"B" Service Cost

[p3t3er]

My local dealer quoted me £417 for a "B" service + £30 for an MOT.
This includes a new fuel filter and change of brake fluid. Ouch!

I checked when the filter was last changed and it was only 18k miles/2 years ago so shouldn't need changing for another 2 years. Not sure how much these are fitted anyway.

I prefer to use a dealer for servicing to enhance the re-sale value when I change the car, in theory at least.

I checked with the local Inde for the same work. He quoted £295 + £50 for MOT.

The dealer has now accepted that I don't need a new fuel filter and dropped the total price to £316 + £30 for MOT.

Worth challenging the dealer I think.

 

[Ricardo_e220]

£299 for a std b service at my newcastle main dealers

Not sure if history will help the resale value, mine had full dealer and its still lost stacks!

 

[jjnecton]

Price of Dealer servicing

I have had 4 Mercedes over the last 20 years and have now got number 5. I have always had my servicing/repairs done by my local dealer thinking it will keep up the value plus it gave me mobile recovery. But the cars seem to loose so much value and have only used breakdown cover once I am starting to question the full service history myth. Time I think has come to check out independent servicing and RAC/AA membership. But will I have the nerve to breakaway? :neutral:

 

[Ricardo_e220]

We have between 3 and 4 cars in our household so personal breakdown membership is a necessary evil. I realised the servicing is costing £50 minimum more on an A and £100 more on a B I have more than 2 services a year, and I kept it for the euro cover, have since also read bad stories so will be going for upping the aa cover next time and save more money ( and probs get the car maintained better)

 

[oldmedic999]

Still toying with the idea of leaving dealer network. Still undecided. Local indi has been very helpful. Help please???

 

[Cardinal Biggles]

Still toying with the idea of leaving dealer network. Still undecided. Local indi has been very helpful. Help please???

I think it depends on how much you think your CLS is a "specialist" car.

My wife has taken her C class to a local garage who is not a specialist per se, but works on a lot of MBs as there are a lot of MBs where we live!! I was amazed how little there is to do on a C class thanks to the computerised controls in the things. Its mainly visual checks and a few fluids changed. Our guy only uses MB parts, which actually are no more expensive than clone parts, and sometimes even cheaper.

He uses the offical service lists for the car, incljuding all the little filters and stuff, uses the correct MB specified oil at no extra cost and he is at least half the cost of MB.

The key thing is that we trust him. Lots of folk use him around here, and nobody has a bad word to say. Weve never had to take a car back in the three years that my wife has been going there.

Now if you take your loved one to a national chain shed, then you only have yourself to blame.... but if you find someone decent and work with him over time I dont see how it matters that he doesnt have an MB franchise. Our local indie, btw is ****** expensive; almost as dear as the local MB garage when you haggle. For the minimal cost saving I didnt use them, but kept wioth MB themselves for the first four years - until the bills started getting stratospheric.

Re MBSH it is important that you have that for a car of up to say three years of age. After that, nobody expects a car of more senior years to have had a spend of £800-£1200 on a normal service just because its got an MB dealer stamp.

dont run your MB for what others might say. Do it for yourself, and cos YOU enjoy it. The engineering is solid in them. they arent Italian prima donnas.

 

[MIW615]

I have three Merc's the two that are out of warranty are serviced by my local indy - my
C180 is only nine months old so whilst it is in the three year warranty period I will have it serviced at my Mercedes main dealership, then switch to my trusty indy.