E-Class, used:what immediate servicing/checks to be done?

[MGGMGM]

Car novice, but love cars...bought 2012 E Class Convertible (250) with servicing upto 2016 and 120,000 on the clock.

Dealer has undertaken large number of pre-sale checks and new MOT but unsure if I still need to get a new (major) service or wait for X months?

Also, see costs below. Seem ok and could some not be done a Kwik Fit (i.e. filter change and fluid changes)?

Indepent Merc garage:
£250+vat gearbox service
£245+vat B service
£195+vat fuel and air filters

Merc Main Dealer:

Automatic transmission oil and filter change - £373.07
Fuel filter change - £92.10
Air filter change – £86.40
Brake fluid change - £105.54
Dust filter change - £90

[Muzzer79]

MGGMGM said:

Bought 2012 E Class Convertible (250) with servicing upto 2016 and 120,000 on the clock.

So it hasn't been serviced since 2016?

If so, and you've committed to buying it, get it in for a major service immediately.

The car will tell you on the dash when the services are due.

Don't use Kwik-fit. Use a Mercedes independent if you don't want to use a dealer.

[MGGMGM]

Will do re major service.

Can kwikfit do filters and fluid change or still suggest Merc garage?

Thanks for prompt and pragmatic reply.

[Muzzer79]

MGGMGM said:

Will do re major service.

Can kwikfit do filters and fluid change or still suggest Merc garage?

Thanks for prompt and pragmatic reply.

At this mileage and with the blatant lack of maintenance in the last 5 years; get it into a good Mercedes specialist, cross your fingers and clench your buttocks......

[TarquinMX5]

Be careful re gearbox fluid change: at that age it probably has the 7g+ gearbox which uses different fluid to the 7g box, not many non-Mb garage/specialists would necessarily know that unless they order genuine MB fluid using the VIN. Also, has to be done at a specific temperature to ensure correct level, if it was me I'd only have an MB dealer or specialist do the transmission fluid. Should be changed every 5 years/77,500 miles, whichever comes first. Fuel filter every 4 years, with air filter; pollen filter and brake fluid every 2-years.

If it has pan roof, lubricate every 3-years.

At that age, a decent MB specialist would be a good compromise.

[MGGMGM]

Thanks all. Good notes.

It was sold to me by a main dealer (VW not Merc) and it had huge amount of pre-sale checks (i.e. fluid levels, tyes etc). Surely there cany be much wrong with, given it also had a MOT.


Or am I being naive....

[exelero]

MGGMGM said:

Thanks all. Good notes.

It was sold to me by a main dealer (VW not Merc) and it had huge amount of pre-sale checks (i.e. fluid levels, tyes etc). Surely there cany be much wrong with, given it also had a MOT.


Or am I being naive....

Maybe a little naive. Did it come with some sort of warranty ?
I’d be surprised if they didn’t service it before sale to be fair

[MGGMGM]

3 month warranty from Inchape., with an upgrade to 12 months for £400. They said its in excellent shape and the sales manager was considering buying it for his wife.

[Muzzer79]

MGGMGM said:

Thanks all. Good notes.

It was sold to me by a main dealer (VW not Merc) and it had huge amount of pre-sale checks (i.e. fluid levels, tyes etc). Surely there cany be much wrong with, given it also had a MOT.


Or am I being naive....

An MOT confirms that the car is legal to drive. It is not necessarily a barometer of condition.

Take it to a specialist. Given the lack of maintenance, he will no doubt give you a big, scary list of things that should be done.

You then need to filter out what has to be done, what is good to be done, what can be done later and what you can leave.

Be honest with your specialist in this respect - if you're on a budget, say so. If they're good, they should help you.

If you take it to Kwik Fit, they'll give you the list and advise you not to drive it until everything they suggest is done......

[halo34]

MGGMGM said:

3 month warranty from Inchape., with an upgrade to 12 months for £400. They said its in excellent shape and the sales manager was considering buying it for his wife.

Cracking line I have heard before - its a friend of the family or if it wasn't going today the wife would have it (sorry to say)

[Chubbyross]

Muzzer79 said:

MGGMGM said:

Will do re major service.

Can kwikfit do filters and fluid change or still suggest Merc garage?

Thanks for prompt and pragmatic reply.

At this mileage and with the blatant lack of maintenance in the last 5 years; get it into a good Mercedes specialist, cross your fingers and clench your buttocks......

This! Good luck.

[MGGMGM]

Thanks both.

Looks like I'd be pretty daft, and expose myself to duff car with big repair costs.

Wished I'd looked at this board before buying.

Of course the wife will now kill me....

