Next service cost

television

Always remembered RIP
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2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
My plugs were changed at 39k miles when the car was nearly 4.75yrs. old.

The plugs were £7.45 +VAT each....total £140.06

Replacing the plugs was £229.66 +VAT.....£269.85 almost twice the cost of the plugs.

At a grand total of £409.91 I do not want to be replacing the plugs too often.

NB Theses were main dealer rates.

Mic

I paid £98 from Ebay for the best plugs and I did it with one hand in under 3 hours,,with 2 hands and the next time, under one hour
 

Articpaz

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SL500
I ve been quoted £324 to have my plugs changed by main dealer as they were last done 4 years ago so with the brake fluid change too Im looking at a near £700 bill for an A service.

Mine is an 02 SL500 with all dealer service stamps but am wondering if I should use an independent for servicing now but will it affect my cars value come resale?
 

BarryF

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320 cdi avantgarde estate
All depends on whether you have full dealer service history at the moment and whether you have confidence in Mercede's warranty program. Personally I would use a good indie at half the price.
Barry:)
 

Alex M Grieve

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B Class d200 Sport Premium Plus (66)
I ve been quoted £324 to have my plugs changed by main dealer as they were last done 4 years ago so with the brake fluid change too I'm looking at a near £700 bill for an A service.

Mine is an 02 SL500 with all dealer service stamps but am wondering if I should use an independent for servicing now but will it affect my cars value come resale?

It is a good question and will produce divided opinions, but I think by the time a car has reached 8 years of age the odds of a change to Indies having an adverse effect on resale are slim.

Many will have Indy servicing much sooner. I have used Indies from new with several cars and without suffering any harm. A couple of traders have tried to reduce the value of cars I have traded in, but I have always got the best price in the deals I have done.

The alternative camp will eulogize about the merits of Mobilo Life (rust issues and roadside assistance) and will also state that MB dealers can do updates whilst Indies can not (true or not?).

The rust issues are what they are. Roadside assistance can be got elsewhere (and may be a feature of your car insurance or bank account) and I doubt if an 8 year old car would be the subject of many updates.

So, these are the factors. I would switch to Indies (and I think most will agree) but there will always be alternative points of view.

The work will be done at least as well by Indies and the cost differences are significant.
 

The_Don

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Your Mercedes
A few v8 Amg
Get a few quotes from main dealers near you and see how they compare and ring a local/trusted indie for a quote ?
 

television

Always remembered RIP
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Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
I ve been quoted £324 to have my plugs changed by main dealer as they were last done 4 years ago so with the brake fluid change too Im looking at a near £700 bill for an A service.

Mine is an 02 SL500 with all dealer service stamps but am wondering if I should use an independent for servicing now but will it affect my cars value come resale?

That is silly money for what has been done, I have been using a indie MBS and I would never go anywhere else.
The car will have been serviced by a MB specialist and the car will have a full service history.

The car will sell on its condition more than anything else
 

Articpaz

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SL500
I ve got existing RAC cover and I dont have a great deal of faith in the main dealers as they failed to spot a problem before (but still charged me for looking!)

So its just down to having that dealer stamp in the book

I think I will get a quote from an indie and see what the difference is, but would you think twice about buying your next merc if it didnt have all main dealer stamps?
 

Articpaz

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SL500
Yes I had some work done at MBS and have not doubt they would do as good or most likely better job

I will ask them to give me a quote
 

Alex M Grieve

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B Class d200 Sport Premium Plus (66)
I ve got existing RAC cover and I don't have a great deal of faith in the main dealers as they failed to spot a problem before (but still charged me for looking!)

So its just down to having that dealer stamp in the book

I think I will get a quote from an Indie and see what the difference is, but would you think twice about buying your next merc if it didn't have all main dealer stamps?

Like you I have seen unimpressive performances from dealers, so I would set little store by a FMBSH other than it looks neat and testifies to the wealth of the vendor.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
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On a sl500 yes i would.

There is no difference to a MB specialist to MB, we all know on here that the indies do much better than the dealers
 

television

Always remembered RIP
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There is a ½ way point,, screw the dealer down to a match a like for like service, and get all repairs done at the indie, that way you keep FSMB service history
 

The_Don

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A few v8 Amg
There is no difference to a MB specialist to MB, we all know on here that the indies do much better than the dealers
__________________
Malcolm

Thats your view not everyones on here.
 

Articpaz

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There is a ½ way point,, screw the dealer down to a match a like for like service, and get all repairs done at the indie, that way you keep FSMB service history

Yeah that's kinda the way Im thinking as I have already had an indie do some none service related bits.
 

The_Don

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A few v8 Amg
I never have non service related work done at a main dealer but the services yes allways.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
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2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
At the end of the say one would not want to sell a car like I saw a while back, "One owner XXX car for sale" full service history, £14k spent in the last 5 years £7,550
 

Articpaz

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SL500
Also with the mileage I do and looking back through the service book it has a service every two years so approx £350 a year service costs which is not far off a normal family car.
 

The_Don

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A few v8 Amg
Let us know what the indie quotes.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
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2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Well i pay £200 for a B and £135 for the A on the SL
 

The_Don

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Your Mercedes
A few v8 Amg
I am about to pay £111 i supply oil from main dealer on my c43 for the A service.
 

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