E320CDI 53 reg servicing costs / frequency

[Buster73]

I purchased a new 320 CDI in Jan 04 , it has now completed 69,000 miles with full dealer history.

Call me daft but the servicing costs are astrinomical , and loads more in percentage terms than I expected.

Can any members on here answer a few questions for me.

Servicing seems to range from every 9 to 12,000 miles , using mobil 1 oil as well. At a bout £300 minimum every time it goes in.

Do these cars not have longlife servicing like my old Audi ?

I have just had it in for it's last service a D service plus one track rod end and steering check and the bill is in excess of £500 "including" a discount of 20 % ffs.

Anyone on here help me out with some advice , because I hate to admit it but I've been taken for a ride.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

[BlackC55]

Take it to a specilist and you can cut costs by half.

Take it to one who knows the late cars well and you can't go wrong with the 211.

 

[Blobcat]

This is something that jberks has come across with his W211 E270cdi, the ASSYSt doesn't appear to acknowledge the long life oil. My W210 E320cdi (basically the same engine as yours) went anywhere up to ~18K between services. My new W211 E320cdi (V6) is on fixed 15K services (or 12 months), you could probably switch to the same.

 

[jberks]

I second the above reply.
There is no real value in the MB bit of the FMBSH. In teh last 2 years, mine has been serviced twice by a specialist and I've been very happy with the results and the cost. That said, my last service was back at the dealer. As well as some warranty work, there were a list of recalls, checks and updates that needed to be done. I was equally happy with the results here, and surprisingly the price wasn't too onerous either.

The downside of using the specialist is solely that you lose the Mobilio so will need breakdown cover and the corrosion warranty becomes a bit weaker (technically they don't need to honour it, though they normally do anyway). You also don't get any updates that may come along so it's often a good idea to visit the dealer once in a while.

However to be honest, dealer servicing costs aren't too bad these days, especially as they are feeling the pressure from the indies and are now offering decent discounts. What bumps up the price is the list of 'extras' that pop up. A new wiper blade that costs £20 to fit, or the 1.5 hours to replace a suspension part @ £150+vat.

The middle road would be to have them do the service only. This need only include oil changes and the odd filter. ANYTHING else, from gearbox oil to fluid changes to brake pads can be done at the indie. That way, the service book looks gold plated, your Mobilio stands, but your wallet takes less of a battering.

Any issues that come up between services should never go to the dealer. Not only is the indie considerably cheaper but they are probably better suited to fixing issues too. After all, they will have seen much older and higher mileage motors that yours and will know the kind of issue that crop up. Your much more likely to get the 'oh thats probably the xxxx - It normally is" response. The dealer spends most of his time with new stuff so rarely sees things like perished seals, worn sensors etc.

Post your location and someone can recommend someone local to you.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Sounds like your using an oil that should at least last the the duration of your annual mileage, circa 20K.
Unfortunately Dealers make big money on changing oil and it seems in this day and age a great shame to abuse the environment in this way.
I opted for semi synthetic oil for the same engine as yours as it will be changed every year at about 8-9K.
As mentioned above there are good independants out there who can probably save you hundreds (£) a year.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I would agree with J Berks comments. Half the problem is dealers know nothing about things that rise in older cars. Most of them dont even sellc ars more thna 4 years old, any trade is are often sold into the trade.

 

[Buster73]

I take it the assyst is programmed to what the dealer wants in terms of servicing. Not possibly what is needed. ? Can it be adjusted to be serviced every 15/20k miles ?

I live in the tyne and Wear area , for any independants out there.

Many thanks for the replies.

 

[Rory]

I have an 54 reg C270CDi which has only done 30K - it was serviced and 18K and the next is due at 35K.
My dealer wrote to me and suggested I should switch to annual servicing - I declined their kind offer! So it seems to me that if you wanted to switch to 1 yr / 15.5K fixed intervals then you could. I don't know if it's possible for ASSYST to reflect those intervals - it strikes me there's a remote possibility you could have a problem with Mobilo as it might look like the car is well overdue for service.

If the car is out of warranty, and keeping Mobilo isn't important, then you could have the car serviced whenever you felt it needed it, rather than relying on ASSYST.

 

[Jensen]

Hi Buster

I live in Tyne & Wear, Wardley Gateshead. I take my car to a merc indie specialist in Dunston. Deatails are:-
Staithes Garage call owner Phil Baister 07711469741. I've been using him for 2 years excellent no problems very fair.
Tell him I sent you, good luck

Jensen

 

[steve.link]

I take it the assyst is programmed to what the dealer wants in terms of servicing. Not possibly what is needed. ? Can it be adjusted to be serviced every 15/20k miles ?

I have the same car as you which is fitted with "assyst plus" this should calculate the distance to next service based on driving style, time etc. It also monitors the oil condition, temperature, engine rpm etc, etc.

