Trusting main dealers with your pride and joy

[Terry_]

I didnt secretly film deliberately.. the camera turns on and off automatically with the ignition.

Quite why the ignition was left on for so long is a bit of a mystery to me.

You do have a point though and thats why I chose not to publicly share what is actually really interesting footage inside their workshop.

Why would you film? If I found out someone had been secretly filming me I would be fuming! How would you feel if someone secretly filmed you at work?

 

[developer]

1. The car wash wash area is disgustingly filthy. Old sponges and rags in use that should not be shown near paintwork, let alone touch it and the cars were being washed using a single bucket method with water so black and filthy that I would never ever let them near my car now I have seen what they are doing. No surprise then that I now need to machine polish it again having been the only person wash the car since new and having done so with Rashman levels of attention to detail.

Mine has specific instructions not to wash after a service.

As to how concerned you should be, I guess that depends on whether you are an enthusiast or not.

I get very funny about anything to do with my car - I'm an enthusiast.

 

[st13phil]

...and having done so with Rashman levels of attention to detail.

Impossible.

 

[Sp!ke]

Why would you film? If I found out someone had been secretly filming me I would be fuming! How would you feel if someone secretly filmed you at work?

The camera isnt hidden, it is staring at you throught the windscreen, besides, its not in there to film people working on the car. It is there to film events while being used like many other cars do that go through their workshop. It only recorded because they left the ignition on.

I am filmed all over the place without my knowledge, both inside and outside of work. It is an unfortunate consequence of living in modern Britain.

 

[Terry_]

The camera isnt hidden, it is staring at you throught the windscreen, besides, its not in there to film people working on the car. It is there to film events while being used like many other cars do that go through their workshop. It only recorded because they left the ignition on.

I am filmed all over the place without my knowledge, both inside and outside of work. It is an unfortunate consequence of living in modern Britain.

Yes Spike we are all filmed wherever we go. Intentional filming of guys going about there work (especially mechanics, builders, plumbers etc) seems to be the norm. The fact they left the ignition on whilst they serviced the car would be more of a concern to me.

 

[Felstmiester]

Thanks for all the comments guys. Some helped and some not so much lol.

Before I embarrass myself. It is still the Mobil 1 0w40 oil there using or has it changed????

 

[The _Don]

Mobil 1 0/40 is still top choice.

 

[AshC63]

Being from a mechanics ground I've always stated ..,

'You can take your car to a Ferrari dealership , doesn't mean you will get the best service .... It's the muppet on the end of the nut'

Modern garages more often have 'fitters' ..replacing this & that but have no idea of why or what made it fail .... You have to search high & low for a good 'mechanic' these days ...

I saw the sad transition From old school City & Guilds / Btechs TO modern copy & paste NVQ's.

 

[AshC63]

I don't think your doing wrong Felstmeister .... Nottingham & Derby main dealers have had so many bad reviews from guys off & on the forum ... So I would have my radar on.

One of our customers checked his Tracker from coming back off holiday, whilst car at a main dealer ( Manchester area ) & was shocked to see his car being used 7:30pm

 

[PenelopePitstop]

I recently had my Smart serviced at Brooklands.

1. The car wash wash area is disgustingly filthy. Old sponges and rags in use that should not be shown near paintwork, let alone touch it and the cars were being washed using a single bucket method with water so black and filthy that I would never ever let them near my car now I have seen what they are doing.

That's what I suspected judging by the fact how my SLK looked after their "cleaning". Can't believe that they don't have proper facilities for washing and cleaning cars.

I'm considering starting going to Guildford or Epsom. Any opinions about these dealerships?

 

[v8sam]

That's what I suspected judging by the fact how my SLK looked after their "cleaning". Can't believe that they don't have proper facilities for washing and cleaning cars.

I'm considering starting going to Guildford or Epsom. Any opinions about these dealerships?

I did use the Guildford branch for servicing when it was Tony purslow on my first Amg and found them to be very good recommended by the forum members.
It has now changed the name to 'Sandown mercedes' I bought my 2nd C63 from them last year and used my nearest MB dealer as the Guildford branch was £20 dearer on the official web site.
They rang to say my vehicle was due for it's first service I then explained to them why I used another dealer she said 'next time give them a ring and we will see what we can do for you'. Hopefully someone on here has been there recently a can give a further update.

 

[krisby]

I have no experience with Merc garages, but I've been less than happy with Ford, VW, BMW and Mitsubishi, so much so I would never use a main dealer again, especially when I get a much more personable service from my indie, he does what I says, in a timely fashion, points out issues I did not ask him to look for and has never let me down, and charges a fraction of dealers.

Dealers I have found botched jobs, missed major problems, overcharged, incomplete work, did work I didn't ask for and ran out of time for what I wanted done.

No doubt there a crap indies like their are crap main dealers, you just need to find one you trust, with the internet these days it should be easy enough to find one or the other that has a good reputation.

 

[Jovie]

Find someone you trust, or wait for it if possible

 

[HarpreetSingh]

Bought my S55KL late January of this year and took it to my local (Inchape MB Loughborough) who gave the car its due service, and IMO gave me a good service! checked the car over, no advisories and told me my tyres would need replacing in a few months time but with nothing to worry about!!

My confidence with them dropped however when i went in for a diagnostics for a slipping gear problem i had- quoted £4K to repair and explained it was a 15 hour job to drop a valve block in the gearbox. Got a second opinion from a dealer outside of the Inchcape group (MB of Wolverhampton) who again carried out a diagnostics and got quoted £1200 inc VAT as the booked time was 2.5 hours and no more. Go back to Loughborough who state they cant beat that or anywhere near...?

In any case, ive built a REALLY good relationship with my local Indy and he has any future work required on my car. I wouldnt stop going to my local stealer just because of that but id be a little more cautious with their pricing on repair work. That could just be down to a bad experience on my part but just giving my 2p

 

[Felstmiester]

Not a great deal to report really. Went in at 8:30 this morning. Took over 3 hours for them to do. And when it was done the guy came over and said your car is ready sir but it had a big screw in the front off side tyre so we pulled it out and it's loosing air reasonably quick but I'm afraid we don't have anyone here to repair it lol.