Service

[teabag]

This may be relevant

I've just read this post and the replies with great interest, as I've recently bought an S350 at three and a half years old with 42,000 miles on the clock as an approved used car from MB Stockton (Sytner) with 2 years complimentary servicing as well as the 12 month MB warranty.

I am lucky enough not to have bought the car on finance so I am not bound by the finance company's conditions.

However, the terms and conditions of the MB nationwide offer for cars ordered after the 16th May 2009 and delivered before the 1st June 2009 states:
"This offer is based on 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever is sooner) Mercedes-Benz Care Service Plan, that includes all routine maintenance recommended in the Service Schedule for your vehicle, including labour, parts and lubricants (This offer excludes the annual MOT test fee). Services must be carried out at Mercedes-Benz Official Workshop."

If I have read this correctly, and based on my 24,000 annual miles, an indicated 4,000 miles to the next "B" service, and an MOT which expires 1 week before the MB class 1 warranty does, I expect to enjoy about 18 months of virtually "service cost free" motoring.

I intend to have the car "B" serviced after 4,000 miles to the letter of the service schedule by MB Stockton and also for any warranty repairs to be carried out by them, but I will ask for a report on the condition of consumable parts such as tyres and brake pads/discs etc. I intend to have anything noted on this report replaced with MB parts bought at discount prices by my local Indie (who was service manager at MB Stockton for 12 years and employs only MB trained technicians).

After approximately 20,000 miles, the "A" service should be flagged and I will follow the same procedure.

The car will be due for MOT after aproximately24,000 miles, just before the warranty expires so any costs incurred including exhaust parts and catalytic convertors will be covered by the warranty.
At around 35.000 miles (18 months after purchase) Assyst should be telling me a "B" service is due which I will have done at my trusty Indie for around £270.

I believe the answer to your query is to use the dealer, and do not let him use you.

PS to Alex M Grieve,

I've just traced my ancestry and there may be a slight tinge of Scottish blood in me.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I've just read this post and the replies with great interest, as I've recently bought an S350 at three and a half years old with 42,000 miles on the clock as an approved used car from MB Stockton (Sytner) with 2 years complimentary servicing as well as the 12 month MB warranty.

I believe the answer to your query is to use the dealer, and do not let him use you.

PS to Alex M Grieve,

I've just traced my ancestry and there may be a slight tinge of Scottish blood in me.

Well done Peter - a very thorough appreciation of your forthcoming costs and how you will avoid them.

If you are not already Scottish, I will speak to the Committee - I am sure we will want to offer you honorary status on the strength of this!

 

[Rory]

On the screen it's showing "A service extended by 66 days". The car has only done 20,000 Miles. It's 4 yrs old and I think it needs the big service but I am not sure if to go for A or B service.

I contacted Mercedes in Colindale London and the person I spoke to, adviced me to take the B service since it's not been serviced B4.

Am I reading that right - you really think the car has never had a service up to now? That seems extremely unlikely.

- spark plugs change -

To be fair to the dealer, they have to go by the book and the plugs do come up as needing to be changed every 4yrs. OK, your mileage is way below the expected mileage (56,250miles - it's an odd number as it's 90,000Km) but you'll get into difficulties if you want to maintain full MBSH as the dealers tend to refuse to stamp the service book unless all the required work is done.

I'm guessing that changing the plugs could be £400 or so of your bill. It might be worth asking the dealer if they'll omit the plug change but I'd be surprised if they agree.

 

[Miffy]

What is a full service history worth on an already second hand car? count how much you will save by using the likes of MBS / BlackC55 / Hertzmerx and then ask yourself if the savings are better.

Just read the forums, there are so many cases of MB dealers getting you to pay for over priced work that you really didnt need to have.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Am I reading that right - you really think the car has never had a service up to now? That seems extremely unlikely.

Good point Rory. I think a car like this would typically have it's first (A) service between 14,000 and 17,000 depending on type of use. This should be recorded in the book (otherwise the FMBSH would be compromised - 2 years or 15,500 wits), but if the book has not been stamped for any reason, it should certainly come up on the dealer's electronic servicing record.

Their stance were they to insist on a plug change would seem to be eroded if they managed not to stamp the book correctly on the previous occasion - they can't have it both ways!

 

[Rory]

Good point Rory. I think a car like this would typically have it's first (A) service between 14,000 and 17,000 depending on type of use. This should be recorded in the book (otherwise the FMBSH would be compromised - 2 years or 15,500 wits),

Not sure why you think service would have been at 14-17K?

The max period is 2yrs, so if the car's mileage has been consistant then it should have serviced, worst case, at 2 and 4yrs old. It should have had B services both times.

The Oct MOT date makes me think this is probabaly an Oct 04 car?

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Not sure why you think service would have been at 14-17K?

Mine is a December 2004 car - first service (B) @ 17,400. Then B @ 28800, the A @ 43,000

 

[robertjrt]

.

I'm guessing that changing the plugs could be £400 or so of your bill. It might be worth asking the dealer if they'll omit the plug change but I'd be surprised if they agree.[/QUOTE]

£400 for a set of plugs! You jest, surely, who you calling Shirley?

 

[Rory]

Mine is a December 2004 car - first service (B) @ 17,400. Then B @ 28800, the A @ 43,000

Mine is similar too - Oct 04 and it had A service at 18K and B service at about 34K (the B service was time limited - it went to 2yrs after the A service. That's all the servicing the car has ever had.

However the OP in this thread has a car that's only done 20K total, so I'm guessing that it likely called for services at the 2 year intervals.

 

[Rory]

.

£400 for a set of plugs! You jest, surely, who you calling Shirley?

I have diesel so I'm not sure about this but I think the car has 12 spark plugs and changing them is bit of b*tch of a job. Access to some of them is very awkward. So the whole job is pretty time consuming. £400 is parts and labour - just a guess, but I don't think I'll be a million miles out at dealer rates.

 

[100%Bitch]

What is a full service history worth on an already second hand car? count how much you will save by using the likes of MBS / BlackC55 / Hertzmerx and then ask yourself if the savings are better.

Just read the forums, there are so many cases of MB dealers getting you to pay for over priced work that you really didnt need to have.

That's a good point.

I did the math and it's a total no-brainer. I will now have somebody working on the car who cares about what he's doing and at a very good price.

 

[Hertfordshire Merx]

I'm half that price...