ServicePlus - wheel alignment

[Rory]

Has anyone been successful in having wheel alignment done under ServicePlus?

Took my car in today and the usual C Class drift left is more of a "drive left" now, plus the car seems to squirm at motorway speeds.

The dealer was pretty sure alignment wouldn't be covered. However I argued that it's never covered under warranty as they always say it's "wear and tear", and that's exactly what ServicePlus is supposed to cover.

The dealer then said, "well it doesn't cover wheels & tyres, so it would come under that"!

I'm ready for a big argument here, although they'll no doubt avoid it by saying it doesn't need doing anyway.

 

[David Nock]

Please keep us posted Rory. I'm compiling a mental list of what SCP doesn't cover, apart from the knowns - tyres, accidents, glass. Got 'nowt so far.

 

[maddog]

Tracking isnt wheels and tyres its steering alignment the emphasis on steering

 

[Rory]

Well, they avoided the issue by saying that all C Class's exhibit the behaviour mine has, and in fact the techncian thought that moie was one of the least affected.
If that's true then I'd hate to drive a more badly affected car!

Mine had a pretty worn outer edge on the NSF tyre, which they noted as an advisory on the MOT 4mths. Remarkably, 4 mths later, my tyres now measure as less worn and the worn outer edge is "fine".


Generally, regarding the service (B) and ServicePlus, I came away feeling very confused about what should have been done based on the mileage/age and what had actually been done. There were lots of bits of paper with similar, but non-matching information.

One of the things I'm generally miffed about is that I discussed ServicePlus with the dealer before I took it out. I was told, and took into account, that as well as routine servicing the car would need things like coolant change at 3yrs (turns out it 15yrs) and auto trans fluid at 4yrs (turns out my car doesn't need it changing). They commented at the MOT that the pads and disks would need changing soon, yet now they're fine apparently. I wonder if all this work wouldn't have needed doing if I was paying the bill?


Oh, and just to disappoint me further, the dealer had told me I'd be getting an E320CDi courtesy car which I was looking forward to trying but when I arrived they gave me an A Class!

 

[grpar]

Rory,

I paid for my 4-wheel alignment as I wasn't up for a argument with the immovable force that is MB UK.

It cost £214 and I was given a discount (apparently) because the car was just out of warranty ...... the mind boggled, but a discount is a discount, even if £214 seemed a bit steep.

Trouble is, the car still isn't properly sorted. Certainly better, but still a bit rocky on its front end. Springs & shockers will be next followed by steering damper (if the C-class has one). Thereafter, if it's still left wanting, then it's over to BMW for me ..... with two fingers to the Benz fatherland !

 

[Rory]

Trouble is, the car still isn't properly sorted.

That's my concern.

I've really ignored this issue up to now, thinking that if I dig into it then I'm going to end up getting angry and frustrated.

I guess I'm mainly disappointed (but not surprised) that MB (in the shape of their dealer) is perfectly happy from me drive around in a car that I've told them 3 times now I'm not satisfied with.

It would be almost stupid for me to buy another MB - why would I do that to myself?

 

[grpar]

That's my concern.

I've really ignored this issue up to now, thinking that if I dig into it then I'm going to end up getting angry and frustrated.

I guess I'm mainly disappointed (but not surprised) that MB (in the shape of their dealer) is perfectly happy from me drive around in a car that I've told them 3 times now I'm not satisfied with.

It would be almost stupid for me to buy another MB - why would I do that to myself?

Understand your frustration entirely. MB Brentford were told the car felt out of sorts at motorway speeds. So they drive it down the A4 in west London where the limit is 40 mph and the result was, "can't replicate the problem, sir". Astonishing.

All in all, if it's not right and shows no prospect of becoming right in the near future, then it's a fairly short equation thereafter: either sell it, or go up against MB UK and dig in for the months ahead. Shame it gets to that, isn't it ?

 

[Hmac]

Rory- auto trans oil at 4 years sounds dangerous to me. I wouldn't leave my engine oil in for 4 years ! I had to have my gearbox rebuilt ('93 W124 E220T) because the previous owner didn't change the oil - the fool. Now I have it changed (not by MB) every 12-24 months, depending on mileage. Ditto coolant. You'll have only a nasty mess if you try to leave it for 15 years. If you get stuck with your dealer, write to the Directors Office at Milton Keynes. They have the power to sort things out really quickly, but you will have to make a real nuisance of yourself - but you must be nice about it, but very persistent. The D.O. can pay the dealer the money to fix a job that would otherwise cost them.

