A Class Servicing Cost

[fr.marcus]

My father has a X-reg (2000) AvantGuard 140 from new, with only 14500 miles (he does fewer than 4000/annum) now. As well as several visits to the dealer for repairs over the years (the usual: key fob; rear suspension springs, etc) he pays a fortune for servicing (nearly #500 recently).

Any tips for reducing / challenging such high charges would be most welcome, togther with any suggestion as to when, given his low mileage, he should have another service. (I'm not not sure what MB's requirement for servicing, in warranty terms, is; if, indeed, the car is still in warranty).

Many thanks,

 

[SLinKyjoe]

Find a good MB independant near by. call in and ask them what they suggest. they will be able to look after it at lesser rates and most use MB sourced parts.

It will be out of warrant due to age although the Moblilife will still be active. The service handbook should tell you what you get under that scheme at this age, and that what you will forego if you opt out of franchised dealer service.

 

[IDMerc]

A Class Service

My wife has an A140 now three years old. It has the ASSYST indicator to let you know when the next service is due. This counts down either in miles roughly from 10/12000 OR over a time period which for the A Class is two years.

However there is a known fault in the A Class service indicator which counts down two days every calendar day - so it will call the car in for a service every year. The instrument panel has to be replaced.

Services are typically £480 and unless the car is serviced at a main dealer the Mobilo Life cover will expire 12 months after the last service.

 

[HZ123]

Just changed an A160 after 5.5 years and the most I ever paid for a service was £380, several were only £100. Before I sold it the MB service centre that did it told me that the vehicle which went with 37000 on the clock could comfortably do 12000 miles between services/ or up to 2years, although I had them annually. I purchased another A160 diesel 8 weeks ago a 53 and questioned at 15 months/6000 miles why had it not been serviced. I was shown the assyst which came up with 2200miles still to do. It sounds to me that your Dad like me was having it serviced too often (if thats possible). Finally as suggested the age of your Dads baby seek out a private MB workshop.