Servicing

S.Speed

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That seems fine to me..
I cant say how much that stuff would cost via a MB dealership though..

I actually feel sorry for you. You are trying to do your best for your car without being ripped off. I applaud you for that.
I do stuff myself to my own cars BUT I always use the best oils..
MB Fuel filters are a MUST apparently..
Brake pads I use Textar E pads because I like the lack of dust..
I used TEXTAR discs all round on my C class and they were 100% fine in over 30,000 miles.
I think if you get the parts yourself and then get a quote from your friend purely for labour...
Your on the right track..:D
 
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That seems fine to me..
I cant say how much that stuff would cost via a MB dealership though..

I actually feel sorry for you. You are trying to do your best for your car without being ripped off. I applaud you for that.
I do stuff myself to my own cars BUT I always use the best oils..
MB Fuel filters are a MUST apparently..
Brake pads I use Textar E pads because I like the lack of dust..
I used TEXTAR discs all round on my C class and they were 100% fine in over 30,000 miles.
I think if you get the parts yourself and then get a quote from your friend purely for labour...
Your on the right track..:D

Cheers for that, yes I think I will get the parts myself, will see how much mercedes do them for and see if he can get them as well.
 

ThinkPad

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Cheers for that, yes I think I will get the parts myself, will see how much mercedes do them for and see if he can get them as well.

Call merc for a quote. I think you will get all filters for less than that eBay advert. Ask for a discount too. They may give you 10% for the oil try ecp they usually have a discount code. Or there is one on the forum sponsor pages. You will find their oil is usually good value.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
 

roop_the_loop

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There is the happy medium. Which are the good Indy, labour cost will be half the price of the main dealer, most will have the same knowledge as main dealer tech, as they are ex main dealer techs. Yes they will be more expensive then your local garage, but experience and knowledge of working on mercs will come at a price, if that is want one is looking for.

Yes, good point, and something that only occurred to me fairly recently. I've now been recommended (by a friend who has had several MBs) a local 'mobile' MB specialist, so will give that a try at some point.

That said, I think I'm right in saying that whilst the car is under warranty I'm obligated to use maindealers only, correct?
 

S.Speed

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Yes, good point, and something that only occurred to me fairly recently. I've now been recommended (by a friend who has had several MBs) a local 'mobile' MB specialist, so will give that a try at some point.

That said, I think I'm right in saying that whilst the car is under warranty I'm obligated to use maindealers only, correct?

The theory goes that if the Non MB garage is VAT registered and uses genuine MB Parts then you are covered..
I suspect they would wriggle out though somehow !!
 

roop_the_loop

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The theory goes that if the Non MB garage is VAT registered and uses genuine MB Parts then you are covered..
I suspect they would wriggle out though somehow !!

Really? That's interesting, wonder what the VAT registration has to do with it...

I also rather suspect MB would find some bit of small print somewhere which invalidates the warranty.

Isn't MobiloLife also dependent on main dealer servicing? Or at least I think it used to be, but maybe that's changed?
 

alexanderfoti

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Really? That's interesting, wonder what the VAT registration has to do with it...

I also rather suspect MB would find some bit of small print somewhere which invalidates the warranty.

Isn't MobiloLife also dependent on main dealer servicing? Or at least I think it used to be, but maybe that's changed?

Yes mobilolife is dependant on having the car serviced at a dealer.

Sent from a mobile device
 

Pathfinder

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Even in our climate (Oz), 5W/30 is fine, so can't for one minute believe that it wouldn't be good in the UK. Some cars here demand it and refuse to run properly with heavier oil (Ford F series).
The logbook will give you the range of oil suitable for your climate and you will find 5W/30 covers a very wide range of temperatures.
In our climate (UK), 40 grade is fine and it is the recommended lube for several Mercedes models, Mobil 1 0-40 most common.

The 30 or 40 has nothing to do with climate, it is the viscosity of the oil when at maximum engine running temp.

