Positive experience at a stealership

[SJMaxson]

Very strange thing happened today!

Since getting my E220 about three years ago, I have always had it serviced at Andy Gayle's - but that involved a long drive, and an early start.

Last service was a biggy - incl gearbox oil change, etc - so it was only due a minor service this time. I recently had a flyer through from the local stealership offering reduced rates for older Mercs.

The price was quoted was fair (particularly considering it was local, and they would collect and return the car whilst I went to work in my wife's car). I suspected that they might find lots of faults, and charge through the roof. They didn't. They found one fault, which I already knew about, and charged £40 extra for parts, fitting and VAT. And the car was returned cleaner than I had ever seen it - polished bodywork, blacked tyres, sparkling alloy wheels.

Can't quite believe it!

I have no doubt that I'll go back to Andy for any major work, or for major services, but I am far more impressed with my local dealership than ever before.

 

[Spike]

I think you're probably forgetting a major factor here...

The reason why they didn't find lots of faults is because it had been serviced all this time at Andy's - a true enthusiast who has a business to run and a reputation to keep.

If you had had the same services done by at your local main dealer for the duration then I betcha there would have been more issues.

Still a good find though - who are they?

 

[SJMaxson]

I wasn't forgetting that - just didn't mention it.

I cannot recommend Andy Gayle highly enough - and trust him implicitly to do what needs to be done to the car, rather than trying to do work that's not necessary. I know that the car had been well serviced and looked after in Birmingham.

In terms of who they are - Mercedes Benz of Grimsby.

 

[vinay.chapaneri]

Mercedes Benz Solihull dealer

I'm glad you mention Andy Gale , cos i will be using him for my next service,

I would like to warn everybody about the Merc dealer in Solihull and about my bad experience.
I took delivery of my W203 c class on Saturday, only to find the dealer , had forgotten to do the MOT, forgetten to put in new Mats as agreed, done a shoddy valet, lost one of the rear mud flaps!, and best of all lost the FMBS book and handbook!!!!!!!!.. When i complained and went back , they didn't return my calls and didn't seem all that bothered, they finally put it right but it did involve me taking a day off work to go back to get the things fixed and the paperwork. the car is a dream but the dealer was a total W**ker and did not give me the same care as he wouild have done if i had brought a 50k car , they just wanted the sale and after they had taken my money one month on advance and in full they didnt seem to care...

YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WARNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TheJim]

On a more positive note, I went to a dealership the other day. 15 yr old 190e and me dressed like a tramp. The parts guy was superb, not judgemental, polite, knowledgable and helpfull. The parts I needed were considerably cheaper than I expected too.
Overall a much better experience and less attitude than the Skoda garage I used to use.
Hughes of Beaconsfield, a pleasant surprise!

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I have noticed Andy Gayle seems to attract entirely positive feedback. It is however good to see a positive word about a stealership because the official MB stealerships need to get the their house in order. Word of mouth is everything, forget advertising. We do need both types of organisation out there.

 

[jon_harley]

I would like to warn everybody about the Merc dealer in Solihull and about my bad experience.

Thanks, this kind of feedback is always useful. I had a test drive there before buying mine and they didn't seem that interested in finding what I wanted, so I didn't buy there.

If you want to use a main dealer, you could do worse than try the Coventry Merc dealer which is only 20 mins along the A45 and then a couple of mins up the A46 from Solihull. I have had good service from there so far.

 

[jon_harley]

I had a test drive there before buying mine and they didn't seem that interested in finding what I wanted, so I didn't buy there.

I forgot to mention that Merc Solihull did give me a courtesy call to see why I hadn't been back and whether there was anything further they could do for me - nine months later! By then I had had my new car for over 8 months so this wasn't helpful!

 

[Rory]

Since getting my E220 about three years ago, I have always had it serviced at Andy Gayle's - but that involved a long drive, and an early start.
...
I have no doubt that I'll go back to Andy for any major work, or for major services, but I am far more impressed with my local dealership than ever before.

Do you really drive from Grimsby to Birmingham to get your car serviced? Wow!
How does that work in practice - say, if Andy needed to keep the car overnight etc?

 

[Morzine]

Whilst we're on the subject of rating Stealerships, then Stirling of Worcester have done me a couple of good turns and always treated me well.

 

[turnipsock]

I've already plugged my local stealership tonight on the 'Had Enough' thread.

To be honest, I think I'm part of the furniture, they have some good looking women working there and they chat away quite happily to me. They don't bother about the image they are supposed to project and just live in the real world...far better.

Hopefully I'll get an invite to the next staff outing.