 

[Rory]

Rory- auto trans oil at 4 years sounds dangerous to me. I wouldn't leave my engine oil in for 4 years !

My engine oil had been in for 2yrs which I'm not happy about but I'm reassured by the ServicePlus coverage and I don't intend to keep the car once that has expired.

Until recently the autoboxes were regarded as sealed for life - now MB have decided that some of them should have the fluid changed at 60KM (37,500mls) or 4yrs.

I really only use my car for a couple of long motorway journeys per month - in our family we have 3 little cars and I use those around town (I work from home) - so it has a pretty easy life.

I also think that sometimes these things are better left alone - especially something like an ATF change where cleanliness is very important. I know people who never get their cars serviced and rely on the MOT to check the tyres etc. I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't some merit in that approach!

It's the confusion over servicing that bothers me - I was assured my ATF needed changing, then told the change only applied to cars slightly newer than mine. So I asked the dealer what was the difference between my car and a slightly newer one and was met with blank looks.

 

[David Nock]

15 years for coolant is certainly true for the CLK. It's in the service book schedule and the dealer's confirmed there's an anti corrosion tablet (?) in the system. I got brake fluid changed under Service Contract Plus and I'm sure if the transmission fluid is down to be changed in the book schedule, they have to do it.
So it's down to extracting everything from the book schedule, making a list before the appointed service and pushing the list to the dealer. My service guy is great and did other things, (minor bits like air box bushes), that I hadn't noticed.

 

[Rory]

15 years for coolant is certainly true for the CLK. It's in the service book schedule and the dealer's confirmed there's an anti corrosion tablet (?) in the system. I got brake fluid changed under Service Contract Plus and I'm sure if the transmission fluid is down to be changed in the book schedule, they have to do it.
So it's down to extracting everything from the book schedule, making a list before the appointed service and pushing the list to the dealer. My service guy is great and did other things, (minor bits like air box bushes), that I hadn't noticed.

The ATF change is a fairly recent? thing and apparently most (all?) service books don't show it.

The additional work part of the service book is a nightmare mish-mash of mileages, years and models! What the dealers do is to put the cars VIN, age and mileage into a computer and it tells them what to do.

Maybe it isn't required on my car, but I wonder is that would have been the case if I'd been paying the bill, rather than ServicePlus.

 

[maddog]

I was told the gearbox oil on my w210 was "sealed for life" which seems stupid but once you see the bodywork after 5 years its obvious that life is a subjective term and doesnt mean as long as i thought

Seriously I had mine done anyhow as the dealer advised it on the last service , it had been in for 5 years and 50,000 miles by that time , i had no problems with the gearbox and havent has any since.

Its not like gearbox oil degrades or gets contaminated like engine oil. The dealer claimed that the change was preventative rather than required maintenance as they had had a few cars develop gearbox problems due to contaminants left in the gearbox during manufacture/construction, and that after this change it would again be "sealed for life" .

Until the next time.......

 

[David Nock]

The ATF change is a fairly recent? thing and apparently most (all?) service books don't show it.

The additional work part of the service book is a nightmare mish-mash of mileages, years and models! What the dealers do is to put the cars VIN, age and mileage into a computer and it tells them what to do.

Maybe it isn't required on my car, but I wonder is that would have been the case if I'd been paying the bill, rather than ServicePlus.

Yes, my dealer did a computer print out, but fortunately it almost matched my list exactly, so we could talk over a couple of discrepancies.
Also, to an extent, and even though I'm very particular, I do submit to the belief that my dealer is honest and correct in the things he says, so we get on.
Also S-C-P has to keep your car in good condition, so I think if it's not required then fine. What I think you're referring to is the previous rip off treatment many people have suffered from before S-C-P?
Also, if my ATF isn't down to be changed at say 50,000 miles, if I've still got the car and S-C-P, I'll pay extra to have it done. I'm a firm believer in changing transmission oils etc at that sort of interval, even though I'm contradicting myself. It's a commonsense thing, to get extra life out of a machine, over and above maker's schedules.
To summarise, I go with the service schedules, but I'm not adverse to paying for one or two things extra.

