Service Issue

[Clive197]

Hi Guys and Gals

Just thought I would pass on an experience.

My wife and I both run Mercedes cars. The wife has a A180CDI and I have a C220 CDI Sport Coupe.

Both cars have received a Dealer/Stealer service in the last two months from Mercedes Benz Colindale in NW London. On BOTH occasions the cars needed a Litre of oil within a few days of the service. As you all probably know Mercedes specify the type (mobil 1) and the quantity of oil needed for a service. The Dealer/Stealer quote the price of the oil in 1 Litre units but they use bulk purchase oil which as we all know is a lot cheaper and the Service Engineer (Sic) takes a quantity of oil as needed, clearly using less then is specified. So double wammy, charge for more oil then used and charge a higher price! !

Am seroiusly thinking of reporting this to Trading Standards. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

 

[television]

Its a little hard this one, was the engineer being over cautious so as not to over fill. When you go in for service you can take your own oil with you, and they give you back whats left, they gave me a free Liter back extra.

 

[Clive197]

Hi Malcolm

When I asked, the Dealer told me that I couldn't bring in my own oil. I can buy Mobil 1 from CostCo for £23.84 per 4 litre incl.vat. The Dealer charged me £90 for 6.5 litres. The Maths is not rocket science.

Clive

 

[mjtray]

Why didn't you go back and raise the issue with them or telephone then to query it?

 

[Clive197]

Service Issues

Hi

Tried that. They promised to phone me back. STILL WAITING.

Clive

 

[television]

Clive, it has been common knowledge for some weeks that you can take your own. I saved £50 2 weeks ago by doing this with MB SW. This thread is bring back other unhappy comments made against this outlet, (MBs own)

 

[Rory]

It's surely entirely up to the individual dealership to decide whether you can bring your own oil or not. Mine (MB Chester) seemed delighted, although I find it bizzare that they'll cheerfully throw away about £70 of pure profit.

As to the level, my C270CDi holds 6.5L, but the display has never shown more than 6.2L, even right after the service when they used (as close as I could tell from looking at the level on the side of the part used 'can' they gave me back) 6.5L.

Is the computer calling for more oil, or are you checking the level manually?

 

[Eric Tilley]

Hi Guys and Gals

Just thought I would pass on an experience.

My wife and I both run Mercedes cars. The wife has a A180CDI and I have a C220 CDI Sport Coupe.

Both cars have received a Dealer/Stealer service in the last two months from Mercedes Benz Colindale in NW London. On BOTH occasions the cars needed a Litre of oil within a few days of the service.

It can`t have used the oil in that short time. The litre of oil to fill to full would have meant it was on the bottom mark on the dipstick The only way this could happen is the oil filter was changed and the mechanic did not run the engine after filling and then re-check and top up. The litre of oil has gone to fill the filter canister.
Why not do as I do, when I pick up my car from service I walk around it to ensure it has not picked up any dents or scratches. Lift the bonnet and pull the dipstick to see it is full of clean oil ( particularly to check it has not been overfilled) check coolant and wash water reservoir levels, check the wheel nuts to see that they look as if they have been removed.
I used to just jump in and go but got caught out more than once, I may get a few looks as I do it but when I pay megabucks to a garage I don`t consider I must take them on trust.

 

[Clive197]

Service Issues

Hi

Thank you for your replies.

If the dealership had let me I would have taken my own oil in (Mobil 1) as I had been given the cost of the service when I booked the car in, and as I was quoted the cost of the oil (£90) it was the 1st question I asked.

Interesting point about the dipstick. My wifes A Class has both computer and manual dipstick, but my C Class (W203) CDI Sport Coupe only has the computer and no dipstick.

A fact I discovered when originaly purchasing the car from a Mercededs Benz Direct dealership, when on inspecting the engine bay I asked where was the dipstick. The Salesman pointed to an area of the engine bay, we both looked and where unable to find it, the salesman called over a 2nd salesman who pointed to the same area but then also couldn't find it. It must have been a funny sight to see three peoples heads buried into the engine bay ferretting for the elusive item. It was only when a third salesman came over to see what the fuss was about and he knew that the dipstick was electronic only.

