S320 - B Service - Mega Rip Off?

nathan2000

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Dear Readers

My S320 (2006) is due for a B Service in 400 miles, I rang my local garage and they quoted me a whopping £936!

The MB person explained it was due to the vehicle requiring a change of automatic transmission oil and filter, a replacement combifilter and air filter. When I asked for a breakdown of the costs I was advised:

1) Automatic transmission oil and filter change - £348 (I assume this is just changing the oil?)
2) Combi filter £98
3) Air filter £105

I have been ripped off previous with MB garages for previous cars, I feel I am being taken for a ride here. I have been told one of the above items is a once in a lifetime change which should have been done at 37,000 miles?

Most recently I went to the MB garage to address items which I reasonably assumed were part my tier 1 approved warranty, only to be charged £150 for the pleasure with the service manager claiming the items were not covered within the warranty only because they were "none standard", like why did a different garage sell me a car with non-standard items...on top of selling my the car without a wheel wrench, locking nuts and spare wheel nuts, generally a bit miffed with MB so don't want to be ripped off more. :Oops:
 

roscoc180

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I have been given a price of £400 for a B service from my local main dealer for an SL350. I think they look at how much business they have at the time and price accordingly. I was once quoted £7-8 hundred pounds for the same thing around months ago.
 

toby1

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Take it to a good indy. Wasting your time with an MB dealer. Your itemised bill adds up to £551 not £936 BTW
 

Mic

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Hello and welcome.....it all depends what you consider to be a rip off. The main dealers labour rates will be about double those of a good Indy. The main dealer will also be quoting for work to be done in accordance with the MB servicing schedules, some of which you could possibly take a view upon.

Where are you? what is the age and mileage of your car?

It is probably best to talk to a recommended Indy to decide what needs doing and what can safely be postponed......but don't forget that you will not run an S class on A class money.

Mic
 

roscoc180

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I went to what I thought was a good Indy but he did not notice that my passenger side footwell was streaming wet when he fitted my remote roof module, I was also charged for two STAR hook ups because I asked for the brake fluid to be replaced, the other charge was to make sure there was no faults. Paid £253 for an A service and a brake fluid change, I was quoted the same from the main dealer. I noticed it when I removed the module and I'm not a mechanic. Personally I will be going with the main dealer from now on at least you have some sort of comeback.
 

Alex M Grieve

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Hello and welcome to the Forum.

I had a similar car from 2006 until 2010. I had bought it at 20,000 miles. I had a B service in October 2007 @29,000 (£218) and a B service in June 2009 @ 43,000 (£133).

The recommendation to change ATF had not quite become vogue then, so was not done.

The car was running perfectly when I sold it at 54,000 miles in 2010.

I think independent specialists have the advantage of not doing, or charging for things that do not need to be done. For example that car had an "advisory" on brake pads in 2007 (first MOT) and the original pads and discs were on the car when I sold it 3 years later!
 

Benz17

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I went to what I thought was a good Indy but he did not notice that my passenger side footwell was streaming wet when he fitted my remote roof module, I was also charged for two STAR hook ups because I asked for the brake fluid to be replaced, the other charge was to make sure there was no faults. Paid £253 for an A service and a brake fluid change, I was quoted the same from the main dealer. I noticed it when I removed the module and I'm not a mechanic. Personally I will be going with the main dealer from now on at least you have some sort of comeback.

Few weeks back I went to colin @ mbs, had a service, for which I provided the parts (oil, 2 air filters, oil filter, and fuel filter) and also had the brake fluid replaced, ( he supplied the fluid) £180 incl. He also followed the mb service schedule, and came back with no advisorys. So there are good indys out there.

I did a return trip of 170 miles, and felt it was worth the trip.
 

roscoc180

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Few weeks back I went to colin @ mbs, had a service, for which I provided the parts (oil, 2 air filters, oil filter, and fuel filter) and also had the brake fluid replaced, ( he supplied the fluid) £180 incl. He also followed the mb service schedule, and came back with no advisorys. So there are good indys out there.

I did a return trip of 170 miles, and felt it was worth the trip.

As in all walks of life, there are good ones and bad ones. Good main dealers and bad & bad indy's and good. Just unfortunate if you you find a bad one.
 

television

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MB's pricing is all wrong and unfair, If they do two jobs that require the wheels to be taken off they charge the labour for that twice where as indies do not, they tell you the brake pads need replacing when they are only 1/3 of their way through their useful life.

