Which dealers/groups offering labour discount on servicing for older cars?

[clk208]

Hi folks,

My CLS coming up for service in a couple of weeks, and the car will be 6 years old.

Very aware of the benefits of using an independent specialist but want to continue the dealer servicing for the main annual service for the next couple of years to increase my chances of goodwill should anything untoward and expensive break and help with the residuals in the unlikely event I decide to move on to another car any time soon.

Read last year about MB Bradford and some other dealers doing half price labour on cars 5+ years old. Anyone have any up to date information on where might be currently offering discounted labour for these "older" cars? I'm in Manchester but willing to travel a bit to get a decent deal.

 

[whitenemesis]

Sytner group offer substantial discounts on older cars.

Sytner Mercedes-Benz | New & Approved Used Mercedes-Benz Dealerships

 

[GP801]

Lookers group do much the same. Mostly in the south east though. Always seem happy to negotiate a fixed price deal/discount.

 

[grober]

Makes you wonder how they can possibly cover all those extensive overheads, crippling property rates, staff training, expensive dedicated diagnostic systems and highly skilled Mercedes trained mechanics and special oil they constantly bang on about-- and then charge 50% normal rates without apparently running at a loss?

 

[whitenemesis]

I'm not complaining

 

[Ian Donkin]

Purslow offer 40% off over 6 years old and 60% off over 8 years old - Indy for pre service / routine parts replacement, main dealer for basic service / mobilo cover works for me (the free loan car able to take our entire family throughout Europe is invaluable for me having now used it twice).

 

[davidjpowell]

Makes you wonder how they can possibly cover all those extensive overheads, crippling property rates, staff training, expensive dedicated diagnostic systems and highly skilled Mercedes trained mechanics and special oil they constantly bang on about-- and then charge 50% normal rates without apparently running at a loss?

Wait till you see the list they come up with. Plus if they were not going to get you, 50% of something is a lot more than 0% of nothing.

 

[grober]

Wait till you see the list they come up with. Plus if they were not going to get you, 50% of something is a lot more than 0% of nothing.

Some come up with "lists" when you are paying the full rate too. 50% of something is a lot more than 0% of nothing ----------- true but helps take bread from the mouths of the many independents who charge more realistic rates---- What do you think would happen to the rates for older cars if all the independents disappeared?

 

[clk208]

Thanks chaps.

Yes, I'm half expecting a list of suggested jobs that would put the car beyond economic repair, even at 50% rate along with a sales pitch for a replacement car

Annoyingly the closest dealer out of Sytner, Lookers and Purslow appears to be Carlisle, which is 120 miles of hilly terrain away, possibly a tad far.

Will have a ring round of some more local dealer groups and report back what they offer..

 

[clk208]

Managed to contact 2 dealer groups today.

Both dealer groups stated same scope of work which is encouraging. Car is due a service B and 3 extra age/mileage items - brake fluid, combi filter and AC air cartridge (never heard of this but from googling looks like it's related to the drier - the dehumidifying of my AC not been too effective of late so may be much needed).

Marshall MB group quoted £491
Mercedes retail (MB Manchester) quoted £621 or £571 if I didn't need a courtesy car or dropping off anywhere.

Mercedes retail said on cars 4-7 years old there was an approx 10% discount on labour for any additional items (wrote down the exact labour rate on my work computer so will post this tomorrow).

Marshall Mercedes said no labour discounts for older cars if any additional work.

Will try another couple of groups tomorrow.

I am loathed to use Marshall Mercedes (where I bought the car from) on principle even though it would be a different location due to inexplicably bad treatment recently by one of their senior staff (I may post my latest experiences here in due course).

Anyway seems no substantial discounts on labour in the NW unlike other areas of the country for whatever reason.

 

[Rory]

Try one of the Inchcape owned dealerships: http://www.inchcape.mercedes-benz.co.uk/

Chester did a B service, ATF, brake fluid change and flexi-disk check on my car for £430 last year and another member got the same work done on his E270CDi a little before me for £400. My car got a very decent valet and I was given (without making any special request) a brand new E350CDi courtesy car at no charge (although my own insurance covers it).


I'm interested to know more about the a/c drier - never heard of that being a service item before?

 

[clk208]

Try one of the Inchcape owned dealerships: http://www.inchcape.mercedes-benz.co.uk/

Chester did a B service, ATF, brake fluid change and flexi-disk check on my car for £430 last year and another member got the same work done on his E270CDi a little before me for £400. My car got a very decent valet and I was given (without making any special request) a brand new E350CDi courtesy car at no charge (although my own insurance covers it).


