I've just booked my 2001 SLK320 for an A service at MB Exeter. It's a second car and doesn't get driven very much so it's a time-prompted service (it's about 2 years since the last one).
I was a bit surprised to be told that the cost would be about £700. It seems that Mercedes now won't stamp your service book unless you get all the advisory stuff done - I forget how many things they want to do but there were a lot. After a bit of discussion I managed to persuade them that it didn't need the brake fluid changing as it's only done 5K miles since the last fluid change and sits in a good garage most of the time, but I'm still having to pay for a lot of probably unnecessary stuff.
It looks to me like Mercedes are playing hardball now with servicing costs. ASSYST used to make it a relatively cheap car to run (low mileage) but they've worked this out and found a way to screw more money out of us. I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth keeping a full MBSH. I've only been doing this to keep the Mobilo Life cover which is useful - I've called them out 4 times in 40K miles - but it's cheaper to join the AA. The 30 year rust warranty seems to be a con as the wording rules out nearly every claim.
I was a bit surprised to be told that the cost would be about £700. It seems that Mercedes now won't stamp your service book unless you get all the advisory stuff done - I forget how many things they want to do but there were a lot. After a bit of discussion I managed to persuade them that it didn't need the brake fluid changing as it's only done 5K miles since the last fluid change and sits in a good garage most of the time, but I'm still having to pay for a lot of probably unnecessary stuff.
It looks to me like Mercedes are playing hardball now with servicing costs. ASSYST used to make it a relatively cheap car to run (low mileage) but they've worked this out and found a way to screw more money out of us. I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth keeping a full MBSH. I've only been doing this to keep the Mobilo Life cover which is useful - I've called them out 4 times in 40K miles - but it's cheaper to join the AA. The 30 year rust warranty seems to be a con as the wording rules out nearly every claim.