Main dealer service history
Discussion
Quick question guys,
How much importance would you put on 4 year old C32 amg having had it's most recent (~27k) service at a (respected) specialist rather than a main dealer?
Now the car is at 29k miles, would it be worth taking it back to a Merc dealer for a 'repeat service' for the sake of keeping a FMBSH, or would you not consider it very important? I'd anticipate keeping the car for one to two years.
Thanks for any comments.
How much importance would you put on 4 year old C32 amg having had it's most recent (~27k) service at a (respected) specialist rather than a main dealer?
Now the car is at 29k miles, would it be worth taking it back to a Merc dealer for a 'repeat service' for the sake of keeping a FMBSH, or would you not consider it very important? I'd anticipate keeping the car for one to two years.
Thanks for any comments.
Any 4 year old car with 29K miles on the clock will have averaged only 7250 miles per year, which is 'low mileage' in most people's minds.
That would make it desirable indeed to any new owner.
As would a FMBSH. But a young-ish car which has been serviced by a 'respected' (by whom?) independent dealer? If I was buying it I would wonder what other corners had been cut by the cheapskate trying to sell it. With a vehicle of the mechanical complexity of the C32, I would consider it utterly essential to have an unbroken FMBSH.
The next owner will undoubtedly want a good after sales warranty. Preferably backed by the factory. Will that be forthcoming with a non-MB service history?
That would make it desirable indeed to any new owner.
As would a FMBSH. But a young-ish car which has been serviced by a 'respected' (by whom?) independent dealer? If I was buying it I would wonder what other corners had been cut by the cheapskate trying to sell it. With a vehicle of the mechanical complexity of the C32, I would consider it utterly essential to have an unbroken FMBSH.
The next owner will undoubtedly want a good after sales warranty. Preferably backed by the factory. Will that be forthcoming with a non-MB service history?
i own a c32 and i now get my car serviced at an independant, not because i'm a cheapskate (it is'nt that much cheaper) but because they do a better job.
i had my car serviced by the dealer till the warranty ran out and was always dissapointed by the level of service i recieved. when i would tell them about faults that were present on my car they showed little interest and seemed to have very little knowledge of the common problems that occur with this car. yet after a phone conversation with a nottingham based independant who had been recommended by a friend they seemed to have a much better knowledge and showed far more interest in trying to help me
i never cut corners where my car is concerned and as long as the "independant" servicing this car is reputable i wouldn't let it put you of.
29k miles on a 4 year old merc is pretty low but if your buying private i'd still have it checked out as there are a few common faults with these cars that can be pretty expensive to get put right.
if you want anymore advice let me know i'd be happy to help
Thanks for the comments guys.
I'm now the owner of a shiny 2002 C32 in brilliant silver (for a change!).
Re the servicing, the car has made the decision for me... The last service was on time rather than miles, and the service indicator has not been reset - it's asking for a B service (as given by the independent) in about 3000 miles time, so I'll get that done by MB - my dad just received a £50 off a B service voucher from his local dealer which I can steal!
Still perfecting the feather-light throttle technique - it's far more eager to get off the line than my dad's C240!
I'm now the owner of a shiny 2002 C32 in brilliant silver (for a change!).
Re the servicing, the car has made the decision for me... The last service was on time rather than miles, and the service indicator has not been reset - it's asking for a B service (as given by the independent) in about 3000 miles time, so I'll get that done by MB - my dad just received a £50 off a B service voucher from his local dealer which I can steal!
Still perfecting the feather-light throttle technique - it's far more eager to get off the line than my dad's C240!
The level of service received in a respected independant will be better than the dealer.
Forget the dealer, you're paying extra for marble tiles, glass walls, leather sofas, and fancy coffee machines. Use the independant.
Ian of Torque RVT works in a small garage on a trading estate, but is a million times better than the local TVR dealer.
Forget the dealer, you're paying extra for marble tiles, glass walls, leather sofas, and fancy coffee machines. Use the independant.
Ian of Torque RVT works in a small garage on a trading estate, but is a million times better than the local TVR dealer.
After the years of having servicing done by nearly every single dealer in the Yorkshire are we now go to an independent prestge specialist.
Now we have had several problems with the mercs in our family. Give you the most recent This is with my mum's car.
SLK350 in for its first service, yes all good. Tread on tyre 2.8mm
Week later clunking noise coming from rear goes to garage
comes back problem was the boot liner thing for the roof needed a new rubber stop.
Problem still there.
Goes back in 2 days later to be told it was normal and just the camber of the road, and tyre was almost out of tread so needs changing.
So in 9 days it has gone down that much, or maybe it was actually never checked, even though specifically asked for.
Problem still there and getting worse.
One last time to which they tell my mum they will look, but she should maybe call this the last attempt to see if there is a problem.
They say nothing after having the car 3 days.
So took the car to the independent garage of which they knew there was problem after driving straight away. The suspension did have a problem. Needed new bushes and also the Spring had a crack in it. Which could of caused a major accident.
So this was the last ditch attempt for Merc Service staff to prove themselves.
They invented measurement's for tyres.
AND
could't find a fault that was blatently obvious if they had drove it.
Their answer was they couldnt take it out, so instead rocked the car to check the suspension.
After all that longwinded statement I would rather have a car that has been service by a reputable company than main dealer.
Now we have had several problems with the mercs in our family. Give you the most recent This is with my mum's car.
SLK350 in for its first service, yes all good. Tread on tyre 2.8mm
Week later clunking noise coming from rear goes to garage
comes back problem was the boot liner thing for the roof needed a new rubber stop.
Problem still there.
Goes back in 2 days later to be told it was normal and just the camber of the road, and tyre was almost out of tread so needs changing.
So in 9 days it has gone down that much, or maybe it was actually never checked, even though specifically asked for.
Problem still there and getting worse.
One last time to which they tell my mum they will look, but she should maybe call this the last attempt to see if there is a problem.
They say nothing after having the car 3 days.
So took the car to the independent garage of which they knew there was problem after driving straight away. The suspension did have a problem. Needed new bushes and also the Spring had a crack in it. Which could of caused a major accident.
So this was the last ditch attempt for Merc Service staff to prove themselves.
They invented measurement's for tyres.
AND
could't find a fault that was blatently obvious if they had drove it.
Their answer was they couldnt take it out, so instead rocked the car to check the suspension.
After all that longwinded statement I would rather have a car that has been service by a reputable company than main dealer.
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