MB dealer servicing offer

[Rory]

I got a postcard from my local MB dealer, who are part of the Inchcape group -
http://www.inchcaperetail.co.uk/DealerLocator/Franchise.aspx?Franchise=Mercedes-Benz -
advising me that they’re running a “Director’s Cut” summer offer on servicing.

Some of the prices seem (relatively, for MB dealer servicing) amazing – my C270Cdi is nearing a B service, which they list at £479. The offer price is £315.

I do note that there’s little logic in the pricing – C220CDi B service list is £422, but the offer price is £379 (which would leave me miffed if I had one of those!).

E320Cdi is shown as £497 list, offer price £324 (B service)

A service pricing is generally about £50 below normal price.

I’m currently showing 5000 miles to B service, and the offer is shown as expiring 31st July, so I rang my local dealer to see if I could perhaps book it in (5mths early!) and fix the price – they said no need to book, they’d honour the price whenever I needed the service. I’ve been humming and harring about ServicePlus – this kind of pricing makes me even more unsure about whether to go for it or not.

Even if you don’t live near an Inchcape dealer, it might be worth using their price as a lever to get a better deal from your own dealer.

 

[jberks]

I've just paid around £350 for a B service on my E270cdi - I just mentioned that I had used an indie for the last 2 services and without prompting, they discounted their bill. It still came to £600 once the 'extras' were piled on, but I could have refused them and they were quoted ahead so I can't complain.
Service was good too.
I suspect that dealers are starting to feel the competition with indies biting at their heels, now their services don't affect the warranties.
Finally something good came out of the EU!

 

[100%Bitch]

I keep trying to get people not to accept their prices anyway. Ask for a discount and mention that there are plenty of other places to get your car serviced, or even worked on for other things. They then tend to give you a discount on the parts prices and 1/3 discount off of their labour costs. That probably works out to about the prices you were quoted or even more.

It all depends on how much they value your custom. :wink:

 

[Manofkent]

Service in Kent

Just an update on car service I had it done at Vikings Canterbury last week - they gave me a Merc A160 (free) so my wife & I went over Margate way & had a nice crab lunch at Broadstairs!!!
Was there 08-30 & it was ready by 1pm - They also called me with extra jobs/ costs! Excellent lady on reception!
A service - took my own Mobil 1 oil which cost me £47 at Costco for 2 x 4L & had 1 to 2 litres back!!
The bill read as follows
A service £78-54 - my mileage was 42489 - don' forget I took my own oil!
Fuel filter 14-28
Renew front pads & discs £100-80
Discs x2 £80-51
Brake pads 36-64
sender unit 2-84
paste 1-48
Brake cleaner 3-35
Oil filter 6-95
seal ring 0-36
washer conc 2-33 had some back that was left in container!
fuel filter 12-46
Total £147-92
Sub total £341-54
Vat £59-77
TOTAL invoice £401-31
They gave 15% for presenting a coupon from the internet so all those costs above were 15% off the normal prices!!
They also reported that rear tyres were on 2mm when limit is 1-6mm!!
Front castor bushes staring to split - check next service
Rear brake pads low
ALSO full wash & inside clean!!!!
I was shaking in my boots when it came to pay but I suppose it could of been worse, esp when it was the first service I had done on the car since I bought it last Sept!
After a c250td I enjoy the c270, esp trying keeping the computer over 40mpg!
Cheers
Manofkent
Feb 04 C270cdi SE Estate

 

[jberks]

my mileage was 42489 -
Feb 04 C270cdi SE Estate

Is it an auto.
At that mileage/age shouldn't it have had gearbox oil and filters too? - Mine did (Nov 04 and 47k).
That'll be another £200!

 

[Rory]

Manofkent: Thanks for posting that detail.

The dealer probably would have charged near enough £100 for oil (mine does) so an A service and front pads and disks cost £500 (and that's with 15% off). Ugh!

I discussed servicing my Oct 04 C270 (auto) with my dealer, as mentioned in the original post.
They told me that as well as following the ASSYST intervals, the car should have:
2yrs Brake fluid change
3yrs Coolant change
4 yrs Auto box fluid change

I know MB have been saying the boxes were sealed for life and it seems unclear if it's now official MB policy to change the ATF but the dealer told me it was (not that that means anything).

Anyway, I've decided to take out ServicePlus. It's going to cost near as dammit £1000/yr, but if routine servicing is going to be £500+ then the difference is effectively buying me a warranty. I'm not thrilled about the cost, but it's probably worth it for my peace of mind.

