Wow service quote!

[Jimbo1959]

Where does this happen? Please elaborate - if it does they are rare (unauthorised) events.

My car never leaves the workshop premises, I have geofencing, if it leaves the premises, I will get an alert. The days of mechanics taking your car for a test drive after a service are long gone. At my dealer they are too busy, I have to book a service weeks ahead.

Cars being driven by others, shoddy workmanship e.t.c. are just rationalisations for those doing their own servicing.

"Where does this happen? Please elaborate - if it does they are rare (unauthorised) events."

I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't happen almost everywhere at some time or another, and quite possibly, these incidents will be rare unauthorised events at the dealership, however, not everyone has your defences, (geofencing) against such treatment.

"The days of mechanics taking your car for a test drive after a service are long gone. At my dealer they are too busy, I have to book a service weeks ahead."

You answered your own question there sir, "at your dealer".

Sadly we are not all in the fortunate position of being able to afford to go to the dealer or even the specialist independant, and so, as one uses the local mechanic or smaller garage simply because he has the special tool or ramps you need, you find that the standards are not as high as they should be at MB.

"Cars being driven by others, shoddy workmanship e.t.c. are just rationalisations for those doing their own servicing."

Personally, I don't like my car being driven by others because they have a different outlook on my property, they generally care a lot less about the car than I as, they have neither the time, effort or, money invested in it that I do. Some are even jealous and would abuse it on purpose.

Shoddy workmanship is sadly more common in garages than one might think. Knowing a little about cars and being by nature a little OCD in my own work practices I tend to edge towards being a perfectionist, I want the job done right, there's nothing wrong with this point of view, my life and the lives of my wife and children could rely on the work being right.
In the course of my daily job I am in and out of every sort of garage many times a day and, have seen things which a customer would find shocking.

The largest consideration or "rationalisation" in my and, I think in most peoples mind though, is the costs that are involved using Mercedes dealers. Now, one might argue that if one can't afford to maintain the vehicle properly (at said dealers?) then one should buy a cheaper marque altogether, however, I feel that, that is elitism on so many levels and wrong.

There are many, myself included, who actually enjoy working on their own car, for some it may have started as a necessity, I know you have mentioned that position and did not like it, however, for those like me, it evolved into a genuine pleasure to do any work on the car, the completion of it, be it the finish, fit, or even just the appearance of it after washing and polishing, means I derive enormous satisfaction from my efforts.

 

[rorywquin]

@Jimbo1959

The point I was trying to make, is that it is a fallacy that having a car serviced at a proper workshop is a bad idea because:

- all the mechanics are useless
- they take short cuts and do not do a proper job
- they thrash your car on test rides / joyrides
- you are ripped off for parts and spares (yes you can get it cheaper if you want to take the time to do so)
- they install incorrect (not oem) parts
- you are ripped off for labour (yes you can save money by doing it yourself)
- etc

In my case (ignoring saving on labour) there are marginal gains to be made (after purchasing the right tools and equipment) by doing it oneself vs getting a good deal on a service contract that includes breakdown cover (a reflection of their confidence in their work perhaps??).

Of course, if you like servicing and mucking about in and under cars that is obviously the right way to go.

When I look at the affordability of a car, I include the total cost of ownership (taxes, servicing, good parts (tyres), depreciation (subject of much discussion on the forums) etc) and buy within a budget to cover all those bases.

 

[badger_wazzala]

Of course not in all cases as some garages must be good to be so successful, and yeah there will be far better cars than mine out there for a joy ride.
One bitten twice shy though. My 350Z had over 9miles put on it by the time I went to collect, this was before the days of readily available trackers though. Sales girl and manager denied it but I’d taken an image of the odometer and written the mileage down. They said it may have been from moving it around the car park as it hadn’t left the compound.
Lies.

I really enjoy doing my own work, I couldn’t pay someone do do something I can do myself, especially when I find the results so rewarding, and I have a wide array of tools so I’m set for most jobs.

Regardless of cost, there are still **** ‘techs’ out there. In all industries.

I’ve bought 44 cars now and had heaps of company vehicles so have vast experience with all sorts of work garages.
I’ve had stuff stolen from my work van once at a main dealership. I’ve paid for a main service only to find the oil was still the black old **** so needless to say I was displeased. Excuse was that the oil wasn’t due on mileage so it wasn’t changed, and service was a fixed price. I went ape **** and had a substantial discount applied. Little old Brenda from down the street wouldn’t know that though would she.
I’ve had wheels scratched when removed for servicing , I’ve had wheel nuts removed with what must have been a wire brush. I’ve collected a car that smelled of cigarettes after warranty work, I’ve been fobbed off countless times by garages who ‘can’t find the fault’ and yet its there when I collect the car. I’ve had brake pads changed only to discover there were no retaining/rattle springs fitted, I’ve had brake discs replaced and then discovered the retaining bolts had sheared so they were just left as is, I’ve had a rear brake drum smashed by a mechanic as he had difficulty removing it, but the fat **** never told me this, I’ve had oil handprints all over my cream interior before and so on and so on. Honestly I could really go on and on.....
I’ve had many Mis diagnoses over the years that have cost money and achieved squat.
There is obviously a reason some mechanics are called grease monkeys.