I drive the 180 mile return trip to MBS and I will not go anywhere else
 

television

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I went to what I thought was a good Indy but he did not notice that my passenger side footwell was streaming wet when he fitted my remote roof module, I was also charged for two STAR hook ups because I asked for the brake fluid to be replaced, the other charge was to make sure there was no faults. Paid £253 for an A service and a brake fluid change, I was quoted the same from the main dealer. I noticed it when I removed the module and I'm not a mechanic. Personally I will be going with the main dealer from now on at least you have some sort of comeback.

I do not know who the indie was you used, but be fair why should anyone have to put their hand on the passenger side of the carpet, they have no real reason to open the passenger door.

It Takes 3/4 of an hour max to remove both front seats and lift the carpet,,, I know because I have done just that and more. I know you were relieved to get the car back, in all fairness they did bugger all to stop it from happening again though did they, that is because they are not allowed to cut the spout off that drain.
 

roscoc180

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I do not know who the indie was you used, but be fair why should anyone have to put their hand on the passenger side of the carpet, they have no real reason to open the passenger door.

It Takes 3/4 of an hour max to remove both front seats and lift the carpet,,, I know because I have done just that and more. I know you were relieved to get the car back, in all fairness they did bugger all to stop it from happening again though did they, that is because they are not allowed to cut the spout off that drain.

Malcom

My point was that he had to remove the trim on the passenger Sid door cill and fold back the carpet to access the wiring to fit the module as you know. When I removed the module I noticed that the carpet was streaming wet. If I was in the same position as an expert I would of made the customer aware of the problem.
 

television

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Malcom

My point was that he had to remove the trim on the passenger Sid door cill and fold back the carpet to access the wiring to fit the module as you know. When I removed the module I noticed that the carpet was streaming wet. If I was in the same position as an expert I would of made the customer aware of the problem.

OK if he was fitting it there then yes he should have said, I now under stand why it all went crazy as the CAN was disconnected while all wet, yes that was poor work
 
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nathan2000

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Hello, I am in Manchester, from this forum found a couple of good indies MB Tech and SPR Auto's, will give the a call tommorow as well as another local MB garage.

Mile'age of car is 75,000 and its a 2006 S class.

I agree with your point on cannot run a S class on A class money, each time I fill it up with £130 of diesel I am reminded of this point!
 
E

echo200

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Labour and VAT?

Dear Readers

My S320 (2006) is due for a B Service in 400 miles, I rang my local garage and they quoted me a whopping £936!

The MB person explained it was due to the vehicle requiring a change of automatic transmission oil and filter, a replacement combifilter and air filter. When I asked for a breakdown of the costs I was advised:

1) Automatic transmission oil and filter change - £348 (I assume this is just changing the oil?)
2) Combi filter £98
3) Air filter £105

Presumably, the £936 includes £156 for VAT? If so, that makes the net estimate £780. Taking off the figures supplied above brings it down to £229 - is that their charge for labour? For how many hours?
 

SSR S500

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£936 is far too much money for a B service. Alot of MB dealerships charge rediculous amounts for servicing and repairs. The mechanic who looks after my car works in a dealership and says they charge an hours labour to change a lightbulb and most of their customers don't think twice about paying.
 

Steve@Avantgarde

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Hello, I am in Manchester, from this forum found a couple of good indies MB Tech and SPR Auto's, will give the a call tommorow as well as another local MB garage.

Mile'age of car is 75,000 and its a 2006 S class.

I agree with your point on cannot run a S class on A class money, each time I fill it up with £130 of diesel I am reminded of this point!

Here is what I would charge, most of us indies charge the same sort of money.

Service - £285
ATF - £185
Air filters - £60 (there 2 of them and the engine ecu has to be told they are new)
Total - £530

All includes parts, labour and VAT.
 

Benz17

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Here is what I would charge, most of us indies charge the same sort of money.

Service - £285
ATF - £185
Air filters - £60 (there 2 of them and the engine ecu has to be told they are new)
Total - £530

All includes parts, labour and VAT.

I also realized on my first service of my eclass a few weeks back, that it has 2 air filters, and colin at mbs, gave me a printout confirming the ecu aspect of this.
 

carloss

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Here is what I would charge, most of us indies charge the same sort of money.

Service - £285
ATF - £185
Air filters - £60 (there 2 of them and the engine ecu has to be told they are new)
Total - £530

All includes parts, labour and VAT.

Is that using genuine merc bits or ecp (cheaper version) ones Steve
 

television

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Is that using genuine merc bits or ecp (cheaper version) ones Steve

What indies that post on here use cheaper bits then please do tell us, and what cheaper bits could they be.

I can answer for Steve as he has a very good relationship with his local MB dealer
 


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