W211 E320 CDI Service C Costs

RensterUK

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Folks, firstly, apologies for probably repeating something that has been asked before!

My E320 CDI (W211) is telling me Im just a few hundred miles from a Service C. So I've been ringing round different local MB dealers to get a price.

So far I've yet to get a definitive list of whats included in a C Service.

Also, "fixed price" service only lists A & B on the websites, at £200, and £300 respectively (both of which seem to have gone up in price when you call - one dealer wanting £400 for a B service)

Only one dealer has given me a price for a C service of £255, the others seem to skirt around the subject, saying it may need an A service plus lots of other bits, others say B with a few other bits etc

Either way, they all seem to give a total cost ranging from of around £650-£800. Not exactly the £255 for a "fixed cost" service C?!

The car is an MB approved used, which we've had just 9 months approx. What I'd like to know is what is included in a C service? Increasingly, it seems to me that the fixed cost is purely the labour and a basic oil and filter change, with the labour to cover the assorted "optional" extras?

What should I be paying? How "optional" are these optional extras? They apparently include things like carbon filter change, auto box oil/filter change, etc etc.

Finally (phew!), what's the score with the approved used warranty, MGFV on the PCP finance etc, if I get the service done at an independent non MB garage? Or maybe at a "BMW/Audi/Merc specialist" independent?

Cheers!
 

Cole@MBS

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Think you better try ringing around, thats about £400-£500 to dear!!

Welcome to the forums!
 

EGBM

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I think a C service is like an A service but may include a gearbox oil change at ~ 40000 miles. At the time of service they consult a schedule anyway as instructed by the diagnostic unit on board (I hope I've remembered this right, someone who knows what they're on about may appear at some point!). The schedule is posted on the main Milton Keynes. Do a search, there's been plenty threads on it coz I looked myself, the CLS's next service is a C.
 

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I would move away from the MB servicing,,I made the move at my last service, and no regrets at all, you can talk to the man who is doing the job
 
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RensterUK

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EGBM / SAMUNIT

Cheers for that! Yes, It looks like generally the price is made up of approx £250 for the C service (including ... unknown!) - £280 for the gearbox oil/filter change, plus bits like fuel filter change etc.

Curiously I think the gearbox oil and filter should have been done at 38k. When we bought the car it had 33.5k on it - part of me feels they could/should have done that change then - especially when you're paying significantly over £20k for a car, £300 to them shouldnt be much! Maybe I could argue them into going 50:50?!?

SAM - looks like from your post that you're an independent Merc specialist? Can you advise as to the situation with warranty / MGFV on the finance if I was to get someone like yourself to do the work (at undoubtedly lower prices!)?

Cheers again (and thanks for the welcome!)
 

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Just one thing here, the changing of the gearbox fluid is not listed under any service, you have to ask to have this done.
 
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RensterUK

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Thanks Tele,

Increasingly, Im starting to feel that MB service has a "hard sell" policy - suggestions that warranty is void if I dont have optional extras done... I'm sure that one dealer I spoke to today told me that if I choose not to have an optional extra done, and the car then breaks down in warranty owing to something relating to that extra, the warranty won't cover it...

With 3 months to go on the warranty, Im thinking postponing stuff like the box oil/filter until other more pressing matters are paid for!
 

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Thanks Tele,

Increasingly, Im starting to feel that MB service has a "hard sell" policy - suggestions that warranty is void if I dont have optional extras done... I'm sure that one dealer I spoke to today told me that if I choose not to have an optional extra done, and the car then breaks down in warranty owing to something relating to that extra, the warranty won't cover it...

With 3 months to go on the warranty, Im thinking postponing stuff like the box oil/filter until other more pressing matters are paid for!

That makes good sense, there are so many things that are distasteful, like when they tell you that you need new pads and disc when they have 60% of their life left.
 

Cole@MBS

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We did a ML the other day,the owners had a quote from a local dealer, (car was still there) for full servive etc, we did the whole job using mb parts and some add ons they forgot to add on the phone call, mb quote £1775, our quote £575, and done by two mb trained techs, they had quoted for front disks which were hardly worn and alsorts!!

Just to add that was pads all round and a mirror glass and filters etc!!!
 

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Just been in same position. Dealer price was around £299 for standard service but then the "oh, car is four years old, it also needs, X, Y, and Z" doing, so final bill was around £625.

Indy dealer was £240 + VAT with brake fluid change £65 if needed on top to bring to same as dealer quoted.

As only benefit of using dealer is Mobilo breakdown cover for 30 years (OK, maybe not only benefit but I don't believe the Merc stamp in service book makes it worth more just nice to have and AA/RAC cover is under a £100 a year) I can't see reason to go franchised on a 4 year old car now.

Plenty of people on here will recommend an indy dealer nearest to you
 
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RensterUK

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Well, in a moment of insomnia (no, not sad enough to stress that much about all this, no idea why I can't sleep!) .... I thought I'd pop back and see what new replies to my OP had come in.... What can I say?! Wow, many thanks to all that have replied. Think I might cancel my booking with MB Swindon in the morning!

As for local indy specialist - I think I know one - but if anyone cares to recommend, feel free - I'll go searching on here now anyway!

Many thanks again - looks like collectively you could all have saved me a good few quid!
 

Cole@MBS

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Well, in a moment of insomnia (no, not sad enough to stress that much about all this, no idea why I can't sleep!) .... I thought I'd pop back and see what new replies to my OP had come in.... What can I say?! Wow, many thanks to all that have replied. Think I might cancel my booking with MB Swindon in the morning!

As for local indy specialist - I think I know one - but if anyone cares to recommend, feel free - I'll go searching on here now anyway!

