Service plans - mercedes

Dakota_Deville

Hello
I'm thinking of buying a bigger car to use for personal and business use as I'm a DiY handyman.

Service palns for the GLS - is it worth it or should I buy a stand alone service. I'm aware the stand alone prices will add additonal items on top of the service costs. Car I'm looking at is 4 yrs old with 90k on the clock., one ownner, private sale. Thanks

vansboy

If it's got full MB service history, you are looking at continuing and they offer plan which will actually carry out ALL that needs to be done over the next agreed number of years/miles, then just compare it with actual quoted individual service costs.

Often the plan will say it covers checks and renewals 'as required'. You need to state clearly, you REQUIRE things done, not just checked and inspected.

At that mileage, there could well be plenty of items due for renewal, which will be considered 'were n tear' and excluded from the schedule.

VB

Dakota_Deville

Thank you.

Chrishazle

Also be aware that MB servicing covers basics on 12 month / 15500 mile interval, but certain items are 2 or 4 yearly (brake fluid change, fuel filter change, air filter change) and are not included in the basic A or B service price. At 90k miles, if it has not already been done, an ATF fluid and filter change would be advisable as well.

I'm on 2 MB forums (own a C class estate), and general advice for cars over a certain age is use a local independant MB specialist - especially as you're looking at private purchase so no MB USed approved 12 month tier 1 warranty. suggest you register on MBOA (http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/) and/or MBClub (http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/) and ask for advice on there, some of the members/sponsors on both are respected MB indies!

FYI I bought my car from our local MB main agent with 1 year full warranty so had it serviced there 11 1/2 months later - and it has not been back since. About a month ago I had a full 4 year B3 service done by a local indie for less than £300, MB's website gave a price of over £500.

Strider590

When I had building work done some years back, I first got some local quotes, the guy that rocked up in a 2008 BMW 5 Series Coupe, he'd lost the job before he even walked through my front door. Now perhaps I was unfair, but you hear about cowboy tradesmen all the time, you see them on BBC watchdog and one thing they all have in common is a flashy car.

Car_54

Strider590 wrote: »

When I had building work done some years back, I first got some local quotes, the guy that rocked up in a 2008 BMW 5 Series Coupe, he'd lost the job before he even walked through my front door. Now perhaps I was unfair, but you hear about cowboy tradesmen all the time, you see them on BBC watchdog and one thing they all have in common is a flashy car.

I'll bet he also had a striped jersey and a bag marked 'swag'.

IanMSpencer

Beware that a service plan is just that, it covers service costs only, not the costs of repairs. So if you have a shock absorber fail due to wear and tear that will not be covered. I had a complaint upheld as their original advertising didn't make it clear what was and want covered.

Merc do fixed price servicing so it is basically a payment plan to spread the cost rather than a cost saving. Some do discount the fixed costs for older Mercs. Last 4 year old service cost for me would have been £750 and it didn't cover a refresh of auto oil because apparently the blue efficiency is on a different pattern.

My take is that it is only a mechanism to lock you into the dealer, not a great cost saving.

force_ten

Strider590 wrote: »

When I had building work done some years back, I first got some local quotes, the guy that rocked up in a 2008 BMW 5 Series Coupe, he'd lost the job before he even walked through my front door. Now perhaps I was being a knob as usual, but you hear about cowboy tradesmen all the time, you see them on BBC watchdog and one thing they all have in common is a flashy car.

corrected that one for you

it seems you have a dislike for anything with a bmw badge on it, if you went to the doctors and it turns out he drives a bmw would you refuse treatment on the strength of the car he drives

arcon5

Doctors don't drive BMWs, they are not that poor.

Mercdriver

My car is an approved used Mercedes, and the service plan is used like a bank account. You pay a certain amount in and costs are taken from that. There isn't a form of discount on it, so I didn't take it out.

Do note that if you lock your keys in the boot with a Merc, neither the AA/RAC/Green Flag will be able to get it out. I've only done it the once, and the fact that my servicing is done with the main dealer meant I keep Mercedes recovery for life as long as I continue to keep my servicing with them meant that they would either same day courier the keys to me or send an engineer with diagnostic pack.

The latter is what happened with me. Engineer jacked the car up plugged the computer into the car and instructed the doors to open.

Richard53

My old (1992) Merc came to me with a full M-B service history, and I went to the local M-B dealership to see how much it would cost to get it serviced there and keep the stamps continuous. They do a cut-price servicing deal for older cars, although the details aren't clear on the website.


Well, said the lady, we can do you a basic service for (round figures) £250, or a full service for £350. I asked what the extra £100 brought me. Well, said the lady again, on the full service they are really thorough - they actually take the wheels off and check the brakes.


!