3 star Servicing

[jberks]

I was in the dealer last night and they have a 3* servicing banner up. Reading the blurb it seems that the EU Block exemption is having an effect.

On my car, an A service is normally around £250. Once it's 3 years old, they'll do it for £160 (don't hold me to these figures but they're roughly right). A B comes down from £450 to £360. So that's without asking for a discount - its just an automatic price drop.
Politically I guess its tricky as they're effectively admitting that if your car is less than 3, they'll rip you off as you can obviously afford it!

However, as my car turns 3 on Sunday (must get a cake ), it starts to make keeping FMBSH more feasable. Ok I'll still go to the indie for anything big, misfires, funny noises etc, but basic servicing and keeping Mobilio now starts to make some sense.

 

[Phil D]

Hi jberks - is that Harrogate? I posted a few weeks ago about a similar scheme I'd seen advertised in Skipton (different group but a national firm) and it wasn't clear if it was a national MB sponsored thing.
My car is 3 on 5 November and I've got it booked for a B service three days later at the reduced cost of 327 (again before I ask for discount)
It has certainly persuaded me to go for the full MBSH to keep mobilo life etc, but as with you shop around for non service items
Phil

 

[Rory]

I've mentioned it before, but I've had a couple of postcards from Inchcape group http://www.ir.inchcape.co.uk/DealerLocator/Franchise.aspx?Franchise=Mercedes-Benz offering hefty discounts on servicing with no age restriction.
A couple of weeks they were advertising even cheaper prices than the postcard offers in our local paper too and A services were £139-£199 and B's were £289 to £369 (most vehicles were £299).

 

[jberks]

Certainly looks like a national thing.

 

[gmcelroy]

I've been pricing up the B service that is due on our C180K Sport coupe and there does seem to have been a big drop in prices from some of the franchised dealers - The MB retail ones seem to be advertising A services for £99-£199 depending on model (no age restrictions stated) and my B service (car is 3 yrs old on 24th Dec.) is £361 inc VAT, which is a good £90-100 less than I was quoted when I enquired after the A service what it would be next time.

So I think the days of them being able to charge the earth may be ending (Its still not cheap by any means though!) in contrast my BMW would be about £250 for Inspection I with Oil change etc. I still think they need to do more to keep the cost of ownership sensible - I'll have paid more for 2 services on the C-class than it costs to buy a 5yr servicing pack on a 3 series BMW

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Hi jberks - is that Harrogate? I posted a few weeks ago about a similar scheme I'd seen advertised in Skipton (different group but a national firm) and it wasn't clear if it was a national MB sponsored thing.
My car is 3 on 5 November and I've got it booked for a B service three days later at the reduced cost of 327 (again before I ask for discount)
It has certainly persuaded me to go for the full MBSH to keep mobilo life etc, but as with you shop around for non service items
Phil

I can see your thinging here, but if you take it in and they find somethings wrong with it, they wont be covered by warrenty and you will have to pay for them.

 

[Phil D]

not unless they offer a decent price. My last service highlighted the need for new discs & pads. the dealership phoned & asked for the ok to proceed. When they quoted the price I said no way - I was taking it elsewhere - guess what - they matched the price!
I will insist that only standard service work (which is basically not much) is done & if any other issues crop up they need my authority to proceed
that will give me the chance to get a quote from the local indie - if the dealer matches it, fine - if not indie's got a job
Phil

 

[television]

I will do some asking in the West Country when I go out, what an interesting thread and subject