[TarquinMX5]

Do you know that it hasn t been serviced since 2016 or is that an assumption? I'd be surprised if if hasn't been serviced at all, just as likely no records - if it was obviously a really shoddy example I doubt that a franchised dealer would retail it.

Presumably you're aware that MB servicing records are only held on computer, no service books etc.. A lot of dealers selling second hand cars are simply throwing service receipts etc away nowadays due to misinterpretation of GDPR because they can't be bothered to redact previous owners' personal details, so if MB or an indy linked to their database, hasn't serviced it there's no record other than if the owner kept the receipts (or if co. car serviced in their own garage).

Air filter and pollen filter fairly straightforward to do yourself if you're minded to do so. Fuel filter can be a little bit trickier (fittings use Clic R pliers) but would recommend you have it changed if it hasn't been done for 4 years. Any reputable garage could do the main service items but as said earlier, be wary re atf change.

[MGGMGM]

Ok...car delivered and some of your guys were right!!

So, despite Inchcape saying A1 and no issues:

1. huge rip/tear in the air deflector
2. Its telling me that an A Service is needed yet a B service was (apparently) done by them yesterday before delivery today
3. A front right malfunction airbag (I think) light has come on.

Everything else is kinda ok but the above issues are concerns. That said, I've bought it now and I guess I have no recourse.

[A Winner Is You]

MGGMGM said:

Ok...car delivered and some of your guys were right!!

So, despite Inchcape saying A1 and no issues:

1. huge rip/tear in the air deflector
2. Its telling me that an A Service is needed yet a B service was (apparently) done by them yesterday before delivery today
3. A front right malfunction airbag (I think) light has come on.

Everything else is kinda ok but the above issues are concerns. That said, I've bought it now and I guess I have no recourse.

If the airbag light has come on within 24 hours I'd be contacting the dealer as you likely would have some recourse.

[The spinner of plates]

Get it into a specialist ASAP for a once over.

They charge more per hour than quickfit, but have better knowledge of what to check and how to fix.

Price vs Value etc

[TarquinMX5]

Are you sure it's an airbag (SRS) light? The handbook will tell you what it is.

If not aware, in Merc speak, an A-service is oil&filter plus numerous checks.

A B-service is as above plus pollen filter.

Then additional tasks are added to the service on a time basis:
Every 2 years, brake fluid change
Every 3 years, pan roof lubricated
Every 4 years (or 62,000 miles), air filter, fuel filter (diesel), plugs (petrol)
Every 5 years (or77,500 miles), for yours, auto transmission fluid change
Every 15 years(I think) coolant

So, what did they actually do as a B service?

They obviously didn't reset the service indicator - you can do it yourself via the sub menus, search on internet. However, they should sort it, you shouldn't have to.

No recourse? Of course you do have, it's not acceptable to have dash warning lights on when delivered, they should sort it out.

[TarquinMX5]

TarquinMX5 said:

Are you sure it's an airbag (SRS) light? The handbook will tell you what it is.

If not aware, in Merc speak, an A-service is oil&filter plus numerous checks.

A B-service is as above plus pollen filter.

Then additional tasks are added to the service on a time basis:
Every 2 years, brake fluid change
Every 3 years, pan roof lubricated
Every 4 years (or 62,000 miles), air filter, fuel filter (diesel), plugs (petrol)
Every 5 years (or77,500 miles), for yours, auto transmission fluid change
Every 15 years(I think) coolant

So, what did they actually do as a B service?

They obviously didn't reset the service indicator - you can do it yourself via the sub menus, search on internet. However, they should sort it, you shouldn't have to.

No recourse? Of course you do have, it's not acceptable to have dash warning lights on when delivered, they should sort it out.

Eta, don't rely on the car (ie service indicator) to tell you what's needed, it's only as accurate as the person/people who updated it previously

[Muzzer79]

MGGMGM said:

Ok...car delivered and some of your guys were right!!

So, despite Inchcape saying A1 and no issues:

1. huge rip/tear in the air deflector
2. Its telling me that an A Service is needed yet a B service was (apparently) done by them yesterday before delivery today
3. A front right malfunction airbag (I think) light has come on.

Everything else is kinda ok but the above issues are concerns. That said, I've bought it now and I guess I have no recourse.

Of course you have recourse - that's why you've bought from a dealer and not privately.

Contact the dealer and ask what action they are going to take.

[Scrump]

Plenty of good advice above.
Don’t use kwik fit, use a merc specialist (not main dealer).
get it serviced/ looked at, don’t rely on what the selling dealer has done for a pre sale check, that will just be checking fluid levels.
If the selling dealer did service it then at least get them to reset the light and ask what they actually did.
The other faults should be sorted by the selling dealer.