Servicing + warranty

[Zed]

CLK270cdi.
Service due in approx 3,000 miles.
I think the 'b' service is due.
I have contacted MB for details of the cost of the service - got a nasty surprise.
Can someone please advise where I can get my car serviced without invalidating my warranty.
Also, the brakes are feeling spongy, so may need new pads. Will I have to get the work done at a MB garage in order to keep my warranty.
Thanks
Zed

 

[littlebrooklyn]

I could be wrong, and I am sure someone will soon respond if I am but I was under the impression that to keep the warranty you have to go to a Mercedes stealership for servicing.

Is it really that expensive We haven't had ours serviced yet

 

[c13tay]

Sure I read in a previous post that it doesnt have to be done by MB but has to be done to their schedule and everything they would do has do be done (apart from charge you loads !!!) with parts and consumables of same quality.

Chris

As before ......... sure I will be corrected if wrong

 

[jberks]

My Indie assures me that any work done by them keeps the warranty intact. (not that I have one) MB have no choice - its EU regulations - the manufacturer is not allowed to tie you to their dealer network.
However, the Mobilio is not covered by the same rules (why they do it) - so you'd need to get extra breakdown cover and the corrosion warranty is not as comprehensive and you may have to make a contribution. Not sure about the Signature warranty though.

 

[Tony]

I think the new rules are that an independent can do the servicing provided Mercedes have "approved" them. This means that they have to have the right equipment and the mechanics have to have various certificates. I guess there are some approved indies, but I don't know. If I were you I'd get the servicing done at the stealer (gets cheaper with 3 year old cars) and get faults put right at the indie. The stealers aren't very good at fault fixing anyway.

 

[Zed]

Zed here.

Thanks for the info folks.

I have called various MB garages (stealers as you so kindly mentioned) to get this matter clarified. The calls I had were a little confusing, but what I could understand was:

1. Service "may" be done at an independant, provided they cover the same work as the MB garage, use genuine parts and are VAT registered.
But the dealer suggested that the independants do not have the same checklists. Accordingly, the work carried out "may" cause a problem with the warranty and the mobilolife cover. Contradiction???
I asked for their advice in writing, which was turned down. Finally advised that to be sure, get the service done at MB.

2. To get the brakes done at an independant, was the same story.

So I am no wiser, but more confused than I first started.

Can anyone give a definative answer who may have had the same story.

Thanks

Zed

 

[paulcallender]

The EU regulations mean that the dealer cannot 'tie you in' to them. It doesn't have to be a Merc specialist independent, and it doesn't have to be certified by Merc. You could even do the work yourself. In practice, though, you'd need to be able to prove the work was carried out according to their schedule. I believe the issue regarding manufacturers providing the necessary relevant technical info, is still ongoing.

The suggestions which Zed received from the dealers are not correct and are in breach of the EU regulations, although of course since they were over the phone, not in writing, you cannot prove they are. Similarly, they were probably unable to offer written advice because if they did, then it could be used against them. In fairness, whoever you spoke to on the phone probably doesn't have access to the required information from Mercedes head office or something, so they were only trying their best, but were misinformed.

By the way, part of the service is to inspect the brakes. They should check pad thickness, disc condition and thickness. If a brake fluid change is in the schedule, then this might cure the sponginess.

 

[pirellipete]

service costs & Warranty

I have just got a 2002 C200K Coupe and it had just had done 9000 miles as I got it, and the seller had the 9000 'A' service done by a non-MB garage, (Oil change and filter I believe).

I checked with my local MB dealer ref Mobilo and warranty and the service manager showed me a pamphlet he had from MB ref Mobilio and warranties as many dealers and customers had been asking about this very thing.

The section he showed me stated that the Mobilo life and warranty is valid IF FROM THE 5TH YEAR, THE CAR IS SERVICED BY AN MB DEALER AND THE SERVICE BOOK STAMPED ACCORDINGLY.

His interpretation of this was that years 1-5 can be non-MB, as long as year 5 onwards is then the Mobilo conditions are met.

Guess what, I couldn't get a photocopy of the page but he did say he would make a note of my query in his diary and if I did the same we would have dates that cross-check and his answer.