DIY Service

Auto Addict

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2017
Messages
160
Reaction score
69
Location
North Midlands
Your Mercedes
Blue Efficiency C Class Estate
Quotes by Indie's approx. £280, didn't bother to get a quote from the main dealer.

DIY:-

Air filter - piece of cake
Cabin filter - a bit fidley, but will be easier next time, now I know what I'm doing.
Oil Filter - piece of cake.
Oil Change - piece of cake with a pump.

Cost inc. oil and parts approx. £70

Probably one of the easiest cars I've worked on to do a basic service, everything was so accessible
thumbsup.gif


To do ATF change, not inc. in Indie quotes.

Brake fluid change, not inc. in Indie quotes
 
OP
Auto Addict

Auto Addict

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2017
Messages
160
Reaction score
69
Location
North Midlands
Your Mercedes
Blue Efficiency C Class Estate
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #2
Another to do - Fuel filter, again not inc. in Indie quotes.
 

daibevan

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Messages
1,487
Reaction score
1,107
Location
Alltwen, Pontardawe
Your Mercedes
W203 C200 Kompressor Elegance SE 2006 Tanzanite Blue with cream interior
I know other cars do it as well. but I love having the oil filter high in the engine bay, it makes changing it so easy. I've always had to grovel on the floor before. :D:)
 

Yugguy

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
2,241
Reaction score
566
Location
Rugby, UK
Your Mercedes
C220CDI W204 Elegance Comand
They are surprisingly easy for a modern car aye.
 

Jimbo1959

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2018
Messages
1,785
Reaction score
1,807
Location
Ayrshire
Your Mercedes
VW Scirocco. The Quattro, E350 CDi Blue Efficiency Sport Coupe, now both gone
I take it you guys are either keeping the car so long as to negate the losses that a lack of MB service history causes at resale point, or just like saving money and don't really care because the car will be done to your taste?

I fall into the later category, lol. (It's an OCD thing) :D
 

Yugguy

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
2,241
Reaction score
566
Location
Rugby, UK
Your Mercedes
C220CDI W204 Elegance Comand
I do a mix of self repairs and indy servicing as the car is 9 years old and I'll be keeping it for at least another 5 years.

I like my indy to look it over once a year as he's an ex Merc specialist so might see things I miss.
 

Jimbo1959

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2018
Messages
1,785
Reaction score
1,807
Location
Ayrshire
Your Mercedes
VW Scirocco. The Quattro, E350 CDi Blue Efficiency Sport Coupe, now both gone
I do a mix of self repairs and indy servicing as the car is 9 years old and I'll be keeping it for at least another 5 years.

I like my indy to look it over once a year as he's an ex Merc specialist so might see things I miss.

Good idea that, wonder why I never thought of it myself, thanks!
 

daibevan

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Messages
1,487
Reaction score
1,107
Location
Alltwen, Pontardawe
Your Mercedes
W203 C200 Kompressor Elegance SE 2006 Tanzanite Blue with cream interior
Old car, tight, done right.:)
I also like to book in at the merc dealer for a free health check when it's on offer. They try their best to find something wrong they can charge for & I find out what my weekends will hold for a while.
 
OP
Auto Addict

Auto Addict

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2017
Messages
160
Reaction score
69
Location
North Midlands
Your Mercedes
Blue Efficiency C Class Estate
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
I take it you guys are either keeping the car so long as to negate the losses that a lack of MB service history causes at resale point, or just like saving money and don't really care because the car will be done to your taste?

I fall into the later category, lol. (It's an OCD thing) :D

I can't see how it affects the resale value, all the dealer will do is look in the Glasses Guide and offer you the lowest price.

I keep a spreadsheet history + all bills for everything I do myself.

Never had a problem trading in or selling private so far.
 

Jimbo1959

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2018
Messages
1,785
Reaction score
1,807
Location
Ayrshire
Your Mercedes
VW Scirocco. The Quattro, E350 CDi Blue Efficiency Sport Coupe, now both gone
I can't see how it affects the resale value, all the dealer will do is look in the Glasses Guide and offer you the lowest price.

