Mercedes Service

[AAPete]

My car just had a service the next time it is due it will be outside
warrantee, will it matter if I go independent?
The book that gets stamped can still be stamped?

 

[philharve]

Independent service outside of warranty

Hi AAPete

It could do.

I bought a youthful MB a month ago with a FMBSH. Looked like a great deal. Unfortunately the dealer (non-MB) had the car serviced by an independent and was stamped by the dealer.

When I took the car to an MB dealer to discuss future servicing with them, I was informed I had lost my Mobilolife Breakdown Recovery Cover. It took me a few minutes to appreciate what this meant. If you value Mobilo' then taking your car to an independent could be a bad move, even though servicing would almost certainly be cheaper.

As a comparison, the hourly rate varies 1:5 in favour of using an independent. I would stick with using genuine MB parts as my car is less than 5yr old.

I lost my Mobilo' as a result of the dealer from whom I bought the car going to an independant prior to handing the car to me. The line of MB dealer stamps in the Service Record had been broken. It is a loss but is it significant? If the car were likely to break down then Mobilo' cover would give peace of mind.

As for servicing, I have acquired most of the manuals available and most routine servicing can be performed by any well equipped garage. Many tasks can be undertaken by the owner, although a hoist/pit/ramps would be a distinct advantage.

REGARDS Phil

 

[baj25]

I have always had my 4 year old C serviced at main dealers and have a full set of MB stamps- but at last service (30k ish), I didn't have the 'additional work' done by MB. This is basically air filter, fuel filter and plugs change. £22 labour to change an air filter (10 mins max), £75 labour to change plugs is taking the p***. I did wonder afterwards if my mobilolife is affected though. Any experiences?

 

[SNAK]

A visit to the website below may answer most questions regarding servicing and warranties.

The Office of Fair Trading and EU have stopped manufacturers linking stealership servicing only clauses to warranties.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press+releases/2004/85-04.htm#notes

 

[jberks]

SNAK,
you are right in that having an indie do the service does not cancel the warranty, provided the work is done in accordance with MB spec.

However, the mobilio and corrosion warranties are "goodwill" warranties and not covered by the regulations.

As a result I have my car seviced by the agent but all extra work (plugs, brakes, misfires, sensors etc) is done by the local indie. The service book is full of main dealer stamps so I keep the warranties but I don't pay dealer prices when something goes south.

The basic rule is that provided the stamp is in the book, you should be ok, though as I refused a plug change at the last one, if I broke down due to a dodgy plug, I suspect I would be on shaky ground.

As an aside, I recently put a "warranty direct" warranty on my car. Around £230 and it covers most expensive issues. Haggle and they give you 13 months and a discount too. Better than Merc's quote of £900+

 

[philharve]

Warranty Direct

Hi jberks

Where will I find details of Warranty Direct? What did the £900 give you? Is this anything to do with Mobilolife?

Repairing corosion in a young car is regarded as 'goodwill'? Sounds like getting a car repaired is a bit of a lottery.

REGARDS Phil

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Mobilo joke.

Last August I went to main dealer for service and drew attention to rust on the doors. Heard nothing from MB until the very end of January, then a call to say MB have agreed to replace the doors.....we need your car next week for at least two weeks.....A bit inconveneint, but MB insist the repairs are done within 21 days from approval [what would be case if I was going on holidays??].

Anyway, Monday car collected, no replacement car, no Mobilo replacement car yet again....Thursday evening...how's car...its great...we got the doors from MB, sent them to body shop, they sprayed them all...took off doors, cut doors to remove glass etc.......went to refit glass etc in new doors.....oooopps. Guess what....no car.....car locked up in body shop while someone sorts out problem. Any demand for Travertine beige doors, unused, not sure what model but 100% certain they are not all W210!! Sorry, they are not a matching set. Car will be gone at least 3 weeks. Not bad this year, 7 weeks in its been off road for 3 weeks.....Last year by end March was 4 weeks off road since January 1!! Then 2 more weeks in May, another week in June. All non routine!! Three weeks off road non routine in 2003 too.

They told me the doors were costing ?2,000 [about £1,400] plus the cost of changing them. However I see doors on parts adverts down at about £600 so I figure to carry the cost of this myself might have been in the order of £1,200 using non MB parts.

The Mobilo is a bit of a joke, better off to pay for an extended warranty and an annual breakdown policy because in my experience you will get better cover and save on the cost of MB dealership service.

 

[JFB]

I would just urge caution with Warranty Direct. I have read a number of bad experiences with them and have been there personally. There comes a time when the expression "sudden failure" becomes all important as it did in my case when my power steering pump housing cracked and leaked oil out onto the drive. This crack was deemed a gradual problem and not a complete and sudden destruction. So, if your gearbox goes, make sure it goes big time and not just a bearing in that gearbox. Read the small print with great care.

JB

 

[big x]

Phil, the terms and conditions of Mobilolife say the car should have been serviced not more than 2 years previously at the time of the claim so they may be time to get a MB service done and stamped up which would continue the 30 year cover.The 30 year Mobiliolife and corrosion cover are not dependent on "goodwill" they are a written guarantees with the usual conditions attached.Paint problems and surface corrosion are the things dependent on "goodwill" after the normal warranty expires.

adam

 

[Keith]

go indie

can't comment on warranty aspect however in all other respects you will get better service, higher skills and more knowledge by going to an indie (recommended by another forum member preferably). All the ones I have used have always used MB parts as standard, they are not particularly overpriced anyhow.

tell us what area you are in and someone should be able to recommend an indie.

Keith

 

[EuroCLK320]

What about resale value though. Some buyers insist on Full main Dealer stamps in the book.

 

[jberks]

Euro,
Its true that some (less knowedgable) buyers may insist on dealer history and admittedly if its up to 4 years old it may have an effect. However, 5+ years old I don't think it makes a difference. I would only be swayed if it was a 'back street' garage that had maintaned it as this would infer 2 things. Firstly the owner was skimping (not a good sign) and secondly the mechanic would probably not do a 'full' service, just the normal oil and filter stuff.

 

[jberks]

I would just urge caution with Warranty Direct. I have read a number of bad experiences with them and have been there personally. There comes a time when the expression "sudden failure" becomes all important as it did in my case when my power steering pump housing cracked and leaked oil out onto the drive. This crack was deemed a gradual problem and not a complete and sudden destruction. So, if your gearbox goes, make sure it goes big time and not just a bearing in that gearbox. Read the small print with great care.

JB

Hi
thanks for the comment. I have been through the small print and there is no mention of the term "sudden failure'. They do a range of warranties so maybe some do. They do say a part must have failed rather than be wearing out, but I guess that's fair. I presume that now the warranty is in force I will get no further problems though!