Servicing

[SLKGirl]

Hi,

I'm new to the Mercedes experience and have ordered an SLK 350 AMG Sport which is due to arrive in 4 week, when it comes to servicing do you recommend main dealer or independent MB Specialist?

As I'm spending the high side of £50k on my baby I want to make sure it's well looked after.

Thanks

SG x

 

[Dieselman]

On a new car stick with the main dealer.

I'm surprised you are asking this question after spending £50k. The servicing cost pales into insignificance compared to depreciation.

 

[whitenemesis]

As long s it's serviced according to the schedule and genuine MB parts used either will be acceptable wrt warranty, so go with whomever you feel most confident with. Obviously a well recommended Indie will be cheaper

 

[SLKGirl]

Thanks guys,

It's not a cost issue, I just want the best people doing the work and from reading around that isn't necessarily going to be the main dealer ?

x

 

[markjay]

On a new car stick with the main dealer.

I'm surprised you are asking this question after spending £50k. The servicing cost pales into insignificance compared to depreciation.

As long s it's serviced according to the schedule and genuine MB parts used either will be acceptable wrt warranty, so go with whomever you feel most confident with. Obviously a well recommended Indie will be cheaper

Both are correct.

Personally I am with DM, my experience is that warranty claims are much more easy ans straightforward when the car is serviced by the dealer.

I would recommend sticking to main dealer servicing until the warranty is out.

As for looking after your baby.... my experience is that an good independent will look after your baby much better than a main dealer. So the first 3 years servicing at main dealer is something I recommend but only on balance.

Cost is not really a factor... depreciation will dwarf any other running costs for your vehicle anyway

 

[SLKGirl]

Thanks, yes am sure in 3 years time it wont be worth half of what I am paying for it... I may have to visit a few main dealers as wasn't really impressed by the clowns at my local dealership hear in Brighton & Hove.

x

 

[Chrishazle]

I've been to MB Eastbourne a couple of times, admittedly not for about 3 years, but they seemed OK.

Have you been offered a service plan? In the first 3 years you'll have 2 x A and 1 x B service (assuming you do less than 15.5k/year) plus a brake fluid change - the other filters are every 4 years. Might be economic to pay monthly rather than a sizeable annual bill - an B service on my C estate is about £360 for what amounts to a glorified oil change, as the brake fluid, air and fuel filters are extras!!!

 

[SLKGirl]

Thanks Chris, yes been offered a service plan so it really boils down to getting the best people I can within reason to be doing any work that needs doing.

 

[GLK]

The good thing about Service Care Plan is that all [required] extras are included, as opposed to paying a one-off for the same service at the same dealer. Don't ask me where's the logic in that, I suppose long-term commitment is somewhat desirable for MB... The end result is a very good value for money, particularly for older car (which of course is not relevant in this case).

 

[SLKGirl]

Well mine is due for delivery on the 14th... out of interest apart from the first service at 15K (A service) is there a service due after a run-in period? if so when is it and is there any specific running in advice?

Thanks

Ana
x

 

[ricky s]

my wifes SLK came out of Brighton Mercedes just recently, must say, whilst I know a few of them down there, we both found the after sales attention was very poor. On the other hand my own E class is in our local Eastbourne Mercedes now and then between going to MB Medway in Rochester, Eastbourne is Ok to my mind, never had any upsets there, and they have fitted me in at very short notice at times, I like them down there, and the wife's SLK will be serviced there.
I hope your own car is great and un troublesome, but my wifes SLK is due into Eastbourne shortly, to deal with no end of rattles and creaks, (sure they will not fully fix these), also steering clunking on adjustment, and the passenger seat feels like its going to fall to pieces at any time, something dreadfully wrong with that seat. at least its under warranty, to which its there for.

Given your car is new or virtually new, servicing really wont cost too much till the 3rd year, when the bill will be a little more, take it to the main dealers for all this, as the other guys have already said, be much easier with claims etc, enjoy our new car, have fun.

 

[SLKGirl]

Thanks Ricky,

Sounds like it'll be worth a trip to Eastbourne then, must admit I wasn't impressed with Brighton Mercedes when I went in there to look at a potential car. Yes it's brand sparkly new... goven it's been on order since August and is made to order rather than a stock item that's had the bits I wanted added and at £50k I am hoping it will be fairly rattle free, otherwise it'll be making trips to dealers to get them sorted out.

You don't know what the running in period is do you? and if it requires a service at that point? I saw in the US models it's at 2k.

x

 

[dozypillock]

I am based in Lancing and have used the indie John Haynes in Worthing. They appear to be highly commended and so far I have had no problems.
Mine is older so would never go to a main dealer unless it was parts, and the price was cheaper.
Had my gearbox rebuilt, and car has been fine since. Car was sorted earlier than they said, and came back freshly washed etc.
I often think it's the little things that make the service.

Neil

 

[SLKGirl]

Thanks All,

The new car arrived 2 weeks early on the 14th, so far am loving it

x

 

[SLKGirl]

I noticed I didnt get a book for the service stamps in it, is this common now, would seem it's all stored electronically?

 

[dozypillock]

I noticed I didnt get a book for the service stamps in it, is this common now, would seem it's all stored electronically?

I believe everything is now stored on computer, but if you ask for a book, I think they will supply one. (tell them you do not trust computers)?

Neil

 

[sjmaxwell]

I noticed I didnt get a book for the service stamps in it, is this common now, would seem it's all stored electronically?

Yes, all electronic now so no book which means that if you buy second hand you have to have the service sheet with the car. The big advantage is that the dealer knows everything that has been done to the car officially anywhere so can be enlightening seeing the true history of the car where it has gone back and forward for warranty fixes!

 

[SLKGirl]

Thanks both... as long as I can get a print out of what's been done, when and by whom then I guess it's not an issue. As you say it's something you'll need to get when it comes to selling it but that wont be for quite a while I suspect. Am loving it

Thanks

Ana

 

[Deleted member 65149]

You have the same fabulous engine as my C350. IMO, the best option for servicing is a four-year Service Care Plan, which will include the expensive gearbox oil change at Year 3 and then spark plugs, brake fluid and filters at Year 4. That's what I've taken out (@£27/month) and will save me about £600.

Unfortunately you can only go on reputation to determine where the best place is to have it done. I agree with the others who have said that it's best to stick with the main dealers for the first few years, just in case of any problems.

WRT service records, I've been given hard copy "Digital Service Reports", including comprehensive technician service sheets that detail all the operations carried out. Partially reassuring, but of course no realistic way of knowing whether or not all the ticked operations have really been completed!

Something worth remembering when you book your car in for its service is to remind them to update the navigation map data. This should be done as part of every service, but it seems that most dealers are reluctant to do so without it being specifically requested because the process locks up a service bay for a few hours.

Most important of all: enjoy your new baby.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Just spotted this in another thread; more reasons to go for the Service Plan.

I had the same dilema with my CLS , long story short.

Over four years at 8k pa projected milage.

Dealer - £42pm = £2k ish.

Independent with OEM parts - £1600 ish.

I went with MB for a few reasons , car stays on dealer radar , Mobilo breakdown cover saving me £100 pa , fixed price as the indy`s price will increase , courtesy car when mine is being worked on , a full MBSH will always carry more weight when moving the car on.

By the time you add the breakdown cover into the equation over four years they are almost the same price , so why not.

I would have a chat with your Indy of choice and ask him to project their servicing costs over the next few years based on you annual mileage, once you get that then you can make your decision. The only thing the Indy will be cheaper on is the labour , providing they are using genuine MB parts.

Kenny