Main Dealer Servicing and History Stamps

[kth286]

AS you know, you have light up warnings for the brake wear on the dash, and there is plenty of wear remaining when this light first comes on - several thousand miles.

 

[survey]

AS you know, you have light up warnings for the brake wear on the dash, and there is plenty of wear remaining when this light first comes on - several thousand miles.

True. I would normally check the pad thickness myself before having the pads replaced. Too many times in the past I have checked after the dealer has recommended pads be replaced only to find them OK and indeed more than once gone through the next 10000m service and not had the dealer mention that pads were wearing!! A nice little earner for those who hang on the dealer's every word!

 

[rf065]

In all the time I have driven Mercedes and at all the many dealers I have used, I have never been told I must chnage the pads, until I have been ready to do so. They just say pads are x% worn; may need changing in the next y,000 miles, or just in the near future. If they ever tried to force me when the brakes were not fully worn, I would report them to MB at Milton Keynes.

My dealer even gave me a box of chocolates last time I had the car serviced. How times have changed.

If your dealer says your brakes are 80% worn, do you go home and check? How do you know when they tell you they need replaced that they are being entirely honest?

I've already posted that they claimed my fronts were 20% worn when I changed them myself 100miles before the service. That leads me to believe they have a quick look & make up the percentage worn figure to suit themselves, or have they ever stated how many mm were actually left?

As for the chocolates, your dealer must read this forum! :smile:

Russ

 

[survey]

If your dealer says your brakes are 80% worn, do you go home and check? How do you know when they tell you they need replaced that they are being entirely honest?

I've already posted that they claimed my fronts were 20% worn when I changed them myself 100miles before the service. That leads me to believe they have a quick look & make up the percentage worn figure to suit themselves, or have they ever stated how many mm were actually left?

As for the chocolates, your dealer must read this forum! :smile:

Russ

You are as cynical as me!! All borne out of personal xeperience!

 

[hawk20]

If your dealer says your brakes are 80% worn, do you go home and check? How do you know when they tell you they need replaced that they are being entirely honest?

I've already posted that they claimed my fronts were 20% worn when I changed them myself 100miles before the service. That leads me to believe they have a quick look & make up the percentage worn figure to suit themselves, or have they ever stated how many mm were actually left?

As for the chocolates, your dealer must read this forum! :smile:

Russ

First, I know from long experience roughly how far I can go on a set of pads and if I was told they needed renewing much earlier than normal, then Yes I would check. Having stripped and rebuilt engines on cars and motorbikes in the past, I don't find checking pads that difficult despite TV's dig. And if I did not know how to check, there are many places where you can get free brake checks just to make sure. My local ATS and Kwikfit are examples. But I've never been told I needed pads in under at least 30k miles, so not been a problem.

My dealer offers to collect and return, or provide a loan car, and they valet the car before returning it, and we can talk to technical people before the service if we want to, and afterwards the service manager usually manges to talk to each customer and make sure they are happy. The box of chocolates is a recent innovation but a nice touch. They are light years ahead of a few years ago, when I was not anywhere near so happy with the level of service offered. I am not claiming for one moment that they are typical. Just reporting how they are now. I have had plenty of lousy dealers in the past.

 

[television]

You are as cynical as me!! All borne out of personal xeperience!

And many other members.

The brake disc and pad thickness guide I have sent out to members almost more than any other, mainly for the 203

 

[Cl_a_55y]

My dealer even gave me a box of chocolates last time I had the car serviced. How times have changed.

My dealer gave me a litre of Mobil 1 to top up with, some screenwash and a small tin of mints...!!

However they added a charge of £14 + VAT for the oil and £5 + VAT for the screenwash to my bill to cover them!!

I made them take them back and remove the charges as I had not requested them!!

I must admit the mints were not on the bill but I suspect they came under the £20 miscellaneous workshop materials item?? HA-HA!! :roll:

 

[Cl_a_55y]

First, I know from long experience roughly how far I can go on a set of pads and if I was told they needed renewing much earlier than normal, then Yes I would check. Having stripped and rebuilt engines on cars and motorbikes in the past, I don't find checking pads that difficult despite TV's dig. And if I did not know how to check, there are many places where you can get free brake checks just to make sure. My local ATS and Kwikfit are examples. But I've never been told I needed pads in under at least 30k miles, so not been a problem.

My dealer offers to collect and return, or provide a loan car, and they valet the car before returning it, and we can talk to technical people before the service if we want to, and afterwards the service manager usually manges to talk to each customer and make sure they are happy. The box of chocolates is a recent innovation but a nice touch. They are light years ahead of a few years ago, when I was not anywhere near so happy with the level of service offered. I am not claiming for one moment that they are typical. Just reporting how they are now. I have had plenty of lousy dealers in the past.

You write a glowing review of your dealer... Are you on their payroll or maybe the board Hawk ??

 

[truthfindergeneral]

'and £5 + VAT for the screenwash to my bill to cover them!!'...
Still pushing that one.!
Years ago, my partners Merc received the same item on the bill. I asked why they had syphoned out the full washer bottle ( I'd filled it the day before after the weekly wash and polish ) in order to refill it. ' We didn't they proclaimed ". In which case, take it off the bill and do not attempt to defraud her again , I replied.

 

[hawk20]

You write a glowing review of your dealer... Are you on their payroll or maybe the board Hawk ??

No just a happy customer of a much improved service. Is that allowed on this forum?

 

[rf065]

No just a happy customer of a much improved service. Is that allowed on this forum?

Certainly, but the only people I know who are exceedingly happy with their main dealers are ones who know nothing about what actually goes on behind their backs or under their hoods. You don't seem to fit that category, yet no MB workshop provides value for money, so it is a confusing situation for me as to why you always sing their praises, unless you have that much money that dealer servicing means nothing to you.

