Thinking of Service Plus

[kingsize]

I have recently acquired a 2 1/2 year old e320 cdi with 39k on the clock.

I will do about 20k miles per year approx. 70-75% motorway driving.

I am seriously considering Service Plus for peace of mind issues, and was wondering - how many services of which type could I expect in a normal year at 20k miles?

I have no idea what I night be quoted by MB for Service Plus, but I would be able to claim 75% of the cost against tax and reclaim 75% of the vat.

Could anyone advise? I paid out an ungodly amount for repairs on my last Merc (mostly just bad luck and a duff car!)

 

[jberks]

From memory, I was quoted around £95 per month for an 1 year old E270cdi at 25k pa 18 months ago. I was tempted but it does depend on how you look at it.
Services can be @17k but I'm stuck with 9.5k so at this level you'd be looking at £700 of servicing plus a few extras so say £1k per year and the service plus looks good value.

I didn't take it up. Primarily because they lock you into an agreement for the full period and my mileage isn't that predictable (30k last year, 8k this year) and I decided to use an indie for the servicing work instead. Plus, as my car is under warranty, I didn't see the price taking that into account.

That said, the warranty aspect is great value and I may consider taking it up in the next year for this alone. E.g. My tacho stopped lighting up at the weekend. Apparently, as minor as it sounds, this is a £850 problem - so had I not had a warranty, service plus would have suddenly looked a bargain!

If you can get the tax relief you say, it's certainly worth a quote and if you'll be using main dealers, in your position I'd probably do it.

 

[Rory]

What have the service intervals been so far on the car? This should give you some indication for your own use - if ASSYST is working properly then the increased mileage and motorway use *should* stretch the intervals out.

There is also annual work to do - brake fluid every 2 yrs, coolant at 3 yrs, auto trans fluid at 4yrs etc.

Service Plus also covers the MOT and any work that results from it.

Would you be thinking about taking an extended warranty at 3yrs old? Reports so far on ServicePlus seem to indicate that MB is being very liberal in its interpretation of what's covered, so it should be as good as having an extended warranty (which would cost best part of a grand) but with Service etc thrown in almost free.

Regarding jberks 'lock you into' comment - I guess he means the mileage? It can be cancelled with max 3mths payments (they say max as it depends how recently you've had work done). So advice is to take it for 3yrs as that fixes the cost at current rates.
I was unsure about the mileage but erred on the low side. There is a PPK (pence per *kilometre* - so you have to add 60% to get per mile, and it's plus VAT) charge for excess mileage, but it wasn't much more than getting the higher mileage contract in the first place.

The cost does seem have jumped up recently (it was almost stupidly cheap) but if MB continue to be generous in the coverage then I guess increased cost is preferable to refusing claims. Note the quote is ex-VAT!

I agonised about it, mainly because my car (my first MB) has been stunningly reliable (touch wood). I expect to lose out big time money wise with ServicePlus, but I'm buying the peace of mind. If you've had a Merc before and experienced expensive problems, then it's surely a no-brainer?

 

[kingsize]

Thanks guys.

I bought the car six weeks ago from a MB offshoot, and was quoted £475.00 by them to extend the MB warranty for an extra year after three (though that seems a bit light).

It was, they say, fully serviced prior to purchase, and it now indicates a Service C in 7,300 miles.

I was thinking that, even if they quote me £150 per month @ 20k miles, it would probably be a relatively good deal given that normal servicing costs would be in the region of 1k p.a.

And from the Service Plus brochure I have seen, it would seem that everything is covered, bar the tyres (which I would not be purchasing from MB in any case!).

I will ask for a quote; plan to keep the car for three years, and would love the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong, I'm covered.

Obiter dictum, my travails with my last car included:

Putting on the spare and using the wrong bolts - £760.00 (well,it was my fault)

Head gasket split one day after service - £1288 (for the head gasket purchase - I had a standoff with the dealer who ultimatley agreed to bear the costs of labour : 41 hours @ £90 per hour - glad I stood my ground!)

Two new injectors and rocker cradle - £780.00

And about £2k in 'regular services'

As you can see, I have little luck with cars, even good ones, and I in effect feel I would be insuring myself against anything that can go wrong.....

It would seem that the Service Plus is like a full MB warranty with the added benefits. I am beginning to think the extra cost is worth it...

 

[Rory]

Thanks guys.
I bought the car six weeks ago from a MB offshoot, and was quoted £475.00 by them to extend the MB warranty for an extra year after three (though that seems a bit light).

That seems very low – it’s presumeably a 3rd party warranty, not a Mercedes one? Did it include getting the car fixed at Mercedes dealer rates (3rd party warranty’s usually don’t)?

I was thinking that, even if they quote me £150 per month @ 20k miles, it would probably be a relatively good deal given that normal servicing costs would be in the region of 1k p.a.

