Merc Service Costs... WTF?!
Discussion
I dont mind paying for a car to be maintained and serviced properly, but as I do my final bits of research before buying an S-class, I'm somewhat miffed...
B (aka 2?) Service for a 2006 320 CDI, a Merc garage up north quoted me £419 inc parts, vat, etc etc.
My local Merc garage in Berkshire (G******ks)... £965 + vat!
Am I missing something here??
Which Merc garages are recommended (anywhere south-ish will do)??
B (aka 2?) Service for a 2006 320 CDI, a Merc garage up north quoted me £419 inc parts, vat, etc etc.
My local Merc garage in Berkshire (G******ks)... £965 + vat!
Am I missing something here??
Which Merc garages are recommended (anywhere south-ish will do)??
The gfs family are from Leeds and have several Mercs - they took them to Hull as it saved hundreds each service.
Had a similar issue with my 16 spark plugs - quotes from 240 to 690 - both from MB dealers.
However you've seen evidence of the north-south thing. I used to live and work down south I can confirm that it exists in just about everything you do to some extent or other - houses, beer, builders labour, garage labour etc etc. I reckon it costs about half as much to live up here.
Had a similar issue with my 16 spark plugs - quotes from 240 to 690 - both from MB dealers.
However you've seen evidence of the north-south thing. I used to live and work down south I can confirm that it exists in just about everything you do to some extent or other - houses, beer, builders labour, garage labour etc etc. I reckon it costs about half as much to live up here.
Dog Star said:
The gfs family are from Leeds and have several Mercs - they took them to Hull as it saved hundreds each service.
Had a similar issue with my 16 spark plugs - quotes from 240 to 690 - both from MB dealers.
However you've seen evidence of the north-south thing. I used to live and work down south I can confirm that it exists in just about everything you do to some extent or other - houses, beer, builders labour, garage labour etc etc. I reckon it costs about half as much to live up here.
It does.Had a similar issue with my 16 spark plugs - quotes from 240 to 690 - both from MB dealers.
However you've seen evidence of the north-south thing. I used to live and work down south I can confirm that it exists in just about everything you do to some extent or other - houses, beer, builders labour, garage labour etc etc. I reckon it costs about half as much to live up here.
I went on a training day, me from down here in Surrey.. The chap I was paired with from up north.. There was about £40 difference in labour costs.
It can always pay to shop around - but never fail to be surprised - either way.
Just had a two week trip around Scotland tasting a few drams - 2,750 miles placed a bit of a strain on the exhaust, which started to blow. It would have probably still made it home.
However, after looking at a) bodge to get it home and get my specialist to sort it b) call at one of the fast fits c) go to the main dealer in Inverness - the best and cheapest option was the main dealer.
For £250 I had the rear section replaced on my S124. And this was the original 16yo metal so owed the car nothing. This was only a few pounds cheaper than the next best, but its an original part, the coffee biscuits and papers filled the time, as did the showroom of toys, and they would have cleaned the car if I had allowed them an extra half hour. They even allowed three big dogs to woof around the showroom.
Excellent in my opinion - and it was one of four older (80's/early 90's) cars in the workshop that morning. Anyone want to join the argument and argue in favour of Kwik Fit ?
Just had a two week trip around Scotland tasting a few drams - 2,750 miles placed a bit of a strain on the exhaust, which started to blow. It would have probably still made it home.
However, after looking at a) bodge to get it home and get my specialist to sort it b) call at one of the fast fits c) go to the main dealer in Inverness - the best and cheapest option was the main dealer.
For £250 I had the rear section replaced on my S124. And this was the original 16yo metal so owed the car nothing. This was only a few pounds cheaper than the next best, but its an original part, the coffee biscuits and papers filled the time, as did the showroom of toys, and they would have cleaned the car if I had allowed them an extra half hour. They even allowed three big dogs to woof around the showroom.
Excellent in my opinion - and it was one of four older (80's/early 90's) cars in the workshop that morning. Anyone want to join the argument and argue in favour of Kwik Fit ?
Don't know if you are after MB dealers or indies.
If indies around Berkshire, I can personally recommend Star Motor Services in Caversham (they do the servicing on my SLK and did on my E320 Coupe before I sold it). Also heard good things about John Griffiths, also in Caversham.
Many people on the MB forums take their Mercs to PCS in Waterlooville in Hampshire.
If indies around Berkshire, I can personally recommend Star Motor Services in Caversham (they do the servicing on my SLK and did on my E320 Coupe before I sold it). Also heard good things about John Griffiths, also in Caversham.
Many people on the MB forums take their Mercs to PCS in Waterlooville in Hampshire.
