When your cars not a daily and does hardly any miles between sevices

[Felstmiester]

Although im feeling a bit of a low life with a lot of members ordering there c63s and I’m still rolling around in a pre facelift I do like to look after it the best I can. It’s a 59 plate pp.
I’ve owned the old girl for a fair few years now and it’s only ever been a weekend car. With work and family stuff in the last couple of years I may not use it for a month sometimes. I do toy with the idea of getting rid but she’s not depreciated to much and still puts a smile on my face when I do get chance to drive her. So she’s staying for now.

Obviously service time comes round every year with it popping up on the cluster but between services I’m lucky to have done 200 miles. But I still put it in for a service. The last two have been with an Indy and all main dealer before that.
My question is! And I think I know what the majority of people will say but. If you could do the services yourself using mb parts would you?

Also if you was looking to buy an older c63 private would you be put off by the fact the owner had serviced it even if he had genuine mb paperwork proving the parts was brought from dealer etc. We own a garage so have everything at hand and the know how to carry out services. Before this starts a “ why own a amg if you can’t afford to look after it” argument. I’m not asking because I can’t afford it. I’m asking because I’m tight lol.

 

[renault12ts]

Engine and gearbox fluids are the most vital parts in long term servicing...if they've been done at the right time I would have no qualms.

Brakes etc are also very important, but easier to replace if neglected, unlike engine and gearbox.

 

[Lee C63]

I feel your pain...but mine goes to MB every time.....more chance of me being buried in it than selling it, but just feels right getting it serviced by the dealer.....

 

[njkmr]

If you own a garage then I would have no issue as a potential purchaser of your car in the fact you have serviced it at your garage.
In fact I would expect it to be very well looked after if that was the case.
I will not pay MB to touch my car.

 

[Felstmiester]

I feel your pain...but mine goes to MB every time.....more chance of me being buried in it than selling it, but just feels right getting it serviced by the dealer.....

lol if I had done to my car what you have I’d have to take it to the dealer just to see there faces when they open the bonnet. When I went up the msl drag strip in the passenger seat of your car that day I was weighing up the pros and cons for days after maybe even weeks. Mmm charger or divorce. In the end it came out if I went the divorce route I couldn’t afford the charger anyway lol.

 

[Skd884]

If you keep receipts and own a garage that would not deter me.

 

[Headhurts]

I’m retired so only do 5000 miles per year now, I would not service mine myself even if I could.

With regards buying a car I would look for main dealer servicing and from a main dealer.

I do understand that many of the specialists especially on here do a superb job but many buyers if not a forum member may not know them or their excellent reputations.

Once my car is 3 years old though my position could well change, we will see.

Robin



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[190]

Although
My question is! And I think I know what the majority of people will say but. If you could do the services yourself using mb parts would you?

Also if you was looking to buy an older c63 private would you be put off by the fact the owner had serviced it even if he had genuine mb paperwork proving the parts was brought from dealer etc. We own a garage so have everything at hand and the know how to carry out services. Before this starts a “ why own a amg if you can’t afford to look after it” argument. I’m not asking because I can’t afford it. I’m asking because I’m tight lol.

At 200 miles per year I would absolutely change the oil myself.

I'll go further but you would be up against the ignorance of most buyers. If a car does 200 miles per year and they are fully warmed up whenever used then there is no reason to change the oil every year. The oil would last for several years without degrading. Any professional oil formulator would agree with this strategy and there is some evidence that it would be better for the engine. I'm not suggesting you do it though because as I said you will mostly likely be up against ignorance and pre-conceptions from the buyer.

As a car gets older, mileage and condition are everything so I wouldn't be put off.

 

[bob6600]

If you keep receipts and own a garage that would not deter me.

I agree with the above although I guess it depends on the car. The AMGs are expensive and buyers want to ensure they are looked after properly. However, providing it's a reputable garage and you have invoices for the parts and work done (book stamped too) then it's not a deal breaker.

I would ensure the service checks are carried out to ensure it's done. Perhaps alternate...one from you and one from the indy?

I'm sue a lot of cars that show FSH as apposed to FMBSH will have the first few in warranty and the rest with an indy or A N OTHER garage.

 

[BIRMA]

Just thought I'd put my input to this thread as someone who buys cars privately and generally sells them privately after a 12 month period. My last 5 or so cars all around the £40-50K price bracket have been bought and sold privately.
First of all I would not buy a car without a full comprehensive main dealer service history, I do not have a problem with indies at all, in fact my other two cars are serviced that way and I have no problem with that. The first thing serious buyers ask is 'does it have a full main dealer history' and all too often in the past it has been met with a no and I've had difficulty selling it. My last few have been serviced by a main dealer and I've had issues with one or two apart from Porsche and not had a problem selling. I hasten to add this may not be in any way a typical scenario but perhaps food for thought.

 

[Robdata]

I allways have an exel sheet where write in what I did when .Oil and filter changes is in my opinion is a do your self thing. ATF I wouldn’t do. I thing if you keep paper trails on what you do when should be evidence enough that you keep the car in good shape.
Taken the car to MB dealer doesn’t allways mean that you get a good job done as many of us allready know. I had bad experience several times with MB dealers

 

[Felstmiester]

Yes this is the exact reason mine started going to an Indy. Beforehand the last one I had done at main dealer for oil service and diff fluid change they told me it would take no longer than a couple of hours so I waited there. 4 hours later the service manager called me over to tell me they’ve discovered the front offside tyre was losing air. When I asked how much air it was losing I was told it’s flat and wouldn’t pump up, the fella then produced a large screw that could’ve easily been picked up in the workshop there and told me they’d removed it from my tyre. I was then told because it was a Saturday I would have to leave the car there until Monday because they had nobody capable of changing a tyre there. After I told the fella I couldn’t leave the car there because I had no way of getting home the offending tyre all of a sudden would hold air so I could drive to the nearest tyre place. Also when my car was brought out to me it had somehow covered just over 20 more miles than it had when I dropped it off out front.

 

[Brunty88]

Dealers are rubbish
Everytime I've been in there's an issue same for a mate at the same dealer

 

[pmcgsmurf]

We do our W212 2010 E250 services and have done since last year.
Could not justify the dealer wanting £900 each to change the oil/filter and the cabin filter.

Also do our older cars too, anything under 3 years would go to the dealer, beyond that, we will do them.

Keep the parts receipts (OEM) in the book and stamp the book with our company stamp.
For the newer Mercs with the Digital Service Book we registered with Mercedes so that we can update this online.

 

[Yugguy]

I have a servicing spreadsheet too, and have often done services myself.

Lack of main dealer servicing does not worry me but then I never buy new or nearly new. I do like to see evidence of regular maintenance though.

 

[grober]

There's a strong case for "customising" servicing intervals for cars that do a limited annual mileage. There are however a few areas which are more time dependent than others and involve chemical degradation. The two that come to mind are brake/hydraulic fluid and tyres. Tyres in particular need to be literally rotated periodically- and I don't mean from wheel to wheel! -- in order to redistribute their compound internal chemistry. The UV in sunlight is a killer so they are going to degrade just sitting there. So I would submit the service area that's missed most on low annual mileage cars over the the years is likely to be the tyres. So if you hear "yeah she's still her original tyres mate" be warned.

 

[Felstmiester]

Grober. I make you right about the tyres. I can only think due to lack of use I have had trouble with tyres. Perfect tread but imperfections such as bulges appearing etc. I’ve just a matter of a couple of months ago put 4 new conti’s on due to not trusting the tyres that have been on since I purchased the car.