Don't see how a difference of 10 factor would make any engine not run properly, but maybe best discussed on the Ford forum.
 

johncroydon

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Had my initial A service at an indie just after buying my car, but for £220 all i really got was an oil and filter change, ok they did some checks too, but still expensive.
Next time i will use my usual guy who is mercedes trained and does all the work on my drive. I supply all the oil and genuine mercedes filters and parts. He only charges between £40-£60 labour and i can watch him work! He will also do the usual brake checks etc.
The only thing i will probably use an indie for is the ATF as ramps and cleanliness would be the best option, and anything that requires a STAR.

john
 

moosehead

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A main dealer would do this for around £130. I think they call this a 'value service' which seems to be basically an A service i.e. oil (Mobil 1 I'm told) and filter change plus a few checks. No doubt they will find umpteen other jobs that will need doing to bump the cost up.
 

Clkrichard

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Just phoned the guy I was on about who has fixed and serviced loads of our cars over the years and he quoted me £180 for a major service including brake fluid change and air and pollen filters and that includes a full transmition fluid change, that's inclusive of vat as well. The local specialist wanted £500.

I will be booking it in with him soon, I cant argue with £180 its a damn good price, and he works on BMW's and Merc's all the time he said, and I've known of him for at least 20 years, so he has no reason to lie!

I recently paid what you quote for just an ATF change by one of the most respected indies in Hampshire and had a perfect job done. Barring the unforseen I shouldnt be forking out £ thousands for a failed autobox due to a shoddy fluid change. Will your man achieve a total drain of all the unit ? Will he check the temperature ? If in doubt about the nature of the job find the thread that shows how Olly does it.
You get what you pay for and while and indie should be cheaper and better than a main dealer I really wouldnt take a car as complex as an MB to a non specialist
 

oigle

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In our climate (UK), 40 grade is fine and it is the recommended lube for several Mercedes models, Mobil 1 0-40 most common.

The 30 or 40 has nothing to do with climate, it is the viscosity of the oil when at maximum engine running temp.

Don't see how a difference of 10 factor would make any engine not run properly, but maybe best discussed on the Ford forum.

Yes, 0-40 is also fine. I was just commenting on your suggestion that 30 was too light.
If you check your logbook, you will find that ambient temperatures ARE relevant. The viscosities recommended are based on ambient temperatures. 5/30 or 5/40 cover almost identical ranges. Obviously either is perfectly adequate.
 
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Curious. Just phoned Mercedes main dealer in Brighton (Lookers) they said it only needs changing once in its life time at 37500 miles! This does not make sense. Surely Every 37500 miles! there is no logic!
 

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Curious. Just phoned Mercedes main dealer in Brighton (Lookers) they said it only needs changing once in its life time at 37500 miles! This does not make sense. Surely Every 37500 miles! there is no logic!

Ignore them, some dealers get the message and change it every 40k miles, sure in WIS is says once only at 37k miles if the car is on assist
 
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But if going to a main dealer for a service and going on there expertise surely they must say that for a reason? I mean it makes a mockery of the whole getting it serviced at a main dealer.......:confused:
 

S.Speed

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That's just 1 reason why I will NEVER use a main dealership as soon as my warranty is over..
Either Indy or DIY
I have yet to have any car I have owned blow up, break down or fall to pieces via my methods !
 

Clkrichard

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My second ATF change at 80k was purely for my peace of mind and wallet protection !
 

ampwhu

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I am in the same sort of boat here. I'll hold my hands up and say I could service a ford cortina quite easily, but I wouldn't know how to work on my new C class.

I purchased it 2 weeks ago and think it is the b*****s!

however, I would like to get it serviced and am not totally sure which way to go with it. there is a MB garage not too far from me.

http://www.tmmotors.net/

not sure if anyone can recommend them, but I would rather let someone who knows what they are doing, work on my car.

could I have some advice please?

thanks Alan
 

Clkrichard

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Alan head for Olly at PCS in Horndean. You wont regret the journey.
 


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