B Service and spark plugs at dealership

[JohnEvans]

Hi All,

My 2012 C63 is due a B service and spark plug change and Mercedes (Croydon) has advised that it is a £900 ish service. They are also offering a service plan with this and the next service at £1100 ish and 3 for £1300 ish.

Question 1: Is this about the right amount for the B service and spark plugs?

Question 2: Are the service plans usually good value for money?

Question 3: The Car has a full MB service history and is currently on 51,000. If I started using an indy specialist (which I have happily used before) would that have a big impact on resale (price/potential number of buyers)?

I'm not looking to sell anytime soon but would be interested on your views.

Many thanks all,

John

 

[Blobcat]

Go to a respected Mercedes Indie instead for servicing

 

[EmilysDad]

.... ....
If I started using an indy specialist (which I have happily used before) would that have a big impact on resale (price/potential number of buyers)? ....

It wouldn't bother me if it wasn't full dealer serviced

 

[peterws1957]

There are endless threads on service plans on here, which will give all the info you need with a quick search. Unfortunately you've missed the 20% discount offer which ended a few weeks ago. If you're going to keep the car the 3 service offer looks reasonable (as far as MB prices can be regarded as such). No harm in getting prices from a respected indie, but make sure the prices quoted include everything required.

 

[robin.large]

Easy way to check value impact is to enter details into 'we buy anycar' with Dealer FSH then try with Part Service History.

The service plans are often fair value BUT the stuff that comes up outside the service plans can be added cost.

£900 is about right.

I carried out my own 'B' service at 60,000 - Plugs, oil & filter change, gearbox oil & filter change, diff oil change, brake fluid change and coolant, air filters, cabin filter et Al. on my 2013 CLS 63., Front & rear brake pads et Al. on my 2013 CLS 63

Cost of everything including some tools was £575 from Autodoc.

MB had quoted around 1375

It took me 2 1/2 days but MB would have been 1 (ISH) days.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

 

[EmilysDad]

....

MB had quoted around 1375 .....

That's insane!

 

[sonic]

You are the right way round for 3 services B A B, £1300 for 2 B services & 1 A service is good value.
I am on a 3 service contract at the moment, I just wait for a good deal to come along. But I also have a great relationship with the local service manager.
Get your local Independent MB garage to quote you for the 3 services.
As for impact on sale price I don’t think it will make much difference either way. The important bit is it has been serviced.

 

[Uncle Benz]

Just my opinion, but an eight year old 50,000 mile C63 has become a collectors piece, and as such a dealership history becomes of little importance. A decent independent specialist who can maintain the DSB online history is likely to go over the car with a more thorough eye than dealer technicians. Anyone looking at the purchase of one of these older collector cars will have done their homework and a history with an independent specialist is not going to put them off. Quite the opposite in fact.

 

[Blobcat]

Just my opinion, but an eight year old 50,000 mile C63 has become a collectors piece, and as such a dealership history becomes of little importance. A decent independent specialist who can maintain the DSB online history is likely to go over the car with a more thorough eye than dealer technicians. Anyone looking at the purchase of one of these older collector cars will have done their homework and a history with an independent specialist is not going to put them off. Quite the opposite in fact.

Couldn’t agree more.

 

[DSK]

Dealer servicing is just a licence to print money and generally from what I have seen is far from what I would class as a service or maintenance. Its sad, for the very odd skilled tech that a dealership here and there may still have.

 

[peterws1957]

Just my opinion, but an eight year old 50,000 mile C63 has become a collectors piece, and as such a dealership history becomes of little importance. A decent independent specialist who can maintain the DSB online history is likely to go over the car with a more thorough eye than dealer technicians. Anyone looking at the purchase of one of these older collector cars will have done their homework and a history with an independent specialist is not going to put them off. Quite the opposite in fact.

Yet there are still enthusiasts around who insist that dealer servicing is the only way. Some seem to revel in the amount they've spent on even a 15 plus year old car that's worth next to nothing. Don't understand it myself.

 

[JBell]

Yet there are still enthusiasts around who insist that dealer servicing is the only way. Some seem to revel in the amount they've spent on even a 15 plus year old car that's worth next to nothing. Don't understand it myself.

Bragging rights (willy waving competition) IMO

 

[DSK]

Whilst not a C63, I think, at a high level the following will still show the difference between Dealer servicing and 'enthusiast' servicing;

Dealer servicing is generalyl at 10-20,000 mile intervals in this day and age, where very little is done at each.

However, below is an example on my daily driver doing in excess of 30,000 miles a year, maintained in excess of the dealer schedule.

DAILY DRIVER
However, below is an example on my daily driver doing in excess of 30,000 miles a year, maintained in excess of the dealer schedule.