Many thanks again - looks like collectively you could all have saved me a good few quid!

We have customers drive down from london and other areas, pop down south and will we sort the lot for you, and save a few hundred pound for good measure!!:D
 

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Finally (phew!), what's the score with the approved used warranty, MGFV on the PCP finance etc, if I get the service done at an independent non MB garage?

You do need to be a little careful here if there's still some warranty period left - while Mb can't enforce dealer servicing on the new car warranty, they can make it a condition of the used car warranty - check the small print, and same for the finance. VW finance, for example, has a condition that the car must be franchised dealer serviced.

For the schedule, A-H is supposed to indicate the scope of the work, but you're right, the price you get tends be for an oil and filter change plus the appropriate (hopefully) labour charge.

There's an online version of the Electronic Service Sheet here which *might* provide some insight: http://lite.servicemercedes.co.uk/
 

hawk20

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Well, in a moment of insomnia (no, not sad enough to stress that much about all this, no idea why I can't sleep!) .... I thought I'd pop back and see what new replies to my OP had come in.... What can I say?! Wow, many thanks to all that have replied. Think I might cancel my booking with MB Swindon in the morning!

As for local indy specialist - I think I know one - but if anyone cares to recommend, feel free - I'll go searching on here now anyway!

Many thanks again - looks like collectively you could all have saved me a good few quid!

Well I'm in the minority who strongly favour full MBSH and would not buy a car without it. For a start indie serviced cars don't get all the recalls and updates done. At least for 3-4 years that is important. And you get Mobilo. And you get 'goodwill' contributions to any repairs which can be substantial (up to 80% of the cost in some cases if you have full MBSH.).

Apart from that you MUST have MB servicing or infringe your 12 month approved used warranty.

And you must check the finance agreement as they may well require full MB servicing. (It certainly would if I wrote it).

The C service costs little more than an A or B service. These letters are only a guide. The diagnostic programmes will tell you exactly what needs doing to keep your car in good working order.

Try not to confuse the cost of servicing (which is only a bit over 2p per mile for an average mileage driver) with other jobs that need doing fom time to time.

Some jobs are mileage related (transmission fluid change at 38k miles), and some are age related (e.g. change brake fluid every two years), and some are wear and tear related like pads/discs, tyres and so on.
 
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RensterUK

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Cheers again everyone - that link Rory posted certainly seemed to prove suspicion that each "fixed price" service is little more than the labour for the optional extras they recommend.

Spoke to Stuart / Stewart at PC Autocare in Lydiard Millicent (not far from us at all). He instantly seemed far more knowledgeable than the various Merc bods Id been dealing with, reassured me most of what they were trying to get me to spend on wasn't necessary, he KNEW what a C Service was, and is doing it this weekend for £170 - even if I do need some of the parts they listed, I'm confident that he'll still beat them on price! Even includes an optional free pick up / return service. Oh, and he reassured me the warranty etc will not be affected.

All good! Seemingly to be recommended - I'll try to remember to stick another post up after the service.
 

hawk20

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Cheers again everyone - that link Rory posted certainly seemed to prove suspicion that each "fixed price" service is little more than the labour for the optional extras they recommend.

Spoke to Stuart / Stewart at PC Autocare in Lydiard Millicent (not far from us at all). He instantly seemed far more knowledgeable than the various Merc bods Id been dealing with, reassured me most of what they were trying to get me to spend on wasn't necessary, he KNEW what a C Service was, and is doing it this weekend for £170 - even if I do need some of the parts they listed, I'm confident that he'll still beat them on price! Even includes an optional free pick up / return service. Oh, and he reassured me the warranty etc will not be affected.

All good! Seemingly to be recommended - I'll try to remember to stick another post up after the service.

Well like many indies he is wrong. The MB approved used warranty requires MB servicing. Quite right too. IMO. Why should they cover you if you go to firms they don't know, and have no control over?

And if you have MB finance, check that too for conditions on servicing.

Read my earlier posting and you'll see that fixed price services -as offered by my local MB dealer- do just what they say on the tin. The price covers the cost of the service -not extra jobs.
 
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hawk20

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My E220cdi estate (March 2008) was calling for a C service about a month or so back. My local MB dealer at Southampton did it for about £210 inc vat. And they collect and deliver -free- or lend me a loan car. And they washed and valeted the car. And left a box of Thorntons on the front seat. I have no grumbles with the service we get.
 

Rory

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He instantly seemed far more knowledgeable than the various Merc bods Id been dealing with,

Of all the things that's the one I find really frustrating - the customer facing people in the dealership I go to seem absolutely clueless.

You're obviously not supposed to questions - just hand over the car and leave your cheque book open on the passenger seat.
 

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Well like many indies he is wrong. The MB approved used warranty requires MB servicing. Quite right too. IMO. Why should they cover you if you go to firms they don't know, and have no control over?

And if you have MB finance, check that too for conditions on servicing.

Read my earlier posting and you'll see that fixed price services -as offered by my local MB dealer- do just what they say on the tin. The price covers the cost of the service -not extra jobs.

Mr Hawk, with all due respect you speak from a priveleged postion, I take it every merc you bought was new, so to stick with mercs dealers and there high costs is good for you and them.

The vast majority of people that come on these forums are not so lucky, they aspire to owning a nice car, can never afford to buy it new and bulk at the cost of servicing parts etc.

I personaly fall between the two, I took my s class in a while ago to get a quote for a job, yes sir £115 per hour, "no thanks said I" and went indi.

Its all horses for courses, if I was more wealthy, I would buy new keep it till the warrenty expired, then buy new again, but as said for the lucky few only!
 


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