What constitutes 'Service History' with a Mercedes?

[TC350]

Did the OP confirm if this was a franchised Mercedes Benz dealer, or an independent trader?

I think he said it was a "Mercedes specialist", so an independent.

 

[ErrorInConnection]

I assume that he meant that the seller was recommended by other users on this forum (and obviously not that the seller is a forum sponsor).

If I answer this then it may become obvious

 

[ErrorInConnection]

you'd certainly hope so

Not gonna confirm here..

 

[ErrorInConnection]

Sorry about the delay between messages, I'm out of the country for work so not much time to respond

 

[ErrorInConnection]

How long have you had it?.....if its less than thirty days you have the right to return it for any reason at all.....them refusing does not enter into it.....its the law.

MB Approved Cars T&C gives the customer the option of replacing the car with another within 30 days of purchase.

But under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a car can only be returned for full refund within the initial 30 day period if it developed a major fault (but not for other reasons).

I've had it for around 3 months, but I challenged the company within the first few weeks.

I was told by them that physical service books don't exist, and that its all online - DSB. I contacted Mercedes directly but they told me I needed the V5 info - but guess what - that itself took 6 weeks to arrive - so I couldn't officially contact Mercedes for any info. I managed to find a local-ish dealer who took pity on me and confirmed that there was no previous DSB history at all.

This then sent me down a path of trying to correlate the 'stamps' and the tangible history, ie the MOTs, and this is where I found things that literally/mathematically didn't add up.

I can't say more specifics on the open forum, as I know they are active and will be able to identify me and put me through the ringer again.

 

[markjay]

Just to say that the day after I bought my W204 I went to see my local MB dealer with the slip from old the V5C and photo ID and they provided me with the DSB printout (i.e. even before the new V5C arrived in the post). But I guess it varies from one dealer to the other.

 

[ErrorInConnection]

I downloaded Mercedes Me app as I expected to get the history from there, but when questioned Mercedes themselves (probably Germany), they said i'd need V5 in my name and other info for them to be able to provide that. Its not the sort of thing you expect to have to check when spending a lot of money from a specialist when buying a car...

 

[kam09]

I've had it for around 3 months, but I challenged the company within the first few weeks.

I was told by them that physical service books don't exist, and that its all online - DSB. I contacted Mercedes directly but they told me I needed the V5 info - but guess what - that itself took 6 weeks to arrive - so I couldn't officially contact Mercedes for any info. I managed to find a local-ish dealer who took pity on me and confirmed that there was no previous DSB history at all.

This then sent me down a path of trying to correlate the 'stamps' and the tangible history, ie the MOTs, and this is where I found things that literally/mathematically didn't add up.

I can't say more specifics on the open forum, as I know they are active and will be able to identify me and put me through the ringer again.

Oh dear can only think of 1 merc specialist that is active on this site... and they are located in Warwickshire.. am I hot or cold??

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Unfortunately 99% of sellers have a different view of what constitutes Full Service History than me, or rather I should say that I have a different view of Full Service History than 99% of sellers.

To me it means all services operations have been completed on-time and in-line with the manufacturer's service schedule, including additional time or mileage based items like spark plugs or transmission fluid.

I genuinely can’t remember the last time I enquired about a car advertised with FSH or FMBSH which actually had it when I was shown the service history, even cars as young as say three years old have gaps.

Once a car is older than that - whether it’s high mileage or low mileage, expensive or inexpensive when new - the majority of cars appear to be serviced every 2, 3 or 4 years and without any real pattern.

As a result I ask sellers for a breakdown of services with date, mileage, and servicing dealer/garage - or photos showing the same - and I simply don’t travel to view it unless it’s close to what I expect.

Having asked - main dealers, traders and private individuals - many explain “full” as meaning that the history of everything “done” to the car is present, which often almost certainly isn’t the case either.

I’ve lookee at countless cars from the mid noughties recently - ranging from 5,000 to 125,000 miles and with new prices between £15,000 and a lot more - and none were even close to following the schedule.

If the OPs car is just a few years old, it’s ununusl to have no service history, however once the OP has owned it for a few years more then it will be pretty much the same as the majority of cars for sale.

 

[ALFAitalia]

....and as you said, it clearly does not matter to 99% off people, or even 99% of dealers (I was one....) It really does not affect prices (to most buyers or dealers) or part exchange figures either. And let's be honest on 99% of cases it has no ill effect on the cars reliability of longevity either as long as all the oils get done at the very least the correct mileage if not time interval. Condition of the car as it stands when I see it more important than FSH.....and I've seen some horrors with FMDSH!...and great cars we without (my current car falls into that bracket) And of course you can have absolutely no idea how it's been treated BETWEEN services....thrashed from cold etc. Also anyone that thinks a main dealer history is worth any more...or more importantly that it has been done any better in many cases than an indie needs their bumps felt....and I've got some magic beans they might like!

