What constitutes 'Service History' with a Mercedes?

[ErrorInConnection]

Hey all, new to the forum after having quite a few VWs and Audis previously.

I was used to buying cars with service books but it seems that times have changed.

So I wanted to ask, what your views are on what constitutes Service History with a Merc that's under 10 years old?

Does it have to be all online in your opinion, or would you be fine with a physical service book?

 

[SpikyMikey]

Hey all, new to the forum after having quite a few VWs and Audis previously.

I was used to buying cars with service books but it seems that times have changed.

So I wanted to ask, what your views are on what constitutes Service History with a Merc that's under 10 years old?

Does it have to be all online in your opinion, or would you be fine with a physical service book?

When I sold my C Class on Motorway they were more than happy with a printout of the digital record from MB (prior to my ownership) and detailed receipts from my indie for the servicing done during my time with the car.
Welcome BTW!

 

[SmartAmg]

 

[Sweetooth]

Hi and welcome

 

[tonysmb]

Where it's recoreed is irrelevant to me, what I want to know is what's been done, when, and what proof is there that it's been done?

 

[markjay]

The Digital Service Book (DSB) will contain records of all services carried out by MB dealers, and also of services carried out by authoritised independent specialists. You should get the seller to provide you with a printout of the DSB before you do anything else.

Then, the DSB printout could be supplemented by either printed receipts from non-sepcialist garages (who do not have access to the MB DSB), and/or by invoices for service items such as engine oil and filters if the previous owner(s) serviced the car DIY.

The potential issue is that smaller traders might not be able to obtain the DSB printout from MB, and if it wasn't provided by the previous owner when trading-in the car (or if it was lost at some point after that), then the car is effectively sold without service history, even if the seller is trying to convince you otherwise.

In terms of value... the gold standard for a 10 years old car is obviously straight 10 services done by an MB dealer. But these are rare (though not entirely unheard of, especially if the previous owner took out the MB Service Care Plan). Typically, you'll see the first 3 services done at an MB dealer (while the car was under warranty), then the next few services by an independent specialist, and possibly the last two services by a non-brand-specific smaller garage. I'd be happy with that.

Now, this is true for the standard cars. With AMG cars and other rare/expensive models, the expectation is for MB dealer servicing throughout, with the only exception being services carried out by respected non-franchised AMG specialists (such as MSL in Birmingham).

 

[ErrorInConnection]

The Digital Service Book (DSB) will contain records of all services carried out by MB dealers, and also of services carried out by authoritised independent specialists. You should get the seller to provide you with a printout of the DSB before you do anything else.

Then, the DSB printout could be supplemented by either printed receipts from non-sepcialist garages (who do not have access to the MB DSB), and/or by invoices for service items such as engine oil and filters if the previous owner(s) serviced the car DIY.

The potential issue is that smaller traders might not be able to obtain the DSB printout from MB, and if it wasn't provided by the previous owner when trading-in the car (or if it was lost at some point after that), then the car is effectively sold without service history, even if the seller is trying to convince you otherwise.

In terms of value... the gold standard for a 10 years old car is obviously straight 10 services done by an MB dealer. But these are rare (though not entirely unheard of, especially if the previous owner took out the MB Service Care Plan). Typically, you'll see the first 3 services done at an MB dealer (while the car was under warranty), then the next few services by an independent specialist, and possibly the last two services by a non-brand-specific smaller garage. I'd be happy with that.

Now, this is true for the standard cars. With AMG cars and other rare/expensive models, the expectation is for MB dealer servicing throughout, with the only exception being services carried out by respected non-franchised AMG specialists (such as MSL in Birmingham).

So what about buying a car that shows no previous history on the DSB (like zero SH), but shows the stamps from previous garages in a service book?

 

[markjay]

So what about buying a car that shows no previous history on the DSB (like zero SH), but shows the stamps from previous garages in a service book?

Although a printed service book was never supplied with the car when new (not since 2008, anyway), you can buy a blank service book off eBay etc and have it stamped like in the old days, if you do wish.