Dav_s said:
I dont mind paying for a car to be maintained and serviced properly, but as I do my final bits of research before buying an S-class, I'm somewhat miffed...
B (aka 2?) Service for a 2006 320 CDI, a Merc garage up north quoted me £419 inc parts, vat, etc etc.
My local Merc garage in Berkshire (G******ks)... £965 + vat!
Am I missing something here??
You may well find the Northern dealer quoted the basic service price - a Merc B Service is an oil & filter change, pollen filter and a lot of checks. Many dealers outside London will do a B service on most models for £299. With an S Class they probably assume you would expect to, and be capable of, paying a bit more.B (aka 2?) Service for a 2006 320 CDI, a Merc garage up north quoted me £419 inc parts, vat, etc etc.
My local Merc garage in Berkshire (G******ks)... £965 + vat!
Am I missing something here??
Have a look here: http://lite.servicemercedes.co.uk/pc/pc_start.asp and figure out the exact work required. What really hacks people off is being quoted £2-400 depending on whether it's an A or B service and then getting a call from the dealer with a bunch of other stuff that needs doing. And many dealers now won't stamp the service book unless the additional work is done.
The Southern dealer has probably included all the additional stuff - at 4 years the car probably needs brake fluid and ATF change, fuel filter and air filter. Plus maybe other stuff.
It's not as bad as it sounds, as the bigger jobs are done less frequently than on many other models, it's just that people look at the initial quote and then are dismayed to get a final bill twice the size. If the dealers were more honest in the first place many of them probably wouldn't get much work!
Edited by Deva Link on Sunday 23 May 19:53
I phoned round a few Merc garages in this area for my recent 'A' service on my CLK. At £240 the local one was a little more expensive than others but there wasn't enough in it to make it worth going elsewhere (time, fuel etc).
When I got the bill it was £360, a 50% increase. I had made a note of who I spoke to when I booked the service, they immediately went back to the original quoted price.
When I got the bill it was £360, a 50% increase. I had made a note of who I spoke to when I booked the service, they immediately went back to the original quoted price.
soxboy said:
I phoned round a few Merc garages in this area for my recent 'A' service on my CLK. At £240 the local one was a little more expensive than others but there wasn't enough in it to make it worth going elsewhere (time, fuel etc).
When I got the bill it was £360, a 50% increase. I had made a note of who I spoke to when I booked the service, they immediately went back to the original quoted price.
That's common on many marques - some people say you should make sure they agree the price when you book it in but I've always taken the view that I'd rather argue about it later in case they do a lower standard job. Had this on a Mitsubishi and they said "oh, but we've used the expensive oil". Oh good!When I got the bill it was £360, a 50% increase. I had made a note of who I spoke to when I booked the service, they immediately went back to the original quoted price.
Most dealers will do an A service for £199 (a bit less on older cars) - have a look at the dealers' website and they often have a menu of prices. I know Inchcape and Sytner owned dealers do and you can always use those as a lever. Since the introduction of fixed interval servicing MB has lent on the dealers to drop the service prices. B service used to be £450 but is now £299 *if* you ask for the lower price.
We used to routinely change wipers on a B service too, have a good look at them before you the car in and tell them if they're OK.
Top your washer fluid up too and save a fiver.
Serious top tip though, leave your locking wheel nut somewhere obvious, like on the passenger seat. The chaps in the garage don't take kindly to sifting through 40 odd locking wheel nuts to find the right one.
Top your washer fluid up too and save a fiver.
Serious top tip though, leave your locking wheel nut somewhere obvious, like on the passenger seat. The chaps in the garage don't take kindly to sifting through 40 odd locking wheel nuts to find the right one.
This gives a pretty good breakdown of what is needed for each service and every 2, 3 and 4 years on top of that.
http://rsi-cda.mercedes-benz.com/content/unitedkin...
http://rsi-cda.mercedes-benz.com/content/unitedkin...
Edited by gizlaroc on Wednesday 26th May 15:32
Dav_s said:
Did some calling round today and Heathrow Mercedes just gave me a price of £499 for an S-class B service.
So about half what Greenoaks Slough qouted me.
Funny lot these main stealers, sorry slip of the tongue, dealers.
Did you read through the above posts? If that B Service is literally just the B Service, then you're in for a bit a shock.So about half what Greenoaks Slough qouted me.
Funny lot these main stealers, sorry slip of the tongue, dealers.
Bit late to the thread- apologies. I used the heatheow Merc guys on three occasions for my 07 cls. Really good ppl. Gav had a extremely poor experience from one in west London of a major a road. But heatheow Merc are a friendly bunch and been good. A bit pricey but that's the dealerships for you
HTH
HTH
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