of the the collect and deliver service was that I didnt really get any contact with people in the service dept. THe driver who collected and dropped off my car was very courteous but he was not interested in any aspect of my car other than the time he was to have it back. The dealers you mention are all accessable, which would you recommend?

 

[Kingy68]

Bit of info on Mercedes service package costs in the link below. I've just taken one. You can use whichever dealer you want to. I've no interest whatsoever in building a relationship with a dealer so the fixed cost and not needing to visit the dealer appeals greatly to me. Appreciate this may not appeal to all, but I tried to buy my Merc from my local Merc dealer and failed miserably so I have no relationship nor do I want to invest/waste time trying to develop one.
I was told it had to be taken before the car was one calendar year old. I had my first service done within it and it will have its second and third too. Dealer collects/services/returns (as they did with you) so I just phone to book a date when it's due.

Link: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/140482-service-intervals-2.html#post1592874

When I looked around online service prices appeared to be fixed, and service tel numbers directed you to the central Merc booking system rather than nearest dealer. You could try contacting dealers direct and asking for prices. This used to work for me with BMW and Landrover, but reductions were usually either small or if additional items were required (Eg. Service AND brake fluid) I'd normally get £30-£50 off.

You can go outside the Main Dealer Network in the first three years as long as you use a VAT registered garage who uses Merc parts etc. (Block exemption). You need to ensure they are able to update your digital service history though. Not all can but there are some good Merc indis that are set up to do that but don't take it for granted.
After 3 years, if you take extended warranty the terms may stipulate Merc Franchised services. Likewise if the car is PCP or lease it may well require Merc Franchised services from new.

The Merc dealer will have no problem with warranty in first three years as long as the service schedule has been maintained properly (whether main dealer or indi) - but if you intend keeping the car after then a lack of Franchised stamps will mean Merc will not consider 'goodwill' out of 3 year warranty. Also - after 4 years the Mobilo is renewed alongside the service at a franchised dealer only.

Don't know about the sat nav upgrade as despite having the Command 125 I didn't realise it might want an update. Tbh as its all working I'm not too bothered. A friend had his BMW software updated last year and it was a nightmare with phone/bluetooth after that so I'm happy to leave well alone!

 

[GordonTarling]

My local dealer had my car (S211) for TWO days when I wanted the Comand updated!

 

[Dryce]

Can I use anyone else while the car is still in warranty?
If this is the case how do the dealers (and MB) feel about only being used for warranty issues only.

The EU has legislated to make sure that you can take it to a non-MB dealer as long as they are a proper VAT registered business and do the job according to schedule and with MB parts.

However.

If your car is on a lease or contract or an AU warranty then your agreement may mandate that you use the dealer for servicing.

Personally I would be inclined to use the dealer while under warranty for if it's just once per year for the reasons given by other posters.

However if the mileage is higher and servicing much more frequent or once out of warranty - and especially if other work needs doing then servicing with a good independent specialist may well be a better option. The difference in costs may vary depending on the deals on offer by your local MB dealer - but typically even where a MB dealer offers a low price on a service any extras that may kick in can be much more expensive - and with the independent specialist you typically deal directly with the mechanics rather than a receptionist.

My experience of dealing with MB for servicing was that once the cars were in I would get calls suggesting extra work that I didn't think was necessary - and on another occasion asking for a quote for ATF change that was due they said it wasn't necessary on my model - and on being asked for pricing a major service they quoted basics and only added in the additional *scheduled* work once prompted.

 

[grober]

Hi, thanks for the reply, I am inclined to agree with you, I have always used main dealers. One draw back of the the collect and deliver service was that I didnt really get any contact with people in the service dept. THe driver who collected and dropped off my car was very courteous but he was not interested in any aspect of my car other than the time he was to have it back. The dealers you mention are all accessable, which would you recommend?

I can't recommend anyone in particular since I do most of my servicing myself [ older car] sorry. Other Scottish forum members may be able to comment from experience better than I can.

 

[219]

The above replies are more comprehensive than I could provide since , like Graeme above , I do most of my own work .

However , I do know that the point of block exemption ruling was to take the monopoly away from main dealers and remove their stranglehold on servicing of new cars .

I'm not sure exactly where you are , but if you're getting your car serviced in Grangemouth , I can recommend Riddell's Garage in Bo'ness .

They are not Mercedes specialists , but are a long established , family run garage , now run by the third generation of the family since opening , and my family have used them since the early 1960's to date ( although now in Ayrshire , I lived in Bo'ness for many years ) . Ian Riddell snr ran a W124 for many years , and they will service the cars correctly using only Mercedes parts if you ask them to .

My W124 is going in there next week for a gearbox swap as it is not a job I fancy doing on my drive at this time of year , and they are one of the few places I trust to do the job properly .

Their prices are very reasonable too .

Riddell's Garage (Bo'ness) Ltd


The only other places I can endorse from personal experience are

Merparts in Port Glasgow

Merparts Ltd Independent Mercedes Benz Specialist

and

HK Autotek in Stevenston

HK Autotek

Both of these specialists are run by ex Mercedes-Benz technicians who know their stuff , although might be further away from you .

 

[Rory]

The next thing is I am aware of the service deals offered for multiple years of services, can I still purchase this even though the first service in now complete?

You can do, but it whether it's worth it or not probably hinges on if your car needs an ATF change and when it needs it, as that costs about £250 on its own. Have a look at the service schedule and if you bump the mileage up it may well be required at around 30K miles or 3 yrs - it used to be 37,500 or 4 yrs I think to fall outside the 3yr/36K mile running calculation costs.

Mercedes-Benz ESS

 

[Kingy68]

You can do, but it whether it's worth it or not probably hinges on if your car needs an ATF change and when it needs it, as that costs about £250 on its own. Have a look at the service schedule and if you bump the mileage up it may well be required at around 30K miles or 3 yrs - it used to be 37,500 or 4 yrs I think to fall outside the 3yr/36K mile running calculation costs.

Mercedes-Benz ESS

It's 37,000 miles for a C Class. I had this confirmed last month and added full costing examples to see if it might be cost affective in the link in post #4.

With the collection/delivery service you are still in credit at the end of the service contract even without the ATF change. That's assuming no costs increase during the contract (oil/ hourly rates etc) which may see Mercedes in turn increase their service prices.

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

I have my car serviced by MB Ayr. I have had nothing but 1st class service from them. This of course should be the norm from any Mb dealer, however, this is not always the case.