SLK R172

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gilberto

Active Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Messages
451
I have an SlK that I purchased almost a year ago which was serviced before pick up
Has full service history 39000 miles!
Unfortunately haven't been able to use as much as I had hoped 700 miles only.
Service indicator now says service due shortly.
Given mileage covered can I just have service indicator reset or do I have to have another service?
 
The service interval will be based on either elapsed time or mileage (whichever comes first). If the full service history is all with MB and you want to maintain it then you will need to have it serviced. Depending on the age this may help retain the value and make a future sale a bit easier. Also if the car has MB's free 'Mobilo' roadside assistance a service will keep that going. But ultimately it's your car and if you don't care about these things you can certainly decide to just have it reset.
 
The service interval will be based on either elapsed time or mileage (whichever comes first). If the full service history is all with MB and you want to maintain it then you will need to have it serviced. Depending on the age this may help retain the value and make a future sale a bit easier. Also if the car has MB's free 'Mobilo' roadside assistance a service will keep that going. But ultimately it's your car and if you don't care about these things you can certainly decide to just have it reset.
 
Some things on a car deteriorate even if it's not driven, for example brake fluid absorbs water from the atmosphere and rubber components age all on their own. A service should check these and other 'time dependent' items.
 
Gilberto, think you should be more worried about not driving it than whether or not to service it! I couldn't conceive of not driving mine regularly as I think I would be more likely to deteriorate faster than the car if I left it standing unused for most of the year.
On a more serious note I agree with Stratman and would just get it serviced. You could take out a service contract if you are planning to keep it, I did when I bought mine last year ( a 2012 plate and 18600 miles at the tine ) costing me £43 pm for a 3 year contract.
 
Viewing this purely from an engineering point of view and ignoring retained value warranty etc.
If the 700 miles have been done in reasonable journey lengths so the the engine oil was fully warmed up, then there is no earthly reason to change the oil every 12 months. It would be perfectly safe to run for several years at that annual use.

Unfortunately buyers are blinkered when it comes to service history and will not acknowledge a common sense approach even if founded on sound engineering principles, they will only recognize FSH so the cars value is likely to fall by at the least the cost of the service if you don't do it.
 
Once out of warranty, you don't need to use a main dealer for servicing. A good quality independent will cost a lot less and possibly enable you to cherry pick what you (and he) feels really needs doing. At eight years old, full "main dealer" service doesn't hold a lot of value IMO.
 
Once out of warranty, you don't need to use a main dealer for servicing. A good quality independent will cost a lot less and possibly enable you to cherry pick what you (and he) feels really needs doing. At eight years old, full "main dealer" service doesn't hold a lot of value IMO.
Given I had ( still have ) 2 years T1 warranty with the car and my nearest decent Indi is over 75 miles away it makes sense to use the local Dealer and I expect with a 3 year service contract and 2 B services and a gearbox service needed within the period, it will likely turn out to be as cheap.
 
Gilberto, think you should be more worried about not driving it than whether or not to service it! I couldn't conceive of not driving mine regularly as I think I would be more likely to deteriorate faster than the car if I left it standing unused for most of the year.
On a more serious note I agree with Stratman and would just get it serviced. You could take out a service contract if you are planning to keep it, I did when I bought mine last year ( a 2012 plate and 18600 miles at the tine ) costing me £43 pm for a 3 year contract.
Thank you.
It was because I was ill I didn't drive it!
 
Do hope you are ok now and so will be able to get more miles on the clock next year.
 
Do hope you are ok now and so will be able to get more miles on the clock next year.
Yes I am thanks and looking forward to using it!
Bought it from outside MB network and garage serviced it before collection,
Up until full Main dealer history so one out side the etwork.Hoping to keep for a good few years.
 
Yes I am thanks and looking forward to using it!
Bought it from outside MB network and garage serviced it before collection,
Up until full Main dealer history so one out side the etwork.Hoping to keep for a good few years.
Given I had ( still have ) 2 years T1 warranty with the car and my nearest decent Indi is over 75 miles away it makes sense to use the local Dealer and I expect with a 3 year service contract and 2 B services and a gearbox service needed within the period, it will likely turn out to be as cheap.
Can anyone advise how much I should pay for a B3 service on my SLK.
THANKS
 
If you pop the reg into mymercedesservice.co.uk it will quote you for the required service at full price. In my experience you can knock off 30-40% from that for a quality indie to do it.
 
Can anyone advise how much I should pay for a B3 service on my SLK.
THANKS

Don't know where you are but the Sandown Group (MB Basingstoke, Dorchester, Farnborough, Guildford, Hindhead, Poole & Salisbury) give automatic discounts on cars that are 3+ years old. You would get 40% off labour plus 10% off parts at any of their sites:

Sandown Platinum Programme The programme that gives you more
 
Don't know where you are but the Sandown Group (MB Basingstoke, Dorchester, Farnborough, Guildford, Hindhead, Poole & Salisbury) give automatic discounts on cars that are 3+ years old. You would get 40% off labour plus 10% off parts at any of their sites:

Sandown Platinum Programme The programme that gives you more

I wonder if other dealer groups do that - it’s quite compelling and may match or better many indies. Though arguably good indies have deeper expertise and more care than the main dealers.
 
I wonder if other dealer groups do that - it’s quite compelling and may match or better many indies. Though arguably good indies have deeper expertise and more care than the main dealers.
Thank you
 
I wonder if other dealer groups do that - it’s quite compelling and may match or better many indies. Though arguably good indies have deeper expertise and more care than the main dealers.

A lot is down to the individual garage (whether dealer or indi). My R129 is 22 years old now but I still take it to MB Guildford (one of the Sandown Group dealers) ... they are always genuinely pleased to see it, and have never pushed to do extra work (the opposite in fact - they recommended dropping to 2-yearly servicing due to the low annual mileage). I also had a phone call from them a couple of years ago asking if I would be prepared to sell it!
 
Different brand (Peugeot) but some main dealers will bargain with you! SWMBO's Peugeot needed a service and front discs and pads. A local garage (not a specialist) quoted her a few weeks back for the job and on passing the local Peugeot dealer we popped in and just casually asked the price to do the same job. At first the price was almost double, so thanking the assistant and getting up to go, she asked had we had any other quotes. I sad yes and gave her the quote from the garage. Within a few moments she equalled the price AND knocked off another £30! Pays to ask!!

Last week, job well done and a full valet thown in :)
 

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