Rip-off Mercedes servicing

pwhite8314

OK, so I know it's a 'premium' car, so I know that the servicing is never going to be cheap - around £380 for the service that's now due. However, today when I called the local dealer they've now introduced a new scam of charging £28.50 for the use of a loan car. Of course, I also have to provide insurance and fuel.

Is this unusal, or are all the dealers doing thing? I could fill a book with rants about Merc dealers (but won't, you've heard them all before), but this latest trick seems outragious considering the price I already pay for the service (2 hrs labour plus, say £80 in materials, so that's £150 an hour...)

All the local Merc dealers are owned by Lancaster, so doubtless they're all on the same scam, but as my commute is a 200ml round-trip, I'm sure I can find another dealer (it's less than 3 years old, so I'm assuming it's not a great idea to go to a non-Franchised dealer....)

Pete

alanobrien

You can use a non franchised dealer to service the car while it is still in guarentee without effecting the warrenty provided said non franchised dealer uses genuine parts and performs the service as per the merc requirements.

As far as i know this is true with all car makes, unless someone else knows different.

pwhite8314

Thanks - I think you're right, however as I plan to sell it within the next 6-9 months, for the sake of the resale value I should probably have a full set of MB stamps in the book.

Aletank

Mercedes provide the Mobilo Warranty which helps tie you to main dealers. this warranty gives you privding your car was serviced within the last 2 years, Mercedes Breakdown cover and a 30 year rust warranty - which i have claimed on twice now !!

Check out this excellent Mercedes forum https://www.mbclub.co.uk

Moorepart

Do you know any mechanic who works for Mercedes,can service your car,then he might get service book stamped for you,works for me,and It's half the price:j

tomstickland

There's generally so little money to be made in making cars that this is how they make their profit. Mercedes have an appalling reputation for customer ripping off. You can see why though; over half their customers probably never even bother looking at the charges.

If you intend to keep the car for a long period then I'd ignore the main dealer servicing and get an independant specialist to do it.

CarolineES

Block Exemption Regulations that came into effect in October 2003 mean motorists can use any garage of their choice to service their cars without invalidating the manufacturers warranty. "Independent repairers can carry out normal maintenance and repair services during a vehicles warranty period without invalidating the Vehicle Assemblers conditions provided that; the service is in accordance with the VA's servicing schedules, is recorded as such and that the parts used are of appropriate quality and are recorded as such". Any worthy independant garage will know about this and they tend to have a "stamp". I know someone that went into business lately as an independent and next to registering as self employed that was the first thing he made sure he ordered! I have also heard some warranties (RAC for one) say you have to have your car serviced by a VAT registered mechanic this is rubbish!!
CES

JasonLVC

There's a big difference between what the blocvk exemption says and what the motor trade (and indeed, what the customer) wants.

Given a choice, a consumer would rather buy a car with a 'dealer' service history rather than anonymous stamps in the service book from "Dave's Garage Emporium" - certainly with regard premium cars where the service history can make the difference of about £1,000 or so

moonrakerz

Also if you have your serviced by an official dealer you are far more likely to get something which is a bit dubious outside of warranty done as "goodwill".

I used to work in the MB headquarters in UK (not in the motor dept !!) and to be honest, I would not buy a Merc.

There is the old story about the Rolls owner whose car broke down in Europe, he 'phoned Rolls, who sent an engineer and fixed the car. When he got home he 'phoned Rolls about paying for it, to be told that this couldn't have happened because "our cars don't break down!"
Mercedes have their own version of that when a Merc breaks down, even in warranty, you can't get them to do a thing - because "our cars.................."

Steer clear, unless you have a lot of money to spare !

HugoSP

Another Story here:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=52148

mpython

I worked with a bloke a couple of years ago who used to take his Merc to the continent to be serviced. he claimed it was far cheaper than here (though obviously you've got to add travel & fuel costs) and he got an official dealer stamp in his service record as well as stocking up on booze & cheese. Just a thought.