5,000 miles = oil & filter
10,000 miles = oil & filter, air/fuel/cabin filters, spark plugs (needed or not, its replaced with new)
30,000 miles = oil & filter, air/fuel/cabin filters, spark plugs, coolant change, ATF fluid flush/fill, brake fluid change, new discs and pads all round (replaced prematurely), turbo control valve, smoke test the system for any unnoticed pipe leaks as a matter of course, check all suspension components for play, check and clear all drain holes, anything else I or a schedule specify.

CARS THAT DO MINIMAL MILES

ANNUAL - oil & filter, all additional filters, spark plugs, ATF/diff oil based on when it was last changed, brake fluid change, coolant strength check (replace if needed), smoke test system for unnoticed leaks as a precaution. Whilst most stuff is not needed, for the sake of a few quid in parts, its done.

All the above is carried out at certain independent specialists, scattered around the country, with me helping.

Compare the above to a 'dealer service'...…. I know which I'd rather have thank you. I remember looking at a used Porsche Cayenne Turbo in 2012 and walked away simply based on the scheduled service intervals and what little was done over its 70,000 mile life span.

For me, buying any such used performance car must have, is receipts and invoices to back up each of the service stamps as its these what details what's parts were purchased, what the work scope was, if any scheduled items were missed etc (model specific items).

Moral of the story is, ditch the dealer, spend the money at an independent, ask them to do the required service and go over the car to advise of any items that need addressing. Make sure you keep the invoices with the service book!

 

[Uncle Benz]

It’s quite frightening sometimes when a new customer arrives with a 3+ year old mercedes and I have a look at the DSB to see what has been done. I regularly find cars that have a dealer history but have never had gearbox fluid or brake fluid changes recorded that should have been done. Don’t just look at the fact that the service log is there on time. Look at each service and check what has actually been done. The devil is in the detail

 

[coxyhog]

It’s quite frightening sometimes when a new customer arrives with a 3+ year old mercedes and I have a look at the DSB to see what has been done. I regularly find cars that have a dealer history but have never had gearbox fluid or brake fluid changes recorded that should have been done. Don’t just look at the fact that the service log is there on time. Look at each service and check what has actually been done. The devil is in the detail

Yes I caught one of the better MB dealers out when they neglected to do my plugs & air filters when they should've been done.

 

[DSK]

Yes I caught one of the better MB dealers out when they neglected to do my plugs & air filters when they should've been done.

Did they charge you for it though?

When I had my lease cars (Merc & Astra) and used the dealer for servicing (only to prevent any issues at handback), on the bigger services things were missed or not done but ticked. Merc didn't change the fuel filter when they should have. The Astra, I had a dash cam rolling that showed the booklet having the brake fluid box 'ticked' but, the reservoir was never touched. The dealers swiftly addressed the two issues when pointed out. I guess its deliberate to try and do less, to get the next car in quicker and keep costs of consumables etc down but still charge customers who will never know better.

 

[ajlsl600]

I do all my own and keep,most reciepts I always buy on condition and how I see car ,and a road test. I think I pretty good at that. I can tell if its been looked after, even if its had a good valet. The electrickery stuff is just a guess today.see it working.thats it .I would not buy a modern benz without a full star check less than a week old ,ideally I would see that done. As I am not buying a modern car again thats something I can cross off my list. Modern car =perpetual perpetual cash cow.no thanks.
Eg fag ash in car=walk
Torn seat,trim =walk
Filthy under bonnet =walk
Iffy tyres =walk
Noises other than wheel bearing ,belt pulleys =walk
Panel damage=walk
All above leave me thinking owner dont care much about car.

 

[coxyhog]

Did they charge you for it though?

When I had my lease cars (Merc & Astra) and used the dealer for servicing (only to prevent any issues at handback), on the bigger services things were missed or not done but ticked. Merc didn't change the fuel filter when they should have. The Astra, I had a dash cam rolling that showed the booklet having the brake fluid box 'ticked' but, the reservoir was never touched. The dealers swiftly addressed the two issues when pointed out. I guess its deliberate to try and do less, to get the next car in quicker and keep costs of consumables etc down but still charge customers who will never know better.

I was on a service contract so it should've been included as part of that.It was the last service of the contract and it wasn't until the following year when I went to Wayne Gates & they asked me if my plugs & filters were due that I realised that they'd been missed.The dealer tried to deny it to start with,saying the car hadn't done the mileage,but it is 48k miles or 4 years,whichever is the sooner.Eventually they did it free of charge.

 

[JohnEvans]

Many thanks for all the replies. It seems as though a general feeling is, use the indy and keep the receipts. I'm not sure if the indy I have used can update the online logbook but I will ask.

I've never thought of the car as a collectors item before but I like the sound of it.

Appreciate the replies and happy new year all.

 

[EmilysDad]

I never get this on line service record bit ... whether it's updated by the dealer or the indie is irrelevant to the bloke who wants to buy the car next. He'd be able to see a stack of invoices & receipts but not access the digital record his self ....