Servicing

rousetafarian

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So I own a Mercedes Cls that is due for a major service as its close to 50,000 miles......that in itself isn't a problem.

I am keen to understand the franchised dealerships rationale here, bearing in mind the vehicle is on an 08 plate and hence out of manufacturers warranty.

I spoke to them yesterday and was quoted the following from the Electronic Service Sheet (ESS);

Major service £339.00
Air filter replaced and fitted £128.00
Pollen Dust filter replaced and fitted £35.00
Brake fluid changed £70.00
Oil and transmission fluid change £300.00 due at 37,500 miles

All told £871.00 :eek:

I am happy to pay the first and last items but why on earth shoulda pay for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th items in a major service?

I was then offered a Service Care plan for £55.50/month over 24 months that would encompass the items above and the next 2 years servicing (I assume one minor and one major?)

I cannot help feel I am being taken for a ride especially when the used car service care pricing on their own website is £37.00/month x 24 months....

What am I letting myself in for by choosing an independent approved mechanic?

Sorry for sounding naive, but that's where we are at at the moment....

Thanks

Chris
 
Brake Fluid isn't included in any services of marques I am aware of so you have to take the hit on that.

Items 2 and 3 you would think would be part of item1???

Unless it's some form of 'inspection' where you are charged for someone to look at the underside of your car and take the wheels off?

by going to an independant you're looking at lower costs (no fancy frontage, coffe etc) and personal advice from the folks actually doing the work not a Service manager of receptionist.
 
What am I letting myself in for by choosing an independent approved mechanic?

Possibly a better standard of service but if you have a warranty you need to check that it won't be invalidated as BMW Approved Car Warranties insist on the cars being serviced at franchised dealers only
 
£339 for a major service that does not include changing the air filter I would be asking for a full breakdown of what that implies

Pollen filters are seperate and not part of a service

Brake fluid should be changed every two years so £70 is reasonable

TBH there is no way I would pay over £800 for a 4 year old car franchise or no franchise
 
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Possibly a better standard of service but if you have a warranty you need to check that it won't be invalidated as BMW Approved Car Warranties insist on the cars being serviced at franchised dealers only


Just to be clear about manufacturers warranties......

No manufacturer can insist on you having your car serviced at a franchised dealer whilst under the normal manufacturers warranty period due to the "Block Exemption Rules" which came in around 2003.This also covers the use of "genuine" parts, you are allowed to use non-genuine parts that are covered by the "Block Exemption" rules.

However, they can insist on the car being serviced at a franchised dealer if your car is in an extended warranty period.
 
Just to be clear about manufacturers warranties.

The BMW Approved Car Warranty isn't a manufacturers warranty as it's underwritten by Mondial Insurance and as such they are allowed to stipulate where a car can be serviced
 
The BMW Approved Car Warranty isn't a manufacturers warranty as it's underwritten by Mondial Insurance and as such they are allowed to stipulate where a car can be serviced

I know, hence my last sentence.
 
This is very similar to Porsche - major service is around £500 + extras like brake fluid, which take the final cost up to around £800. I take mine to an independent who charges roughly half that, and have had no complaints.

Also, Porsche extended warranties are actually insurance policies, as car-man and Wore Nowt mentioned, which stipulate that the car has to be serviced at a dealership - which was one reason I didn't buy the "warranty".
 
I would haggle. Dealers are desperate for service work at the moment and there is scope for a discount anywhere. I suspect that the labour charge out rate at a merc dealer is well north of £100/hr as they have some fancy facilities to pay for and arent exactly cornering the market. Why dont you offer them £650 and see how you get on.
 
Where abouts in the country are you Rousterarian? I would use an independent. I drive a Merc and use an independent specialist. Loads recommended on the merc forums too.

Costs are a lot less and if you plan on keep the car a while, the money you save on servicing will be more than the money you get for selling the car for a little more by having it serviced at a dealership.
 
Where abouts in the country are you Rousterarian? I would use an independent. I drive a Merc and use an independent specialist. Loads recommended on the merc forums too.

Costs are a lot less and if you plan on keep the car a while, the money you save on servicing will be more than the money you get for selling the car for a little more by having it serviced at a dealership.

Lancs....
 
As Shahedz says, get yourself on a Merc owners forum and find recommended independents in your area, there are always good ones around and prices will typically be around 50% of the cost of main dealers.

I wouldn't give my money to any garage that didn't include an air filter in a major service. Not only that but an air filter, even for a Mercedes isn't going to cost anywhere near £128 and fitting one on any car i've ever seen is a few minutes work.

One more thing I would check, just ring around a couple more Merc dealers and ask them for the cost of the same work done. On the Renaultsport forums the difference in dealer quotes for service work was outrageous, with a major cambelt service coming in at anything between £500 and £1300 - this was all from Renault main dealers :eek:
 
First quote from an independent @ £629.00 v £871.00......awaiting a 3rd quote
 
Give me £128 and I'll change your air filter !!!! Lol

£20 air filter TOPS . 5 mins work . Crazy
 
Air filter £128 :eek: you could change that your self even the pollen filter as well for that kind of money.
 
The franchised dealer prices are scandalous to be honest, I wouldn't entertain giving them that kind of money, as has been said £128 for an air filter, ridiculous. Go elsewhere and if you choose wisely I guarantee you'll get better service for much less than £800.
 
im not a mechanic and im not trying to sound big headed but yesterday i changed air filter , fuel filter and oil filter and. plus filled up with castrol oil. all of this set me back 50 quid. oil was on offer at halfords and everything else is off the shelf. i spent 2 hours doing all that which , granted is longer then a garage will spend but i know everything is done properly. i had a little tidy up under the bonnet and checked a few things. my point is even if i charging 20 an hour labour i would have spent less then a 100. garages take the pee
 
do not see that big headed at all as you save allot and really done the same as big garages, cost me £50+ to Change the oil and all filters on my car and that's gen filters only because i slapped a K&N in the last service fit and forget that one :D
 
I absolutely hate taking my car to a garage and constantly feel that they are going to rip me off. I used to work in a garage (spares dept) and my father worked for Fords for 30 years so I am well aware of just how bloody dodgy some garages are!!!
 
when main dealer labour prices approach £100 / hour its going to be expensive , i would love to know how they justify it when the poor bloke at the bottom is likely to be getting a tenth of it :mad:
 
I absolutely hate taking my car to a garage and constantly feel that they are going to rip me off. I used to work in a garage (spares dept) and my father worked for Fords for 30 years so I am well aware of just how bloody dodgy some garages are!!!

When my Mrs last took her Yaris to Toyota for a service it cost £220. As soon as the warranty ran out I started servicing it myself, it costs £20 for a genuine Toyota service kit including spark plugs, £20 for oil and 40 minutes max to do the service.
 
when main dealer labour prices approach £100 / hour its going to be expensive , i would love to know how they justify it when the poor bloke at the bottom is likely to be getting a tenth of it :mad:


Every business has overheads, but you may be surprised to learn that it might be worse than you think.

From experience, you will find that servicing is probably done by an apprentice who is paid a heck of a lot less than £10 per hour.....my son works in a main dealer for a Prestige manufacturer and at 19 his wage is still apprentice rate of £5 per hour.
 

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