 

[SJMaxson]

Do you really drive from Grimsby to Birmingham to get your car serviced? Wow!
How does that work in practice - say, if Andy needed to keep the car overnight etc?

Sorry for not replying to this sooner - only just seen it!

Yes, until the last service, I drove down to Birmingham from Grimsby, aiming to arrive in Birmingham between 8.30-9.00. I would then be given a lift into Birmingham City Centre by one of Andy's staff, and would either get a lift back from one of them later, or catch a bus to his workshop.

The first time it was there, some major work was needed, so Andy lent me (FOC) an old W124 saloon which I drove back to Grimsby. One of his mechanics had a relative in Skegness, so he drove my car there to see his mum, and we met half way between Skeggy and Grimsby and exchanged motors, having paid over the 'phone!

It is a pain to travel that far, hence my return to the Merc stealership for the last minor service, however, I have been delighted with the service, prices and advice received in Brum, and will have no hesitation in returning in the future.

Now, as to whether or not my soon to arrive 03 C270 will maintain its full MBSH or whether it, too, will head to Brum, I'm as yet undecided!

 

[littlebrooklyn]

In terms of who they are - Mercedes Benz of Grimsby.

Oh made my heart skip a beat when I read that.....I am originally from Grimsby and haven't been back there for years and years and miss it lots.

I think if there were lots of jobs up there I would be back living there

On the topic of good and bad stealerships I would highly recommend Mercedes Benz of Swindon where we got our car from, was a 2hr drive there each way, but well worth it.

Our local stealership is Mercedes Benz of Watford and I found the salesman we dealt with to be rather arrogant and their cars were certainly more expensive.

 

[SJMaxson]

Oh made my heart skip a beat when I read that.....I am originally from Grimsby and haven't been back there for years and years and miss it lots.

Only one thing for it, I shall have to have a portion of haddock and chips in your honour! Hope you enjoyed the football last week........!

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Only one thing for it, I shall have to have a portion of haddock and chips in your honour! Hope you enjoyed the football last week........!

Ooooh haddock and chips, now you're talking, nothing quite like a walk on the front with some fish and chips and the wind blowing in your face

Down south they just don't know what really nice fish and chips taste like.

As for footie, sorry but I'm female and I don't follow the game. If I did I guess living in Watford I would have to follow them :grin:

 

[SJMaxson]

And again....

Delighted to report that Mercedes Benz of Grimsby are still doing well in the customer service stakes!

Absolutely delighted with the service I received prior and subsequent to my recent purchase of my C270. Also, about four hours after taking delivery, I spotted a couple of bits of bodywork damage. I'm sure they were present before I took delivery, but I didn't spot them at the time.

I contacted the dealership, not expecting a positive response, and was surprised and delighted to be told that the salesman would contact the bodyshop to arrange for a repair. As I write, the car has been in for repair, and come back better than new, and freshly washed and valeted again. Whilst it was in for repair, I was loaned a new B class.

Our other car, a somewhat older E220 estate, was in for a service at the same time. Completed promptly, price lower than quoted. They came up with a number of reports, but didn't press me to have the work completed: stating that most of them would make it beyond MOT time.

VERY impressed all round - and would recommend them to all without reservation.

 

[jberks]

I'd just mention that if you are thinking of going back to Birmingham for any work, MercCare are in Leeds, are very good and probably 100 miles nearer into the bargain!
Its good to hear nice things about a dealer. To be honest I haven't had any problems with the Leeds dealer aside from when they want to charge rediculous amounts for minor work that I can do myself it 10 minutes. Major stuff, services etc they are fine on, though still twice the price of the indie.

I am waiting to see what their PDI/Customer service is like when I pick mine up - Like yours, my last one was delivered with some paintwork damage but again like you there were no arguments when I reported it 2 weeks later - booked straight in and a nice repair carried out. I just wish they had picked it up on their PDI!
I am a bit concerned though, as allegedly they haven't touched mine yet, despite the fact that I paid the deposit last Friday and they promised delivery for tomorrow. If there is anything (aside from 4 new tyres and the loose headrest switch I pointed out), they aren't going to have much time to sort it. I suspect if there is a problem they'll keep quiet and blame the DVLA for not transferring the reg yet!

 

[SJMaxson]

I'd just mention that if you are thinking of going back to Birmingham for any work, MercCare are in Leeds, are very good and probably 100 miles nearer into the bargain!

Many thanks for the recommendation - I'll certainly bear them in mind for work on the E class in future. Leeds is certainly considerably closer than Birmingham!

Enjoy your car when you get it - here's hoping that they managed to find time to do the PDI properly!