I keep a spreadsheet history + all bills for everything I do myself.

Never had a problem trading in or selling private so far.

Me neither, I usually present a folder of receipts for every penny I've spent on the car, and depending how long I've had it or how bad the cars been it can be quite thick, lol.
 
OP
Auto Addict

Auto Addict

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2017
Messages
160
Reaction score
69
Location
North Midlands
Your Mercedes
Blue Efficiency C Class Estate
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
The thing I ask myself, as everything is so easy to do yourself, why does it cost so much at dealers and indies?
 

Yugguy

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
2,241
Reaction score
566
Location
Rugby, UK
Your Mercedes
C220CDI W204 Elegance Comand
I have a spreadsheet and bills too.

Lets me make a good plan as to when infrequent items like fuel filters, engine coolant etc. really need to be changed.
 

mercedes13156

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Messages
1,267
Reaction score
211
Location
West Lothian
Your Mercedes
CLK 200 Cabrio and a Ford Kuga
I do all my own servicing and repairs where I can. I've replaced the brakes, bearings, steering wheel sensors, interiors, electronic plate in the gearbox, injectors, timesert repairs on a couple of injector bolts, a turbo and a couple of starter motors over the years with various Mercs. The people who are buying them from me are getting a ten year old car that runs really well, has been really well maintained and looked after at a decent price. I've never had anyone walk away because the last dealer's stamps were 50,000 miles ago. I always fill in the details of what I did in the service book, date, type of oil used, mileage, etc., and initial it. The car normally speaks for itself.
 

daibevan

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Messages
1,487
Reaction score
1,107
Location
Alltwen, Pontardawe
Your Mercedes
W203 C200 Kompressor Elegance SE 2006 Tanzanite Blue with cream interior
I print out a copy of the service schedule from my Haynes manual. I tick& date everything that is done and write down the date &/or mileage when they next need doing.
 

geraldrobins

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
835
Reaction score
61
Location
gloucester, UK
Your Mercedes
C Class/2011/200cdi
The thing I ask myself, as everything is so easy to do yourself, why does it cost so much at dealers and indies?

Overheads, disposal of oils etc, wages, NI, pensions, training, provision of specialist equipment and its maintenance and of course some profit.
 

sailorjim

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
145
Reaction score
16
Location
West Midlands
Your Mercedes
MB C200 EXECUTIVE ESTATE 2018
Overheads, disposal of oils etc, wages, NI, pensions, training, provision of specialist equipment and its maintenance and of course some profit.
My old car (C class 180 2002) came with a service book listing all that was needed, so it was easy to keep a record of what was done.

I think MB have got wise to people doing DIY, as my new one (C200 estate, 1 week old), comes with a 4 page service book which just advises the owner to use a dealer for servicing. In other words, they now keep the service schedule secret from us mere mortals as we're not to be trusted with such knowledge.

Well, we'll see.
 

Capra

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2018
Messages
3,320
Reaction score
1,197
Location
Gloucestershire
Your Mercedes
W204 2013 C350 CDI Pan roof
My old car (C class 180 2002) came with a service book listing all that was needed, so it was easy to keep a record of what was done.

I think MB have got wise to people doing DIY, as my new one (C200 estate, 1 week old), comes with a 4 page service book which just advises the owner to use a dealer for servicing. In other words, they now keep the service schedule secret from us mere mortals as we're not to be trusted with such knowledge.

Well, we'll see.
So true. When I viewed at a local garage they had no paper work and said it was all online. Do MB not even stamp a physical book anymore?
 

geraldrobins

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
835
Reaction score
61
Location
gloucester, UK
Your Mercedes
C Class/2011/200cdi
Mb don't use a book anymore but they give a printout at each service detailing the service history.
 


Chris Knott Insurance, see oursticky posts here!
www.ckinsurance.co.uk
Top Bottom