 

[jberks]

things like coolant change at 3yrs (turns out it 15yrs) and auto trans fluid at 4yrs (turns out my car doesn't need it changing).
Oh, and just to disappoint me further, the dealer had told me I'd be getting an E320CDi courtesy car which I was looking forward to trying but when I arrived they gave me an A Class!

WHAT????!!!
Coolant was changed on my E240 at 4 years old, by the dealer, in accordance with the service sheet. So why is yours different?
The gearbox oil on my E270 was done at the last service, just short of it's 3rd birthday at 44,000 miles - again, in accordance with MB specs. This is a standard MB 5 speed auto unit, not dissimilar (if not identical) to yours.

On both points I would contact MBUK as both these issues, if neglected could cause premature mechanical failure.

I popped our freelander back last night to have a minor issue sorted. The chap came out with what looked like a corsa key for my loan car. Figured it's only for a day so what the hell.
"You ok with a range rover?" So I'm tooling around in a fully loaded 4l V8 Range rover vogue SE today - incredible motor but the 20mpg is hurting and it took me 20 minutes to figure out how to turn the radio on! Maybe the MB dealer will lend me an S500 next time instead of the usual B class. You can hope.

 

[Rory]

WHAT????!!!
Coolant was changed on my E240 at 4 years old, by the dealer, in accordance with the service sheet. So why is yours different?

It does say 15yrs in my service book (I've spent about 4hrs trying to figure out the additional work lists in the book).

The gearbox oil on my E270 was done at the last service, just short of it's 3rd birthday at 44,000 miles - again, in accordance with MB specs. This is a standard MB 5 speed auto unit, not dissimilar (if not identical) to yours.

It is very odd. The only thing I can think of is that they've only applied it to newer cars for fear of being accused of neglecting older cars that have already gone past the change point.

Maybe the MB dealer will lend me an S500 next time instead of the usual B class. You can hope.

I was quite dismayed to be given the A Class (although it was an A180CDi auto and seemed altogether nicer than the truely horrible B150 petrol manual I had a few mths ago). I have hummed and harred about getting an E Class and I did want to spend a bit of time in one without the pressure of a test drive etc.

It just seems to me (as someone who is basically a salesperson) such a missed opportunity. I have a 3.5yr old C270CDi and I must be a prime target for a car upgrade around about now. I could have driven the E Class, been impressed, and gone back and ordered one. But now that won't happen.

 

[grpar]

Rory,

If you're thinking of an E, take a look at this month's What Car magazine. It has a road-test between the E220, 525d, A6, and the new Jag thing (XF ?). If you don't want to know the result, look away now ............ (3rd).

 

[Rory]

Amaze me...the Jag won?

 

[Blobcat]

It is very odd. The only thing I can think of is that they've only applied it to newer cars for fear of being accused of neglecting older cars that have already gone past the change point.

Some auto boxes were failing within the 3 yr warranty period so MB now recommend a 1 off ATF change at 40K miles for the 5G & 7G boxes. As they dropped the Torque Converter drain plug in 2000 on the 5G boxes I do wonder if they have now put it back in to aid replacement. Otherwise you can only get 4ltrs of the 7 out.

 

[Rory]

Some auto boxes were failing within the 3 yr warranty period so MB now recommend a 1 off ATF change at 40K miles for the 5G & 7G boxes. As they dropped the Torque Converter drain plug in 2000 on the 5G boxes I do wonder if they have now put it back in to aid replacement. Otherwise you can only get 4ltrs of the 7 out.

That sounds plausible, but I thought MB used some kind of pressure system to get the fluid out. Although if they were bothered about a failure in warranty you'd think they specify 2 yrs, rather than 4yrs as the time.

I've found a link to a forum which has the memo in it but it's in German which doesn't translate too well through Babelfish - it does talk about the wear being in the first 40kms so a one-off change at 60Kms is called for.
http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/oelwechsel-automatikgetriebe-t866242.html

 

[grpar]

Amaze me...the Jag won?

Jag won (and indeed was crowned What Car car of the year). On just the road test it was 1st: Jag XF, 2nd: BMW 525d, 3rd: E220, 4th: A6.