Many humans are snakes, the older I get the more I meet. If I can vastly reduce my interaction with possible time wasting liars then I do, even at my own expense if it avoids me getting wound up.
Leaving my pride and joy out of sight in a busy dealers car park is enough to stress me out.
The fact that Mercedes over inflate their prices ridiculously doesn’t guarantee I’ll get the best of the best when it come to mechanics so they are as appealing as any other garage out there.
The above is the sole reason I trust my own care and attention on my own motors regardless of age or condition.

Because I care.

 

[mioba]

Of course not in all cases as some garages must be good to be so successful, and yeah there will be far better cars than mine out there for a joy ride.
One bitten twice shy though. My 350Z had over 9miles put on it by the time I went to collect, this was before the days of readily available trackers though. Sales girl and manager denied it but I’d taken an image of the odometer and written the mileage down. They said it may have been from moving it around the car park as it hadn’t left the compound.
Lies.

I really enjoy doing my own work, I couldn’t pay someone do do something I can do myself, especially when I find the results so rewarding, and I have a wide array of tools so I’m set for most jobs.

Regardless of cost, there are still **** ‘techs’ out there. In all industries.

I’ve bought 44 cars now and had heaps of company vehicles so have vast experience with all sorts of work garages.
I’ve had stuff stolen from my work van once at a main dealership. I’ve paid for a main service only to find the oil was still the black old **** so needless to say I was displeased. Excuse was that the oil wasn’t due on mileage so it wasn’t changed, and service was a fixed price. I went ape **** and had a substantial discount applied. Little old Brenda from down the street wouldn’t know that though would she.
I’ve had wheels scratched when removed for servicing , I’ve had wheel nuts removed with what must have been a wire brush. I’ve collected a car that smelled of cigarettes after warranty work, I’ve been fobbed off countless times by garages who ‘can’t find the fault’ and yet its there when I collect the car. I’ve had brake pads changed only to discover there were no retaining/rattle springs fitted, I’ve had brake discs replaced and then discovered the retaining bolts had sheared so they were just left as is, I’ve had a rear brake drum smashed by a mechanic as he had difficulty removing it, but the fat **** never told me this, I’ve had oil handprints all over my cream interior before and so on and so on. Honestly I could really go on and on.....
I’ve had many Mis diagnoses over the years that have cost money and achieved squat.
There is obviously a reason some mechanics are called grease monkeys.

Many humans are snakes, the older I get the more I meet. If I can vastly reduce my interaction with possible time wasting liars then I do, even at my own expense if it avoids me getting wound up.
Leaving my pride and joy out of sight in a busy dealers car park is enough to stress me out.
The fact that Mercedes over inflate their prices ridiculously doesn’t guarantee I’ll get the best of the best when it come to mechanics so they are as appealing as any other garage out there.
The above is the sole reason I trust my own care and attention on my own motors regardless of age or condition.

Because I care.

JEEEEZ

 

[Funkyboy]

What does roadsid


A MB service also provides free breakdown cover (Mobilo) which quoted to me by Green Flag is worth about £80-00/ annum. Given the discount I got for a, prepaid, 3 year plan with, 2 expensive services coming up and the fact that the car will be up on a ramp and also get a "proper inspection" is very good value for money! For me!

You can get breakdown cover from the likes of go compare. I got quoted £26 for homestart/onward journey and misfueling cover. Unlimited call outs no excess.

If you go on go compare look for breakdown cover you can get it for £26. This is home start/onward journey and unlimited call outs plus misfueling

What does roadsid


A MB service also provides free breakdown cover (Mobilo) which quoted to me by Green Flag is worth about £80-00/ annum. Given the discount I got for a, prepaid, 3 year plan with, 2 expensive services coming up and the fact that the car will be up on a ramp and also get a "proper inspection" is very good value for money! For me!

You can get breakdown cover from the likes of go compare for £

What does roadsid


A MB service also provides free breakdown cover (Mobilo) which quoted to me by Green Flag is worth about £80-00/ annum. Given the discount I got for a, prepaid, 3 year plan with, 2 expensive services coming up and the fact that the car will be up on a ramp and also get a "proper inspection" is very good value for money! For me!

 

[rorywquin]

You can get breakdown cover from the likes of go compare. I got quoted £26 for homestart/onward journey and misfueling cover. Unlimited call outs no excess.

If you go on go compare look for breakdown cover you can get it for £26. This is home start/onward journey and unlimited call outs plus misfueling


You can get breakdown cover from the likes of go compare for £

Depends on the car and the level of cover you get! I compared what MB offer.....