 

[hawk20]

Useful information. But it confuses if you lump cost of services with other maintenance like brakes and discs etc. Basically, however many threads I read it seems that, if the dealer supplies the oil, then the A service is about £230 inc vat (less if special offers are about) and the B service is £4-500. Using synthetics most drivers seem to be getting 13,000-17,000 miles between services (unless they are low mileage users), so servicing as such is about 2.5 pence per mile.

My A service was due at 15,500 and cost £235 inc vat and my B service was £444 inc vat with the dealer supplying the oil.

 

[Rory]

My A service was due at 15,500 and cost £235 inc vat and my B service was £444 inc vat with the dealer supplying the oil.

I think you've been getting quite good prices, although it's clear that better pricing is available either through special offers or plain old pleading!

The offer from Inchcape doesn't list your car, but taking E320CDi as a comparison, it shows; A at £263.52 (offer £209.20); B at £497.60 (offer at £324.00).
All prices inc VAT, and it specifically says that they use Castrol SLX fully synth, which they told me over a year ago they charge at £12.95 + VAT per litre.

I reckon the major service coming up on my wife's Jazz is going to cost the best part of £300, so the MB offer prices seem very reasonable.

Of course, as has been suggested, I've no doubt that shortly after dropping the car off the service dept make an almost automated call saying that the car needs pads and disks, "shall we just carry on while we've got the wheels off?"

 

[hawk20]

Of course, as has been suggested, I've no doubt that shortly after dropping the car off the service dept make an almost automated call saying that the car needs pads and disks, "shall we just carry on while we've got the wheels off?"

Well I have had two services and all they said was pads about 60% worn after 27k miles.

 

[Rory]

Well I have had two services and all they said was pads about 60% worn after 27k miles.

That implies that they may not make it to the next service, so it's very unusual for the dealer not to suggest replacement.

This was a big issue when we ran Peugeot's on our company fleet - the 20K service intervals (and fairly hard use) meant the front brake pads had to be changed every service.

 

[hawk20]

That implies that they may not make it to the next service, so it's very unusual for the dealer not to suggest replacement.

This was a big issue when we ran Peugeot's on our company fleet - the 20K service intervals (and fairly hard use) meant the front brake pads had to be changed every service.

You could well be right there. In the Service Sheet and report they give you after the service it says: -
"Front and Rear brake pads 60% worn. Suspect warning light will come on before next service".

Still if I get nearly 40,000 miles from a set of pads, I can't grumble too much.

 

[grpar]

Is it best to ask for a "discounted" price when you drop it off, or when they present you with the bill at the end .... ?

 

[hawk20]

Is it best to ask for a "discounted" price when you drop it off, or when they present you with the bill at the end .... ?

Both. Definitely both.

 

[benzo]

You could well be right there. In the Service Sheet and report they give you after the service it says: -
"Front and Rear brake pads 60% worn. Suspect warning light will come on before next service".

Still if I get nearly 40,000 miles from a set of pads, I can't grumble too much.

Joined service plus beginning of this month. Had a service this week.

1- Car was asking for a "C service" but on the service sheet they just did a "basic service". Now car is counting down to another "C service"...

2- Brake pads reported to be 40% worn - at what point do you get the warning light?

 

[Rory]

Is it best to ask for a "discounted" price when you drop it off, or when they present you with the bill at the end .... ?

Neither - you should agree the price when you're making the booking.

 

[BlackC55]

Joined service plus beginning of this month. Had a service this week.

1- Car was asking for a "C service" but on the service sheet they just did a "basic service". Now car is counting down to another "C service"...

2- Brake pads reported to be 40% worn - at what point do you get the warning light?

At 50% a + symbol will appear adjacent to the "C" service (C+). On a basic service the car does not even have to go up in the air for them to look underneath. (its on the service sheet).

 

[Rory]

Joined service plus beginning of this month. Had a service this week.

err...how did you mange that? There's supposed to be a 3 month wait after taking out ServicePlus before you can use it for routine servicing.

 

[David Nock]

Yes, I have just taken out service plus with 2 months warranty remaining on the car, knowing that I have to wait 3 months for a B service, which will be just due then.

 

[Manofkent]

Vikings Canterbury Service

Jberks - yes it is an auto
Looking back - I was quite pleased with the general service but they did not personally speak to me of any future work or potential probs or update me as to general condition!
Just spoke to the lady at reception who presented me with the invoice & off I went!
It would of been great if someone had taken the time to speak to me about any future needs etc!
Perhaps my expectations are too high?
Manofkent
Feb 04 270Est SE

 

[100%Bitch]

It amazes me that people don't ask for a discount as a matter of course. Are we too British?

I know I'm not. I always ask for a discount and always, always at my local dealer. I hate paying full price for anything.