The obvious issue with the printed service book is that the stamps are easily forged (fake stamps used to be sold on eBay......), so personally I really don't know how much I would trust such a stamped book these days.

The other issue is that if the DSB is empty, then this means that the car was never serviced by a dealer or an authorised specialist. This isn't a problem in itself, as long as it was serviced, but it would be very unusual, and if this happened then I would be interested to know the set of circumstances that led to the car not being serviced by a dealer, i.e. not even during the first 3 years.

 

[Smiley]

So what about buying a car that shows no previous history on the DSB (like zero SH), but shows the stamps from previous garages in a service book?

A 10 yr old car with zero MB dealer history is probably as unusual as finding a 20 yr old car with a full main dealer history. It tells you that there was something out of the ordinary with the first owner(s) or something strange about the early history of the car. It would have to be priced accordingly.

 

[Spider10]

Just put the reg into the online service booking and the last time MB or any 1 with access to the DSB will show up with the mileage I can't believe it's never been to MB

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

if this happened then I would be interested to know the set of circumstances that led to the car not being serviced by a dealer, i.e. not even during the first 3 years.

And of course you’d probably never find out why previous owners did or didn't do something. Later owners might not know, might blag it or downright lie, or might pass on someone else’s blag/lie which they were told when they bought it.

Unfortunately too many secondhand car salespeople will say anything, literally anything - and are happy to lie - in response to a question, to try and convert an unsure potential customer into a dead cert sale. There are some who won’t but they’re few and far between in my experience.

Many years ago I was told by a main dealer sales person that a car I was looking at hadn’t been serviced by a main dealer because it was previously owned by a member of the F1 pit crew, and so was even better qualified to service a C-Class (or whatever it was) than a main dealer technician.

It’s absolutely possible, but unfortunately highly unlikely to be the actual reason. Needless to say that my BS-meter swung immediately into the flashing red zone and so I never did buy that car.

 

[ErrorInConnection]

Where it's recoreed is irrelevant to me, what I want to know is what's been done, when, and what proof is there that it's been done?

The only proof I have is scans/printouts of photos of the service book, no actual book. None of the previous services before the place I bought it from show on the DSB

The Digital Service Book (DSB) will contain records of all services carried out by MB dealers, and also of services carried out by authoritised independent specialists. You should get the seller to provide you with a printout of the DSB before you do anything else.

Then, the DSB printout could be supplemented by either printed receipts from non-sepcialist garages (who do not have access to the MB DSB), and/or by invoices for service items such as engine oil and filters if the previous owner(s) serviced the car DIY.

The potential issue is that smaller traders might not be able to obtain the DSB printout from MB, and if it wasn't provided by the previous owner when trading-in the car (or if it was lost at some point after that), then the car is effectively sold without service history, even if the seller is trying to convince you otherwise.

The only service showing in the DSB is the one completed by the Mercedes Specialist before I picked it up

Although a printed service book was never supplied with the car when new (not since 2008, anyway), you can buy a blank service book off eBay etc and have it stamped like in the old days, if you do wish.

The obvious issue with the printed service book is that the stamps are easily forged (fake stamps used to be sold on eBay......), so personally I really don't know how much I would trust such a stamped book these days.

The other issue is that if the DSB is empty, then this means that the car was never serviced by a dealer or an authorised specialist. This isn't a problem in itself, as long as it was serviced, but it would be very unusual, and if this happened then I would be interested to know the set of circumstances that led to the car not being serviced by a dealer, i.e. not even during the first 3 years.

The ad said 'Full Service History' and listed 'Mercedes main dealer' and also 'Mercedes Liverpool', but nothing on the DSB for these

A 10 yr old car with zero MB dealer history is probably as unusual as finding a 20 yr old car with a full main dealer history. It tells you that there was something out of the ordinary with the first owner(s) or something strange about the early history of the car. It would have to be priced accordingly.

