Who to go to for my service...

[timwood2000]

I am due the first big service - a 'C' service and have been quoted £445 by the dealer I normally go to and who I bought my car from, so they know me.

In the meantime, another MB dealer in the same town has quoted me £372 for the same service.

Should I stick with the dealer I know (and trust etc) or take the saving and go to a different dealer I have never used before?

Any advice would be welcomed.

 

[Druk]

Try bouncing the cheaper quote off the dealer you trust and see if he'll come up with an offer. Tell him you'd rather go to him but with the credit crunch and money being tight........etc, etc...................


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[hawk20]

I am due the first big service - a 'C' service and have been quoted £445 by the dealer I normally go to and who I bought my car from, so they know me.

In the meantime, another MB dealer in the same town has quoted me £372 for the same service.

Should I stick with the dealer I know (and trust etc) or take the saving and go to a different dealer I have never used before?

Any advice would be welcomed.

I see you are an 07 R class. Could be you are two years old by the time of the service and that means the brake fluid needs changing. Check whether that is included -it may account for the difference.

I assume from the date of your car that you are on 15,500 miles or once a year whichever comes sooner. If so they alternate A and B services and most dealers including my local one have fixed prices now (about £200 for the A service and £320 for the B service. The diagnostic equipment tells them what needs doing and an Electronic Service Sheet is printed out (ESS).

Other jobs like brake oil, pads, discs etc are extra. Free updates are done while you are being serviced. Some can be important.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Definitely shop around - even between MB dealers. Give the mileage to your dealer and ask that they tell you which additional items will be required, and ask for a breakdown for the service itself, and then each additional item separately.

Additional items are the mileage related stuff like spark plugs, brake fluid change, transmission fluid change, etc.

I did it for my C32 recently and found this variety - all are MB main dealers:

Most expensive (an MBUK owned MB main dealer): £980
B-Service: £495
Fuel & air filters: £310
Brake fluid: £175

My usual (franchised MB main dealer): £459
B-Service: £280
Fuel & air filters: £127
Brake fluid: £52

Other (franchised MB main dealer from a different group): £445
B-Service: £275
Fuel & air filters: £125
Brake fluid: £45

I'm going with my usual.

 

[timwood2000]

Thanks for the info. I am at 17,500 and it is 18 months since last service - because my dealer told me to work strictly off the service indictaor on the dash, which is only counting down the mileage at the moment (400 miles to go to next service).

Is this wrong - should I be sticking to 12 month intervals no matter what?

 

[Rory]

By way of comparison, Inchape owned dealerships http://www.inchcape.mercedes-benz.co.uk/ are offering:
R-Class minor service £240 major service £345

Most cars are on A & B now, A being minor and B being major - they're actually very similar in scope - little more than glorified oil changes - but the B service has more in depth checks and the pollen filter is changed.

I *think* C is a minor service but with some additional work - the dealers, or perhaps the car's service book, should be able to tell you. I would be gobsmacked if either quote includes the brake fluid change.

Interesting that the Electronic Service Sheet suggests an A service - put your details in and see what it tells you - Mercedes-Benz ESS

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Brake fluid is an additional item as it's linked to a fixed time interval.

 

[timwood2000]

I would be gobsmacked if either quote includes the brake fluid change.

The lower quote specifically incl brake fluid and dust filter. Not sure about the higher quote at the moment

 

[hawk20]

Thanks for the info. I am at 17,500 and it is 18 months since last service - because my dealer told me to work strictly off the service indictaor on the dash, which is only counting down the mileage at the moment (400 miles to go to next service).

Is this wrong - should I be sticking to 12 month intervals no matter what?

Annual servicing came in in 2006. When the car is PDI'd (pre delivery inspection) they should set the service indicator to begin counting from date of first registration. I would certainly expect yours to be set for annual services or 15,5000 w.i.t.s.

Either they haven't set if for this or your car was built (but not registered) before the new service programme came into effect. The dealer can tell you the build date.

Lucky you. You may have the choice of the old system (where the car tells you when you need a service. Normally, it can be up to 17/18k miles or as little as 12/13k. Doesn't matter if you take more than a year to do these miles. Good for low mileage people). Or the choice of the new system (15,5000 or annually w.i.t.s.) Ask your dealer to check as if they have made an error in setting it up (as they did on mine) you don't want to infringe the warranty for no fault of your own.

 

[timwood2000]

Interesting twist of events - rang 'trusted' dealer to say the main MB dealer had quoted £372 and they ok, we'll match it. So far so good.

Then rang main dealer to say "sorry, dealer that sold me the car matched your price, but thanks anyway" and they said, "hold on, that's just our opening offer based on our list price, let me come back with a new price" which ended up with £301 for a C service, incl brake fluids and filters and a loan car (E Class estate) with the insurance incl as well.

Am going to go with them as they seem to really want the business vs the original 'trusted' dealer that to start with were going to relieve me of £445 - which is quite a difference.

Main MB dealer are also going to quote me for tyres for my new 20" alloys as they 'do it all in house now' - I live in hope

I'll let you know how it goes...

 

[LimitedSlip]

Most expensive (an MBUK owned MB main dealer): £980
B-Service: £495
Fuel & air filters: £310
Brake fluid: £175

310 quid is obscene profiteering of the first order. The brake fluid aint far behind either. Many investment bankers would be proud of that...

 

[vinuva]

Thank you for your info.It is useful.
_________________
famous photographers

 

[BlackC55]

Have you considered and independent?

 

[Druk]

Have you considered and independent?

