Please Help - New Driver - Merc Service

[vijayvermajpr]

Hi All,

Happy new year to all. I am looking for a very small and straight answer of my question.

I have bought C180 Coupe and I want to get its serice done. I live in north east london area. I asked Merc Service center and they are chargin around £1K for B service. I can't afford this much.

Please please please let me know 3 best independent MERC service centers based on your experience. I don't want to be ripped off. PLease help.

THanks
VIjay

 

[television]

Hello and welcome to the MB forum

We had threads running yesterday where a MB dealer matched and Indie B service at £225 in these hard times.

It looks as though there are some good deals around at the moment

 

[jberks]

you need to ask what this £1k covers.
A B service should be around £300-450 at a dealer (and thats based on my car) and £250 ish at an indie. £1k implies that there is a big chunk of extra work listed and you need to know what that work is in order to make genuine comparisons. You may even find that this work is unnecessary or already done. I suspect there is an auto gearbox oil change, brake fluid and coolant change plus presumably some other items to come to that crazy figure.

You could cherry pick the extra work or refuse the lot and even have an indie do them whilst retaining the dealer service stamp - I have done this and any dealer who refused to play would lose my business. Lots of options.

As Malcolm says, most dealers are far more willing to negotiate these days and many offer automatic substantial discounts on cars over 3 years old. I got around £200 off my last service just by quoting indie prices. Doesn't always work - I am taking my 2 year old Landrover to an indie next week as the dealer just couldn't get near - but it's worth a try.

Hopefully some locals will be on to recommend an indie or two.

 

[vijayvermajpr]

hi all

thanks a lot for your replies so far.
They have said to me:
£475 standard B service
£450 for:

spark plug change
engine oil
fuel filter
air filter
break fluid

is it fair?

truly speaking i don't trust them. i know they are just sitting there to rip us off.

please can you also supply me some garage names, numbers which you think are good for servicing.

thanks a lot again for your replies

 

[jberks]

hi all

thanks a lot for your replies so far.
They have said to me:
£475 standard B service
£450 for:

spark plug change
engine oil
fuel filter
air filter
break fluid

Sounds a bit steep to me.
Firstly £475 is full retail and very high at that (though this is London) so they're doing you no favours - on principle in the current climate, no offer of a discount is unnaceptable. I don't pay near that for a basic B service at a dealership on an E270 and an E240, both of which are more expensive to service than yours.
Oil is included in the £475 - or certainly should be.
Plugs - a 6 cylinder twin spark (12 plugs) is around £240 (dealer prices). Not sure how many on a 180 - but assuming 8 then pro-rata £160. If a 180 is single spark - £80
Brake fluid - from memory around £50 last time I had it done at a main dealer - again more fluid in an E class with SBC so I'd imagine so yours should be less - though probably not by much.
The filters - assuming they're very expensive - £100??
So I can only get it to around £750 and I'm over estimating big style.
IMHO they're taking the mickey.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Sounds a bit steep to me.
Firstly £475 is full retail and very high at that
Oil is included in the £475 - or certainly should be.
So I can only get it to around £750 and I'm over estimating big style.
IMHO they're taking the mickey.

Well done jberks. £1,000 is a nice round number, if you are charging - but when broken down, it is hard to get to that total.

It is highly beneficial that forum members enjoy this level of objectivity and support - otherwise:
"All Professions are a conspiracy against the Laity." George Bernard Shaw - remains as true today as ever.

 

[vijayvermajpr]

Aprt from this total they said there might be something else also. so you should expect £1000 ish. thats why i meantioned this figure.

if you call Mercedes service center stratford, they will tell you something like this only.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY OTHER SERVICE CENTER WHICH YOU USED IN PAST AND YOU WERE SATISFIED?? PLEASE???

AND I WILL CALL THEM TO FIND OUT MORE. PLEASE

 

[MarkCL]

The only indie I'm happy to personally recommend is down my way I'm afraid - a bit of a trek from North London but at least you'd be sure of a good job and not being over charged: Oliver at Prestige (http://www.prestigecarservice.co.uk/) - works on loads of our cars and is the only guy I ever want to work on mine. If you can live with distance to come then you won't be disappointed Hope thats helps.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[vijayvermajpr]

Thanks Mark but its 83 miles from my place

Can some one suggest me in london aread.. in and around 20 miles from centeral london

 

[vijayvermajpr]

Hi,

while searching for servicing my car, i found http://www.monly.co.uk/ as recommendation.

Has any of you used those services?

how was it?

 

[television]

Its still worth going to Ollie at presige, you cant lose

 

[BlackC55]

I get loads of customers from London area. I can also do the job while you wait. Its no problem.

Today I had a guy come from Plymouth to see me and for me to do some work on his C55

Thanks for the recomendations guys. I appreciate it!

 

[television]

Its us that should be thanking you for your honesty and brilliant work, thank goodness you are only 140 miles from me

 

[pace]

VIjay,
Try Star Motor Services, Reading (0118 9462750). I would highly recommend these guys for good value and service. Well worth the trip out of London.

Paul.

 

[Quickbrit]

Not to hijack this thread too badly, but can some list the "average" or indie vs MB price list for servicing.

Oil service, B etc.

Thanks in advance,

MikeE

 

[jpbp200]

my experience to date is indy £200 mb £900

 

[jamesmc]

Thanks Mark but its 83 miles from my place

Can some one suggest me in london aread.. in and around 20 miles from centeral london

I would drive 83 miles to a well established recommended Indie at the drop of hat. Going to someone that has the recommendations of Prestige Car service has to be worth a short drive like that, especially as the service can be done whilst you wait!

best regards
James Mc

 

[mossie]

would the indie service put a stamp in your service record? not main dealer service but service all the same

 

[television]

would the indie service put a stamp in your service record? not main dealer service but service all the same

Yes the book gets stamped, and several years back the monopoly that franchised dealers had was scrapped by the EU powers that be

 

[dirtydawg69]

hi there i use a indi out ware herts. which is north down the A10 about 25-30 miles from you i find them quite helpfull give them a try http://www.simonlight.co.uk/ good luck let us know how they fair.