I promise that is exactly what happened.

Clive

 

[television]

Thanks for that Clive, thats what you call knowing your cars.

I went in there to order a new 221 fully loaded with a friend, when the girl on reception said that we had to sign in and wait our turn we left

 

[jberks]

The cars have a standard quantity of oil required to fill. One qty with a filter and another without. I'd check the quantity listed against the invoice and see what they claim to have put in. Assuming the figures match (they will) then you're being short changed. You can be 1l down without the warning message coming up, and 1l is a lot of oil, so they're underfilling it substantially for you to be aware of it.

Probably 2 for you and 1 for me so the mechanic can service his own car after a week or so!

In any case, I'd insist that they top it up FOC. Even if they only charged for the lesser amount, they can consider the extra cost compensation for the inconvenence of having to return a car that has been incorrectly serviced.
Bottom line, unless the car is completely knackered, you shouldn't have to open the bonnet within 4,000 miles of a service and on a newish merc it should be able to remain shut until the next one. Mine generally does.

 

[Rory]

Interesting point about the dipstick. My wifes A Class has both computer and manual dipstick, but my C Class (W203) CDI Sport Coupe only has the computer and no dipstick.

Assuming the display is the same as my facelift W203 (late 04) then you can see the exact oil level:
Turn ign key to pos 1
Set the display to show total miles
Press the reset button 3 times quite quickly
There will be a beep, and the display will go into an engineering mode
scroll through the pages (think there are 4) and at the bottom of one of them it says 'Öl' (oil in German).
Turn key to Pos 2 and it will give you the oil level reading to a tenth of a litre.

It's a bit a palava first time, but easy once you've done it a couple of times.

 

[Amos]

Interesting reading, you don't seem to trust your MB service departments. Maybe I'm a bit naive, never come across the situation where you have the option to take your own oil, when in the past I've had services it has been an inclusive price. It's a bit like going to a 5 star hotel and having the option to take your own bacon and eggs to save 15% on the price. Strange.

 

[Rory]

Interesting reading, you don't seem to trust your MB service departments. Maybe I'm a bit naive, never come across the situation where you have the option to take your own oil, when in the past I've had services it has been an inclusive price. It's a bit like going to a 5 star hotel and having the option to take your own bacon and eggs to save 15% on the price. Strange.

It is a bit odd, and I would never have thought of it if I hadn't read it here. The saving is more than 15% - it was 27% (£70 in actual money) in my case. Paid £160 +oil (used about £30 worth) instead of paying £260. It must be a common request, as the dealer had no issues with me doing it.

Funnily enough I wondered if I could do it when Mrs Rory's Jazz was serviced but I felt too awkward to ask the Honda dealer. They charged £42.30 for 3.5L so it's almost as dear per litre as the MB dealer's price, but I'd have only saved £20 using Mobil1 from Costco. I think the fact that it's a small independant franchise dealer rather the faceless corporate MB dealer that put me off wanting to ask them.

 

[Amos]

Thanks Rory,
Life's a learning curve. I'm obviously out of touch. Not paying for oil at present as have 5 years servicing included with present car. Looked at old invoices, I was never charged those prices for oil, must have been the old type as opposed to the synthetic stuff they use today. Can't complain I suppose as service intervals are a lot longer than they used to be, seem to remember years ago you had to change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles or am I just getting confused in my old age.
Whilst we're on the subject, can't find anywhere on MB website, is servicing condition based and (roughly) what would be the intervals on a C220 CDI Auto.

 

[philharve]

Interesting point about the dipstick. My wifes A Class has both computer and manual dipstick, but my C Class (W203) CDI Sport Coupe only has the computer and no dipstick.

... the dipstick was electronic only.

Hi Clive197

If the dipstick is electronic then how would you know if it was over filled?

Is the oil level measured via a simple switch closure when the correct oil level is attained/exceeded ... or does it rely upon a different measurement principle?

REGARDS

Phil