 

[Spider10]

Unfortunately 99% of sellers have a different view of what constitutes Full Service History than me, or rather I should say that I have a different view of Full Service History than 99% of sellers.

To me it means all services operations have been completed on-time and in-line with the manufacturer's service schedule, including additional time or mileage based items like spark plugs or transmission fluid.

I genuinely can’t remember the last time I enquired about a car advertised with FSH or FMBSH which actually had it when I was shown the service history, even cars as young as say three years old have gaps.

Once a car is older than that - whether it’s high mileage or low mileage, expensive or inexpensive when new - the majority of cars appear to be serviced every 2, 3 or 4 years and without any real pattern.

As a result I ask sellers for a breakdown of services with date, mileage, and servicing dealer/garage - or photos showing the same - and I simply don’t travel to view it unless it’s close to what I expect.

Having asked - main dealers, traders and private individuals - many explain “full” as meaning that the history of everything “done” to the car is present, which often almost certainly isn’t the case either.

I’ve lookee at countless cars from the mid noughties recently - ranging from 5,000 to 125,000 miles and with new prices between £15,000 and a lot more - and none were even close to following the schedule.

If the OPs car is just a few years old, it’s ununusl to have no service history, however once the OP has owned it for a few years more then it will be pretty much the same as the majority of cars for sale.

Im the same ref FSH all my AMGs have full dealer history on time and additional items done or Personally I would walk away its 1 of my pet hates (obviously the SLK55 hasn't got all the paperwork as it was cat s and insurance write offs dont come with paperwork

 

[pmcgsmurf]

The whole thing with the transition to online DSB style systems for dealers rather than the old service books (with receipts) and the "data protection" policy has created the perfect storm for dealers to sell anything they want and claim FSH.

A friend recently bought a 3/4 year old A class from a main dealer that claimed FSH, when we checked it after purchase it had only ever had 1 service.

The dealers when asked before purchase simply state its online and they don't have access to it so how the heck can they claim FSH!

Fact is that the vast majority of car sellers will do as little as possible prior to the sale and then nothing at all after the sale.

 

[markjay]

The whole thing with the transition to online DSB style systems for dealers rather than the old service books (with receipts) and the "data protection" policy has created the perfect storm for dealers to sell anything they want and claim FSH.

A friend recently bought a 3/4 year old A class from a main dealer that claimed FSH, when we checked it after purchase it had only ever had 1 service.

The dealers when asked before purchase simply state its online and they don't have access to it so how the heck can they claim FSH!

Fact is that the vast majority of car sellers will do as little as possible prior to the sale and then nothing at all after the sale.

Agreed, though there's some blessing with the transfer to DSB - the forged stamps have gone. Back in the day you could buy on eBay a blank fully-stamped service book for every marque, and for a little bit more you could just buy the fake dealer stamps and make your own forged service book - and the DSB put an end to this.

MB only care about their own dealer network, and their dealers have full access to the DSB, and so they can provide a printout to prospective customers. MB are also compelled (due to the EU Bloc Exemption) to allow non-franchised garages and dealers access to DSB, but many traders don't bother to apply (and pay the annual fee).

 

[pmcgsmurf]

There is no annual fee.

We do Mercedes, Audi, Skoda, VW at no cost.
Love servicing my mates Audi R8 V12.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Love servicing my mates Audi R8 V12.

Where did he buy the extra two cylinders?....asking for a friend!

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Where did he buy the extra two cylinders?....asking for a friend!

You pass the test. He had a red V8, now has a blue V10.

 

[markjay]

There is no annual fee.

We do Mercedes, Audi, Skoda, VW at no cost.
Love servicing my mates Audi R8 V12.

So the independent dealers just can't be #rsed.....

 

[pmcgsmurf]

So the independent dealers just can't be #rsed.....

Correct.
Even more bizarre when the dealers (AC) who own a Mercedes dealership sell cars with FSH that do not.

As I said, it's perfect for them.

 

[ube63]

Asking to legally minded members…
Can any seller sue and win against a consumer who wants to share their bad experience?

If they keep getting negative reviews publicly and don’t like it because it affects their sales then I think they should either get better at what they do or go out of business. Surely the law doesn’t protect mediocrity or even worse bad service..?..

 

[markjay]

Asking to legally minded members…
Can any seller sue and win against a consumer who wants to share their bad experience?

If they keep getting negative reviews publicly and don’t like it because it affects their sales then I think they should either get better at what they do or go out of business. Surely the law doesn’t protect mediocrity or even worse bad service..?..

If you word your posts carefully, make sure that you only write down facts that you can support by evidence, and add the note that it's your 'personal opinion', then the business is unlikely to win a law suit against you - but that's not the game they're playing. Instead, it's a war of attrition - they know you can't afford to defend yourself because solicitors are expensive and you are a private individual, not a business. Most people simply remove the negative post rather than engage in time consuming and potentially expensive litigation. In short, it's intimidation, and sadly it works.