The only history was a photos of a service book (which was never sent on) - no receipts were included to back this up

Just put the reg into the online service booking and the last time MB or any 1 with access to the DSB will show up with the mileage I can't believe it's never been to MB

The only service showing in the DSB is the one completed by the Mercedes Specialist before I picked it up

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The only proof I have is scans/printouts of photos of the service book, no actual book. None of the previous services before the place I bought it from show on the DSB



The only service showing in the DSB is the one completed by the Mercedes Specialist before I picked it up



The ad said 'Full Service History' and listed 'Mercedes main dealer' and also 'Mercedes Liverpool', but nothing on the DSB for these



The only history was a photos of a service book (which was never sent on) - no receipts were included to back this up



The only service showing in the DSB is the one completed by the Mercedes Specialist before I picked it up

That lot could be genuine, but it could be that you’ve been misled. If there’s no evidence then you should work on the basis that it didn't happen, unfortunately.

Finally if I remember right there is a specialist in Liverpool with a name like MB Liverpool which has misled people before into thinking that it’s Mercedes-Benz of Liverpool.

I can’t comment on the quality of their work at MB Liverpool, but they came to mind when I read your post and the ambiguity of previous service history.

 

[ToeKnee]

Can I ask where you're looking at the Mercedes DSB? I ask because it's not easy to find online, generally only some top Mercedes independents and Mercedes dealers have access, so if you're not looking in the right place it may have a history but you can't see it? Hope that makes sense.

 

[markjay]

Can I ask where you're looking at the Mercedes DSB? I ask because it's not easy to find online, generally only some top Mercedes independents and Mercedes dealers have access, so if you're not looking in the right place it may have a history but you can't see it? Hope that makes sense.

Saw that:

...The only service showing in the DSB is the one completed by the Mercedes Specialist before I picked it up

I am assuming that if the seller had access to DSB to update the service, then they would have also been able to supply a complete printout?

 

[markjay]

The only proof I have is scans/printouts of photos of the service book, no actual book. None of the previous services before the place I bought it from show on the DSB



The only service showing in the DSB is the one completed by the Mercedes Specialist before I picked it up



The ad said 'Full Service History' and listed 'Mercedes main dealer' and also 'Mercedes Liverpool', but nothing on the DSB for these



The only history was a photos of a service book (which was never sent on) - no receipts were included to back this up



The only service showing in the DSB is the one completed by the Mercedes Specialist before I picked it up

If you have already picked-up the car, then you can go to your local MB dealership, show them the V5C in your name (or the slip, if the V5C has not arrived yet), and photo ID, and they'll print out the DSB for you free of charge.

 

[markjay]

Also, personally I would mind buying a car without service history, I'd buy on condition, and there are many tell tale signs to show if a car was well looked after (in which case it's unlikely that the previous owner didn't service it), but the key issue here is that this affects the car's value. No service history is no service history, and prospective future buyers will tell you that. So it has to be reflected in the buying price.

 

[SamNotts]

I am on the lookout for a good used vehicle and often encounter sellers claiming full or partial Mercedes service history that only exists in the form of stamps in a service book. Clearly, that shouldn't be taken as solid evidence in light of what's been said here but the challenge with accessing the DSB service makes it hard to independently verify such claims even if they are genuine.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I am on the lookout for a good used vehicle and often encounter sellers claiming full or partial Mercedes service history that only exists in the form of stamps in a service book. Clearly, that shouldn't be taken as solid evidence in light of what's been said here but the challenge with accessing the DSB service makes it hard to independently verify such claims even if they are genuine.

Unfortunately invoices are usually destroyed when a car is part exchanged or sold to a dealer or trader, as it’s the easiest way of avoiding the risk of passing on personal information. Without the invoices, stamps are just stamps.

 

[ErrorInConnection]

If you have already picked-up the car, then you can go to your local MB dealership, show them the V5C in your name (or the slip, if the V5C has not arrived yet), and photo ID, and they'll print out the DSB for you free of charge.

I was given a copy of the DSB from the garage I bought it from, and it only had the service they had just completed - no previous ones.
I then spoke with 2 Dealers who confirmed it was just that one recent service