 

[rorywquin]

s............................

I’ve bought 44 cars now and had heaps of company vehicles so have vast experience with all sorts of work garages.

/.......................

Bl00dy hell you have been unlucky.

I've had my (own, wife's and company) cars serviced by dealers for the past ~40 years and honestly cannot recall having a problem worth remembering.

I did have a problematic (from showroom) BMW 325i (about 1995)- it spent so much time in the workshop that after 9 months they actually swapped me (for the cost of 9 months wear and tear on the 3 series) for a brand new 525i. The 3 series was one of the first off the production line where they'd used quick a assembly process and had not ironed out the teething problems. Rattles everywhere and dual flywheel issues.

44 & more cars cars and counting ........How old are you ????

 

[Jimbo1959]

I’ve bought 44 cars now and had heaps of company vehicles

So you're still in your 30's then....

There have been years where I've had four cars and a couple of motorbikes too, I do not buy to sell on, they were all for my own use. I do have a low boredom threshold.

 

[badger_wazzala]

So you're still in your 30's then....

congrats for getting through my bible of a post
There have been years where I've had four cars and a couple of motorbikes too, I do not buy to sell on, they were all for my own use. I do have a low boredom threshold.

I am still thirties yeah, 10 bikes too
I just love cars I guess, all different kinds of all ages. I’m still not bored of constantly losing money to someone else’s benefit
Whilst they keep making them I’ll keep buying them! Wife blames my adhd and bipolar and says I should stay of the internet during mania

 

[Ron240]

I am still thirties yeah, 10 bikes too

Having bought 44 cars and 10 bikes in around 20 years is quite an achievement, so I take my hat off to you.
You must be in a privileged position money wise, because as you say a lot of money will have been lost along the way. I have bought 6 brand new cars in the past 8 years and I shudder to think how much it has cost me in depreciation...but it has still been worth it to me.

Can I go back to an earlier point where you said you will service your less than 1 year old but bought brand new C63 yourself. I said that you will still need to have basic scheduled servicing carried out by a VAT registered garage to maintain your manufacturers warranty, because a private individual will not do.
Maybe you have your own business though...which would seem a reasonable assumption given the amount of cars you have bought.

 

[badger_wazzala]

Having bought 44 cars and 10 bikes in around 20 years is quite an achievement, so I take my hat off to you.
You must be in a privileged position money wise, because as you say a lot of money will have been lost along the way. I have bought 6 brand new cars in the past 8 years and I shudder to think how much it has cost me in depreciation...but it has still been worth it to me.

Can I go back to an earlier point where you said you will service your less than 1 year old but bought brand new C63 yourself. I said that you will still need to have basic scheduled servicing carried out by a VAT registered garage to maintain your manufacturers warranty, because a private individual will not do.
Maybe you have your own business though...which would seem a reasonable assumption given the amount of cars you have bought.

I wouldn’t say I was privileged in any sense. I grew up in social housing/council estates and have never received any inheritance. I’m far too proud to accept a hand-out but yes I’m self-employed (since I was 26) and to say ‘I put the hours
in’ would be an understatement. It’s normal for me to have a single week holiday over Christmas and I work six days a week for the most part. I have a vat registered business but not related to car mechanics, though I do have a plethora of engineering quals.
The only car I’ve ever owned new is this Merc, as I tend to jump constantly between cars of all ages providing the bodywork is mint and the service history is air tight.
Without spilling my guts and having a little weep about it whilst I play my violin, I have trust issues as my childhood/adolescence was far from perfect. With this in mind I’m happy to void a warranty for peace of mind and complete repairs myself. - Car still serviced to schedule though, and I take images for evidence.
As it’s now worth almost £28k less than it was a year ago and with only around 2000 miles on it, it’s not likely I’ll take the hit on this car and pass savings on to someone else.
It’s a definite keeper, especially as it won’t be considered the same value as another with FMBSH
I reckon with an informative social clan like you lot combined with the experience I already have working on cars, I have the power of greyskull and can keep the car ticking like a Swiss watch.

edited to add: most the guys I meet tell me ‘not having kids’ is the most relevant explanation for me splurging on countless motors. Vroom vroom

 

[Timeandleisure]

I've said this in another thread a year or so ago to general derision and disbelief - some MB dealers (in my case Sandown) offer a discount on both labour (typ 40%) and parts (typ 10%) for older MB's. I would have said that 6 years old was coming into that category.
And no, I am not talking about the "value service" but full scheduled work with the discount applied at the end. On the same basis I got my SL MOT'd at Sandown last week for £30.
Worth asking!

I remember those days too and then they (Mb) started saying they are no longer permitted to do that... still hasn’t stopped me still asking but makes it awkward as it used to be standard. I think they are not advertising it (like mobilo), so as to get all they can... tough times at the moment....