W205 C63 Servicing question

[zainster]

Hope someone here can advise?

I'm currently looking at a C63 AMG S coupe that I'm hoping to buy.

It's coming up to 3 years old and its due a Service A.

So I called up my local Mercedes Benz main dealer to confirm everything was in order with the car service wise. They advised that on top of the Service A, it'll need an air filter, rear axle service and a spark plug change? It's done well below average miles so the spark plug change does surprise. Does this sound right?

Any advise much appreciated, thanks!

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[markjay]

Service items are replaced based on mileage or time, whichever occurs first. That goes for spark plugs as well.

If you want to double check what is due, then have a look here:

Mercedes-Benz UK | Electronic Service Sheet

And, the way to reduce servicing costs is by taking out an MB Service Care Plan.

 

[zainster]

Thanks a lot, much appreciated!

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[TitusD]

Air filter and plugs are easy. Stupid prices from Mercedes too!

Suppose the stamps important though

 

[Steve84N]

Supply the parts and get the stamp, that's how you reduce the price. A service package is mainly just spreading the cost.

 

[markjay]

Supply the parts and get the stamp, that's how you reduce the price. A service package is mainly just spreading the cost.

Supplying the parts yourself will indeed reduce the cost, and might possibly be the cheapest option overall - I do not know.

But it's incorrect to suggest that the MB Service Care Plan is just spreading the costs. It is actually cheaper than playing for individual services, and in some circumstances can even half the price of the service. In fact some speculated (not unreasonably) that MB put up the prices of the individual services in order to make their service plan look attractive in comparison.

 

[bootsboy121]

Supply the parts and get the stamp, that's how you reduce the price. A service package is mainly just spreading the cost.

this does indeed workout cheaper then a service plan. haggle for labour cost as well and it does come done. saved myself loads on my last service

 

[Steve84N]

But it's incorrect to suggest that the MB Service Care Plan is just spreading the costs. It is actually cheaper than playing for individual services, and in some circumstances can even half the price of the service. In fact some speculated (not unreasonably) that MB put up the prices of the individual services in order to make their service plan look attractive in comparison.

I know that a plan can make it a bit cheaper, especially if you get two big services out of three or something. If you save on one though it usually means that's averaged out with the next one that's cheaper anyway. The cheapest way is supplying your own basic parts as oil, filters and plugs can be had for less than half what you pay at Mercedes for the same stuff. Mercedes don't make all their parts, they just white label stuff like Mann etc and you can even buy Mercedes own oil far cheaper through the parts department! Therefore, you are still mainly just spreading the cost rather than saving a lot. To me it's no hassle to spend 10mins on EuroCarParts and put some parts in the boot but I understand others like to leave it all to the dealer.

 

[Atavus]

It would be good to see some actual workings rather than the usual war of words.

 

[Steve84N]

£310 down to £188 for supplying own oil that cost around £50 and £300 down from over £600 for supplying oil, brake fluid, oil and air filters costing £85...

 

[markjay]

We don't disagree... both supplying your own parts and a Service Care Plan will reduce the cost.

The issue with the saving on a plan is that it can vary greatly depending on the service covered.

A plan covering two services, Service A, and a Service B plus brake fluid (i.e. the minimum) will save only a small amount... a plan covering the above plus spark plugs change, ATF change, air filter change etc will half the price of the service.

So it really depends on which services are covered.

PS - if supplying own parts, you can supply any MB 229.x oil, but you will need to supply original MB spark plugs and filters, not parts bought of ECP.

 

[guhvies]

Or the OP can just get it after the service is done or wait until the three years are up and insist that the car is serviced before purchasing it.

 

[John N]

Or the OP can just get it after the service is done or wait until the three years are up and insist that the car is serviced before purchasing it.

Or ask for the Servicing to be carried out as part of the Deal!

 

[zainster]

Thanks to everyone, really appreciate the informative replies.

Having spoken to my local dealer - if I purchase the car, I can then buy the service plan for it and have the Service that will be due (mid Dec when it hits 3 years old) included in it so seems excellent value as the next service after that will be covered too which would be a Service B.

Decisions, decisions!

So confusing choosing between 3 cars, can't weight up what aspects of each car I add more value to?!

 

[Steve84N]

PS - if supplying own parts, you can supply any MB 229.x oil, but you will need to supply original MB spark plugs and filters, not parts bought of ECP.

Depends on your dealer, I'm friendly with mine and I can supply non branded parts. I always buy the better brands though that are the ones who sit behind the white labelled ones.

 

[markjay]

Depends on your dealer, I'm friendly with mine and I can supply non branded parts. I always buy the better brands though that are the ones who sit behind the white labelled ones.

Well, if the MB dealer fits non-original service parts in your car and still stamps your service book (or, rather, update the DSB online), then they are being very very naughty.... and what they are doing will almost certainly not go down well with MB UK if they are found-out, because it risks degrading the public's trust in dealer service history and thus devalue an important source of income for the dealer network.

Said that, you are lucky to have found an 'accommodating' dealer, but I doubt there will be many of those up and down the country.

 

[Steve84N]

No need to be dramatic about it, Mercedes parts are just white labelled open market stuff. The quality is the same so long as you stay away from the cheap stuff. Clearly they know this too or as you say they wouldn't stamp the record.

 

[markjay]

No need to be dramatic about it, Mercedes parts are just white labelled open market stuff. The quality is the same so long as you stay away from the cheap stuff. Clearly they know this too or as you say they wouldn't stamp the record.

I think you are confusing two separate issues.

The first is the quality of the service parts.

The second and more relevant to this discussion, is the commercial relationship between the franchised dealer and MB UK. Fitting non-MB parts and stamping your service book will be a breach of the dealer's commercial agreement with MB UK. Apart from the loss of income to MB, and the potential reputational damage to the brand and consumers' trust in dealer service history, there's also the issue of warranty. Any dealer doing this will be taking-on a significant commercial risk.

This is why I said that you are very lucky to have found a dealer who would do that, but at the same time there can't be too many of them around.

And as said this is purely a commercial issue and totally unrelated to the question of the quality of the non-MB service parts.

 

[Steve84N]

Fair enough. I'll just count myself lucky then.

 

[Tom911t63]

I think a car of this calibre, Should be serviced at the Main dealers, You get free 12 months automatic Mobilo cover too. I Personally would stick to OEM MB parts