According to Glojo you shouldn't go anywhere other than a main dealer since only they have the capability to flash the computers with all the relevant updates.

"I have lost count of the upgrades that have been installed on our vehicle and it is possible that these MIGHT be installed by a top independant specialist, but you need to spoil your car and the car needs to have all work carried out that is on service bulletins."

Post #8 on here...

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/71457-sbc-brake-pump.html



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[219]

Most expensive (an MBUK owned MB main dealer): £980
B-Service: £495
Fuel & air filters: £310
Brake fluid: £175

Although the service is by no means cheap , the price for fuel and air filters is OUTRAGEOUS , and why I do my own servicing .

I just bought an air filter for my S Class : £28 , and a couple of minutes of my time to fit it .

Fuel filters , generally about £10 for most models , slightly longer to fit : you have to depressurise the fuel system by pulling the fuel pump relay then cranking the engine , afterwards there are two pipe unions to be undone , which may or may not be rusted up , depending on the age of the vehicle - usually the job can be done in 10 or 15 minutes .

So , for £40 worth of parts ( say £50 just to be charitable ) , they are charging £260 labour for what should be no more than 1/2 hour's work !!!!!!!!

A large bottle of brake fluid (more than enough to do a full change , including bleeding ) is about £20 from Halfords - an 'easy-bleed' kit will cost a few pounds , but you only have to buy it once , then you only have to worry about siezed bleed nipples - I'd expect to spend about an hour changing my fluid and doing a full bleed-through . The £175 quoted for that job is perhaps not too unreasonable .

Since a basic service is in most cases not much more than an oil change , plus the 'free' software updates for newish vehicles ( but if the car is running fine before them , no reason why it should not continue to do so ) - again , I just did the S Class , which takes 8 litres of oil : 2x 4 litre bottles of Castrol GTX 'high milage' @ £20/bottle , 1 genuine MB oil filter @ about a fiver and , maybe 20 minutes of my time , keeps the engine running sweetly for another 6000 miles .

Obviously , there is much more than just changing oils and filters to maintaining a car correctly ( although if you at least do that diligently you will avoid a lot of pitfalls ) but , if you have a 'hands on' approach to looking after your car , you will not only save a lot of money but will tend to know when things need done and have more confidence in the car . I tend to spend a day or so , once every six months or so , just doing routine maintenance on mine . Larger jobs , like the recent brake rebuild I did , and the impending rear suspension rebuild are over and above - but , likewise , I will know the car is right afterwards and that the job has been done right !

A fancy waiting room and blue and white signs above the door are no guarantee of anything , other than high prices !

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The quote from the MBUK dealer is ridiculous.

However the price from the franchised dealers isn't too bad to keep up service history on a relatively new car:

Other (franchised MB main dealer from a different group): £445
B-Service: £275
Fuel & air filters: £125
Brake fluid: £45

I reckon that's well into independent territory price wise.

PS The price of the B-Service comes down to less than £200 if you supply your own oil, which I will - bought it at the weekend.

 

[BlackC55]

According to Glojo you shouldn't go anywhere other than a main dealer since only they have the capability to flash the computers with all the relevant updates.

"I have lost count of the upgrades that have been installed on our vehicle and it is possible that these MIGHT be installed by a top independant specialist, but you need to spoil your car and the car needs to have all work carried out that is on service bulletins."

Post #8 on here...

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/71457-sbc-brake-pump.html



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In dealers we only flashed control units (generally) if there was a complaint from the customer.

All you have to do is to phone a dealer and quote your chassis number to them and they can tell you over the phone if there are any updates or re-calls due. They will all be done for free too.

I send my customers there all the time.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Definitely shop around - even between MB dealers. Give the mileage to your dealer and ask that they tell you which additional items will be required, and ask for a breakdown for the service itself, and then each additional item separately.

Additional items are the mileage related stuff like spark plugs, brake fluid change, transmission fluid change, etc.

I did it for my C32 recently and found this variety - all are MB main dealers:

Most expensive (an MBUK owned MB main dealer): £980
B-Service: £495
Fuel & air filters: £310
Brake fluid: £175

My usual (franchised MB main dealer): £459
B-Service: £280
Fuel & air filters: £127
Brake fluid: £52

Other (franchised MB main dealer from a different group): £445
B-Service: £275
Fuel & air filters: £125
Brake fluid: £45

I'm going with my usual.

Service completed today using my usual franchised MB main dealer. Actual final price was £379 for B-Service, all filters including fuel filters, brake fluid change, ATF level check, STAR scan, valet (a good job too), and a thorough shakedown.

I supplied the oil which cost £43 for 8 litres, which is about half the cost of buying the oil from the main dealer.

They spotted that the pilot bushing looks like there's some weaping and so it's going back next week to be replaced under parts warranty.

No nasty surprises, and service book stamped. Very please with the service and price.

The two dealers closest to home - one MB Retail one MB Franchise - both refused to budge on price, weren't helpful when I called and quoted more than double than I actually paid.

 

[Matt32AMG]

Try bouncing the cheaper quote off the dealer you trust and see if he'll come up with an offer. Tell him you'd rather go to him but with the credit crunch and money being tight........etc, etc...................


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Definately the way to go

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Service completed today using my usual franchised MB main dealer. Actual final price was £379 for B-Service, all filters including fuel filters, brake fluid change, ATF level check, STAR scan, valet (a good job too), and a thorough shakedown.

I forgot to say - this includes the premium for being an AMG - never really understood why some dealers do double the price once they know it's an AMG - I can't imagine the service is any different to a C320!! Not got my notes with me, but a non-AMG C-Class would be cheaper.