I’m guessing that price in in the right ball-park/

And from the Service Plus brochure I have seen, it would seem that everything is covered, bar the tyres (which I would not be purchasing from MB in any case!).

Hmmm – I hope that’s right (I have ServicePlus)! I think when you take it in for repairs it’s probably worth remembering to say ‘the auto box has worn out’, rather than ‘it’s broken’!

Putting on the spare and using the wrong bolts - £760.00 (well,it was my fault)

Clearly that wouldn’t have been covered!

Head gasket split one day after service - £1288 (for the head gasket purchase - I had a standoff with the dealer who ultimatley agreed to bear the costs of labour : 41 hours @ £90 per hour - glad I stood my ground!)

Legally he didn’t have any choice.

Two new injectors and rocker cradle - £780.00

That’s the kind of ‘nothingy’ little event, yet costs so much, that would drive me mad.


Has you car got a full MB service history? Should be OK anyway as it’s still in warranty. Bear in mind you can’t claim for servicing for 3 mths / 3000 miles once you take out Service Plus, so don’t leave it too late.

 

[kingsize]

Don't get me started about the head gasket - full service, drove about fifty miles, got the warning 'Too Much Oil' and then ....BANG!

And the dealer initially attempted to suggest that the two were wholly unconnected, and stonewalled for some days.

Ultimately, it was I who suggested the compromise of paying for the replacement part, if they covered the labour, and the rep said ruefully when I was picking up the car, 'You got a good deal there, 41 hours labour...sigh.'

I was subsequently advised by someone who previously worked for MB that they would NEVER have agreed to such a deal unless they suspected that they were in the wrong.

Given all that, it would seem that service plus may be the way to go.

As for service history, it was bought from MB dealer, was serviced, as per the log, at 15k, and then serviced at 39k, again as per the log, by an offshoot of the dealer who deals with the MB trade ins that the main delaer does not want to sell (i.e. cars a t 1-3 years old).

 

[zsadiq1]

I took up service plus 1 year ago. I pay £85 per month for 12K per year (E320, 2003 model). This year I have had discs/pads replaced, power steering pump, MOT, D service,wiper blades. I estimated the cost was approx £2000. I estimate that if nothing goes wrong then I will be approx £1000 quids in by the end of three years. It's the best thing I have done.I fully recommend it.

 

[Rory]

Don't get me started about the head gasket - full service, drove about fifty miles, got the warning 'Too Much Oil' and then ....BANG!

And the dealer initially attempted to suggest that the two were wholly unconnected, and stonewalled for some days.

Actually, sorry - for some reason I misread that as one day after purchase. I can imagine that after a service it must have been awkward.

 

[kingsize]

Actually, sorry - for some reason I misread that as one day after purchase. I can imagine that after a service it must have been awkward.

Awkward was not the word for it.....

 

[kingsize]

Well, got my quote for Service Plus.

£97.00 per month for three years @ 20,000 miles per year.

I have to say this is lower than I expected ,and having looked at the coverage provided, a good deal for that sweet peace of mind.

I would estimate servicing on my car for 20k miles per year would be in the region of £900-£1000 in any case, and if something were to go wrong....

All in all, a sweet deal.

.

Could I just thank everyone for their input, it really has been most helpful and informative.

 

[Geezer]

I'm gonna sign up for Service Plus this afternoon. £58pm for two years @10000 miles pa looks good value to me. If one major component goes then I am quids in!

 

[Geezer]

And the deed is now done......

 

[NewMB]

I think it is a good option. Although check your mileage carefully as once you in the contract, you can not change it (if you do less miles/year).

I have mine over 3 years/12000 Miles per year costing me only £33.

However, I will probably change my car before the end of the term on this....

 

[Rory]

I have mine over 3 years/12000 Miles per year costing me only £33.

Crikey - that's cheap. I've never heard of a monthly cost anywhere near that.

 

[kft]

Just signing up, £73.00 per month for 10k on a E320CDI however, contract admin bods inform me that if you have less than 3,000 miles to the next service AND it needs servicing within the next three months you have to pay for the service!!

 

[Geezer]

When I signed up there was exactly 3000 miles to the next service and I most certainly won't do that in three months.

 

[kingsize]

Just signing up, £73.00 per month for 10k on a E320CDI however, contract admin bods inform me that if you have less than 3,000 miles to the next service AND it needs servicing within the next three months you have to pay for the service!!

That is indeed correct. Sevice costs not covered for first 3000 miles or three months.

 

[kft]

Done the deed. Covered from yesterday. Everything except the tyres and cosmetic to paintwork etc.

 

[kingsize]

Done the deed. Covered from yesterday. Everything except the tyres and cosmetic to paintwork etc.

Welcome to peace of mind......

 

[kft]

It feels good to know that whatever happens now until Sept 2010 I won't be in for any real shocks. Did a lot of thinking but I belive I made the right decision.