Russ

 

[jberks]

To be fair, dealers have come on light years since the dark days. I've just booked in for a free MOT (which I have for life apparently) and they are far more eager to negotiate that they used to be. So with a prevailing wind, I'll get a loan car and a service for nothing. Not bad considering.

Their normal prices are still a bit heavy though. As a consequence, I used an indie last time.
But, whilst the price was 1/2 to 2/3 of the dealer's best quote, the lack of finger marks in the brake dust, plus the lack of 'your pads are low' warnings tell me the wheels never came off (it was a B service), the service book wasn't stamped - "couldn't find it" - odd as its in the rear armrest where all 211 books are. The brake dust also tells me it wasn't washed after the service. I can only assume the oil and filters were changed and the general work was done correctly. The service computer was wrong (and still is) and a part I requested changed when it was booked in, wasn't. These guys used to be excellent but have grown beyond recgnition and I guess are now suffering from the same growth issues the dealerships did a few years ago.

The previous service was at the dealer. They were fine, everything was done correctly and the price, after negotiation, was ok too (I asked for a discount then when I'd screwed them down further dropped in that they owed me £50 from the last MOT - so I suspect in the end they lost money on it) but I wasn't happy when they slapped on an extra £6L for oil when I requested fully synthetic.

PSMART suggested another indie. More local to me as it happens. I'll have to give them a go. The only alternative would be a trip to Warrington - which whilst I'd do in a heartbeat if I had a problem, is a bit of a drag for a service.

On the brake pad issue, they reported I needed new pads and disks all round - only £400 if I have it done straight away - not a bad price for a complete set of brakes but I said I'd wait for the warning light. That service was 10 months and around 18,000 miles ago.....
I guess I'm braking with wafers by now ;-)

 

[television]

In all fairness the wheels are only removed and rotated where possible, otherwise the wheels do not come off,,there is no need to remove them on a service otherwise. Most of any service is visual, but while walking around under the car things like ball joints are checked for any play and noted when there is.

All brake components are easy to see and check while on the ramp.

Re the washing of the car I would not want anyone else to wash my car

 

[roadhog]

The guy I use for my 'other' car's servicing always asks if I'd like them to remove the wheels for a check, even when I'd booked it in for just an oil change. They give the car a once over whenever it's in.

When I take my car to be serviced I expect it to be serviced, not valeted. I can do that myself without affecting the warranty. That was also one of the things that made me laugh a while back when Alex patient was talking of setting up on his own. The amount of people on here suggesting valeting, drop offs, hire car, baby sitting etc. Book a car in for a service and service it, book a car for an oil change, change the oil. How difficult can it be?

 

[Rory]

Certainly, but the only people I know who are exceedingly happy with their main dealers are ones who know nothing about what actually goes on behind their backs or under their hoods. You don't seem to fit that category, yet no MB workshop provides value for money, so it is a confusing situation for me as to why you always sing their praises, unless you have that much money that dealer servicing means nothing to you.

Russ

hawk20 certainly does seem to have an almost unique dealer. I've never had chocolates (or mints) off my dealer.

I'm amused by the dealer workshop ratings that MB publishes - the scores are astonishing, generally over 90%. Apparently they base the score on one question - "would you recommend this repairer to a friend". Let's face it, it would take a lot for customers to go so far as to answer "no".

Funnily enough, after my first visit and survey, I've never been surveyed since!

 

[television]

hawk20 certainly does seem to have an almost unique dealer. I've never had chocolates (or mints) off my dealer.

I'm amused by the dealer workshop ratings that MB publishes - the scores are astonishing, generally over 90%. Apparently they base the score on one question - "would you recommend this repairer to a friend". Let's face it, it would take a lot for customers to go so far as to answer "no".

Funnily enough, after my first visit and survey, I've never been surveyed since!

They would just move the goal post if the survey did not look good. I read all of the plaques the other day at my outlet, and the ratings were all at the top

 

[rf065]

Funnily enough, after my first visit and survey, I've never been surveyed since!

That makes two of us!
It looks like anyone who does not give full marks is not asked again!

Russ

 

[lulu]

Mine were so stupid, they asked a second time.
Same answers.
They didn't ask a third!

 

[television]

They have never asked me maybe they watch the forums

 

[Cl_a_55y]

'and £5 + VAT for the screenwash to my bill to cover them!!'...
Still pushing that one.!

In my case they billed £5 for the screenwash they supposedly used under bonnet. This always amazes and puzzles me because I'm sure they don't drain the container and refill with a whole bottle of concentrate plus water, when by the law of averages, most people have at least half a screenwash container full already!

However, in addition they billed ANOTHER £5 for the bottle of concentrate screenwash sitting on the passenger seat next to the £16.10 per litre of Mobil 1 for topping up!! Would anyone who knew the cost pay £5 for a few mls of concentrate when you can buy 5 litres of name brand concentrate for a similar amount? As for the Mobil 1... £16.10??? Even Halfords sell it for £7.80 a litre and I sourced some on ebay for £5.50 a litre!

Why would anyone accept this kind of ripping off? Or should I say daylight robbery? Maybe those driving company cars or who write off service costs against their income tax? Or perhaps as Russ suggested, some here are so wealthy they don't care about being ripped off by the main dealers?

This reminds me of when I was told by a Rolls Royce salesman at HR Owen, who were one of my customers, that if you need to ask how much it costs to run a Rolls you can't afford one!

I doubt most of us here buy new Mercs do we? I suspect we are more of the enthusiast or collector breed aren't we? Capable of DIY work on our cars and always looking for a way to avoid being ripped off and thus saving money for the fuel tank top up!! Well I am anyway!!