Alex M Grieve
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2008
- Messages
- 9,388
- Reaction score
- 60
- Location
- Broom, Warwickshire
- Your Mercedes
- B Class d200 Sport Premium Plus (66)
I am an enthusiastic Mercedes owner, having had seven cars in all since 1991, 3 of which I am currently running (S, SL and C Class). I have found the ASSYST system to be a valuable asset in several cars.
Typically the system has prompted servicing at 14,000 to 17,000 mile intervals in my business cars (E Class previously, S Class now) and at intervals of 2 years in my wife’s previous C Class, at a mileage of 12,000. So far, so good.
I changed my wife’s C 200 Kompressor (2000 vintage) for a 220 CDi last June (A 9 WCG). I was surprised a couple of weeks ago when the ASSYST system warned of the need for a service (4,500 miles, 8 months old). When I took it to have the system reset, I was advised that it could not be rest beyond the first anniversary of the car’s delivery, i.e. 6,000 miles/1 year.
On further enquiry I was advised that not to have the car serviced then would invalidate the warranty. I am sure that my previous experience is realistic and that 14,000-17,000 on mileage, or every 2 years on time, is a satisfactory service interval. I accept that extra items should be included at a service at 2 years, particularly in a low mileage car (e.g. coolant and brake fluid replacement) and would specify this in any case. This seems unreasonable both on engineering and environmental grounds.
When I contacted Mercedes Customer Service they recited the same script as the dealership.
I am punctilious on car maintenance – if there is a fault, it will be rectified promptly. Happily, I have not experienced faults with any of my cars.
Is this change to the protocol an engineering or a commercial decision? Is it reasonable for a warranty to become void on such flimsy reasoning. Karl Benz would not have been impressed!
Typically the system has prompted servicing at 14,000 to 17,000 mile intervals in my business cars (E Class previously, S Class now) and at intervals of 2 years in my wife’s previous C Class, at a mileage of 12,000. So far, so good.
I changed my wife’s C 200 Kompressor (2000 vintage) for a 220 CDi last June (A 9 WCG). I was surprised a couple of weeks ago when the ASSYST system warned of the need for a service (4,500 miles, 8 months old). When I took it to have the system reset, I was advised that it could not be rest beyond the first anniversary of the car’s delivery, i.e. 6,000 miles/1 year.
On further enquiry I was advised that not to have the car serviced then would invalidate the warranty. I am sure that my previous experience is realistic and that 14,000-17,000 on mileage, or every 2 years on time, is a satisfactory service interval. I accept that extra items should be included at a service at 2 years, particularly in a low mileage car (e.g. coolant and brake fluid replacement) and would specify this in any case. This seems unreasonable both on engineering and environmental grounds.
When I contacted Mercedes Customer Service they recited the same script as the dealership.
I am punctilious on car maintenance – if there is a fault, it will be rectified promptly. Happily, I have not experienced faults with any of my cars.
Is this change to the protocol an engineering or a commercial decision? Is it reasonable for a warranty to become void on such flimsy reasoning. Karl Benz would not have been impressed!