The default or starting mileage is dependent on the oil spec but this does not seem to be well understood by all MB dealers. They have to set this after they have completed the servicing.

Oil spec 229.3 gives a 15000 km (9320 miles) interval
Oil spec 229.5 gives a 20000km (12427 miles) interval

(NB if you have a EURO4 spec car then you need 229.31 or 229.51 - the extra 1 denotes low ash oil)

From 2007 I am told that the default interval has been extended to 25000 km (15534 miles) in order to match AUDI/BMW as MB is perceived as expensive to maintain by car fleet/leasing companies.

If/when the above is programmed correctly into the "assyst plus" (and it needs software updates for the 25k km interval) it will calculate the distance to next service based on the parameters mentioned above. From new I managed 15000 miles from a starting point of 9320 miles using 229.31 oil.

Mine was recently reset to 25k km (15k miles) and I am monitoring how the mileage is adjusting. Another common issue with the W211 is that some dealers seem able to reset the assyst to fixed intervals - i.e. it simply counts down mile for mile.

Hope this helps

 

[Blobcat]

Another common issue with the W211 is that some dealers seem able to reset the assyst to fixed intervals - i.e. it simply counts down mile for mile.

Hope this helps

They (SG Swansea) managed to do that to my W210 ! :-(

 

[Rory]

From 2007 I am told that the default interval has been extended to 25000 km (15534 miles) in order to match AUDI/BMW as MB is perceived as expensive to maintain by car fleet/leasing companies.

My understanding is that it's not a 'default' interval, but a fixed interval at 15,500 (25Kms would make sense too) or 12mths, whchever is first.
Audi and BM's often run to 20K between servicing given typical 'company car' use.

 

[steve.link]

They (SG Swansea) managed to do that to my W210 ! :-(

SG Cardiff did it to my W211 after the first service at 15000 miles. I have been arguing with them ever since to try and get it fixed!!

 

[hawk20]

SG Cardiff did it to my W211 after the first service at 15000 miles. I have been arguing with them ever since to try and get it fixed!!

I had the same problem. They need to set it to show that the service was done with Synthetic oils, then ASSYT will adjust to your driving style, the types of journeys, and any oil you add between services etc. If they set it for ordinary oils the interval will be a fixed distance.

 

[hawk20]

In the last 2 years, mine has been serviced twice by a specialist and I've been very happy with the results and the cost. That said, my last service was back at the dealer. As well as some warranty work, there were a list of recalls, checks and updates that needed to be done. I was equally happy with the results here, and surprisingly the price wasn't too onerous either.

The downside of using the specialist is solely that you lose the Mobilio so will need breakdown cover and the corrosion warranty becomes a bit weaker (technically they don't need to honour it, though they normally do anyway). You also don't get any updates that may come along so it's often a good idea to visit the dealer once in a while.

However to be honest, dealer servicing costs aren't too bad these days, especially as they are feeling the pressure from the indies and are now offering decent discounts. What bumps up the price is the list of 'extras' that pop up. A new wiper blade that costs £20 to fit, or the 1.5 hours to replace a suspension part @ £150+vat.

The middle road would be to have them do the service only. This need only include oil changes and the odd filter. ANYTHING else, from gearbox oil to fluid changes to brake pads can be done at the indie. That way, the service book looks gold plated, your Mobilio stands, but your wallet takes less of a battering.

Any issues that come up between services should never go to the dealer. Not only is the indie considerably cheaper but they are probably better suited to fixing issues too. After all, they will have seen much older and higher mileage motors that yours and will know the kind of issue that crop up. Your much more likely to get the 'oh thats probably the xxxx - It normally is" response. The dealer spends most of his time with new stuff so rarely sees things like perished seals, worn sensors etc.

Post your location and someone can recommend someone local to you.

I agree with so much of this after loads of miles in lots of Mercs. I am a fan of Full MBSH and think there are good reasons to keep it. See this thread: -
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=40396

 

[Rory]

One thing I would add is that dealers clearly have scope to do the servicing *much* cheaper than 'list' price.

My local dealer is part of the Inchcape group (list of MB outlets: http://www.ir.inchcape.co.uk/DealerLocator/Franchise.aspx?Franchise=Mercedes-Benz ) and they sent me a card a few mths ago which offers E320CDi A service for £209 (regular price £263.51) and B service for £324 (regular £497.60).

The offer expired 31st July, but my dealer (unprompted) said they would honour that price anytime.

 

[steve.link]

My understanding is that it's not a 'default' interval, but a fixed interval at 15,500 (25Kms would make sense too) or 12mths, whchever is first.

My car is back in the dealers next week and I have an expectation of flexible service intervals with a starting point of 15.5k miles.

I will keep you posted!