I'm interested to know more about the a/c drier - never heard of that being a service item before?

Thanks - never noticed Inchape before and there are a couple not too far from me.

The air cartridge - no idea what it is really but it is listed on the ESS (http://lite.servicemercedes.co.uk) as every 4 years/50,000 miles - "replace air cartridge"..

 

[grober]

If its the A/c drier its an integral part of the sealed aircon system in that it effectively dries the refrigerant gas. This is to prevent ice forming at the restriction where the liquified refrigerant is "sprayed" back to a gas [ this is how the cooling works--its basically a change of state ] and this "cooled " gas is what passes through the cabin heat exchanger. The heat it takes up is then removed by the heat exchanger at the front beside the radiator before being compressed to liquid again by the engine driven compressor and so on. In order to change it [ its basically a absorbent material trap which eventually gets saturated] means breaking into the refrigerant circuit somewhere which implies either refilling or topping up the refrigerant gas.

 

[peter49]

Hi folks,

My CLS coming up for service in a couple of weeks, and the car will be 6 years old.

Very aware of the benefits of using an independent specialist but want to continue the dealer servicing for the main annual service for the next couple of years to increase my chances of goodwill should anything untoward and expensive break and help with the residuals in the unlikely event I decide to move on to another car any time soon.

Read last year about MB Bradford and some other dealers doing half price labour on cars 5+ years old. Anyone have any up to date information on where might be currently offering discounted labour for these "older" cars? I'm in Manchester but willing to travel a bit to get a decent deal.

My car is also six years old. I use Inchcape for servicing for the same reasons as above.
I usually ask an Indi to quote for the service and then ask the dealer to match it. They usually respond slightly above the Indi, ~£15, in order to save face.

 

[Rory]

Thanks - never noticed Inchape before and there are a couple not too far from me.

The air cartridge - no idea what it is really but it is listed on the ESS (Mercedes-Benz ESS) as every 4 years/50,000 miles - "replace air cartridge"..

Hmmm - I'm pretty sure that just means the engine air filter. I guess there might be two of them on your car, so probably fairly expensive in total.

As I mentioned earlier, I've never heard of the a/c drier being replaced routinely on any car. It's supposed to be done if the condenser is replaced, but often isn't.

 

[clk208]

My car is also six years old. I use Inchcape for servicing for the same reasons as above.
I usually ask an Indi to quote for the service and then ask the dealer to match it. They usually respond slightly above the Indi, ~£15, in order to save face.

Had the quote from Inchape Warrington - £570. They said they have no specific discounted labour rates for older cars but any jobs required should be priced competitively.

Lady I spoke to said she would need authorisation to match Marshall MB's £490 quote for the service but might be able to do it..

She also said that by the end of Jan 2014, all UK MB dealers/franchises will have fixed priced servicing set at a national level, with individual dealers able to offer eg a 10% discount but not have substantially different pricing..

So not doing great so far. Suppose I could get a quote from an indie and ask them to match it but didn't sound as if they were likely to play ball.

 

[grober]

She also said that by the end of Jan 2014, all UK MB dealers/franchises will have fixed priced servicing set at a national level, with individual dealers able to offer eg a 10% discount but not have substantially different pricing..

We certainly don't want the spectre of inter-dealer competitive tendering for servicing driving down prices do we.

 

[The _Don]

Supply your own oil it will save you some £.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

I use MBTech in Warrington for all my servicing, fantastic garage...ex MB roadrange trained techs, full star diagnostics...got to be worth a call for comparison, ask for Shane or Will.

Mercedes service and repair specialists warrington, cheshire

Had the quote from Inchape Warrington - £570. They said they have no specific discounted labour rates for older cars but any jobs required should be priced competitively.

Lady I spoke to said she would need authorisation to match Marshall MB's £490 quote for the service but might be able to do it..

She also said that by the end of Jan 2014, all UK MB dealers/franchises will have fixed priced servicing set at a national level, with individual dealers able to offer eg a 10% discount but not have substantially different pricing..

So not doing great so far. Suppose I could get a quote from an indie and ask them to match it but didn't sound as if they were likely to play ball.

 

[C240Sport97]

She also said that by the end of Jan 2014, all UK MB dealers/franchises will have fixed priced servicing set at a national level, with individual dealers able to offer eg a 10% discount but not have substantially different pricing..

this is illegal resale price maintenance, so highly unlikely to be true. MBUK will not be so blatant in breaking the law.