Mercedes "Service Care" - is it a good idea ?
Discussion
Hi,
I am getting a new E-class estate car on Friday, and the dealer has offered me "Service Care", so I would pay £33.50 per month for 48 months (total of £1608) and this would cover all costs of the first 4 services on the car. Does anyone have any views or experience about whether this is a good deal or not ? Thank you very much.
Regards
I am getting a new E-class estate car on Friday, and the dealer has offered me "Service Care", so I would pay £33.50 per month for 48 months (total of £1608) and this would cover all costs of the first 4 services on the car. Does anyone have any views or experience about whether this is a good deal or not ? Thank you very much.
Regards
I was queuing at a bar, chatting to a friend about my forthcoming collection of a brand new C class and whether I should take the service pack or not. A couple of guys in front turn round and said they worked for Mercedes in the service department. Their advice was to definitely take it, not such much for the A service but the 'B' service. They said the costs can really escalate on the B service and the service pack covers pretty much everything. Nice guys who did not have anything to gain from their advice.
On the 4 year service pack you get two 'A' services and 2 'B' services. I took the service pack for 4 years on my petrol C class at £23.75 a month. At least you know there will be no surprises for 4 years for a fixed cost.
On the 4 year service pack you get two 'A' services and 2 'B' services. I took the service pack for 4 years on my petrol C class at £23.75 a month. At least you know there will be no surprises for 4 years for a fixed cost.
Depends how long you plan to keep the car. There seems to be a peculiar perception that a car serviced at a main dealer is worth more than one serviced by a good independent, as time goes by and the miles increase it seems to become less important. With that proviso I would suggest you decline the offer and use a good independent instead. Ideally one where you being a happy customer has a direct benefit to the person working on your car. Every time I use a main dealer service department I feel truly ripped off and disappointed with whatever they have done, they seem to be entirely focused on maximising profit rather than having a happy customer. A good independent will understand that keeping you happy at a reasonable cost will retain you long term. After a few years you will have a much better looked after car and will have saved a shed load of money.
Thank you for the opinions - I intend to keep the car for at least 3 (and probably 4) years - I have had company cars for the last 10 years or so, and this is the first one I have bought for quite a while. I decided to go for the "4-services" plan. I collected the car this morning, and so far, so good !
Thanks again
Regards
Thanks again
Regards
Remember, that outside of manufacturer's warranty period if your car encounters a problem, you're much more likely to get some goodwill\help towards costs from your main dealer if its been serviced by them it's entire life, not a chance if you've left the dealer network.
Just ask anyone who owned a late 90's E-Class that needed bodywork repaired due to rust!
Just ask anyone who owned a late 90's E-Class that needed bodywork repaired due to rust!
steve-V8s said:
Depends how long you plan to keep the car. There seems to be a peculiar perception that a car serviced at a main dealer is worth more than one serviced by a good independent, as time goes by and the miles increase it seems to become less important. With that proviso I would suggest you decline the offer and use a good independent instead.
I, on the other hand disagree somewhat. I've yet to have anything like decent or reasonable service from an independent, whereas I have been nothing more than delighted with the treatment I have had from MB (Stratstones in Leeds (not to mention the main MB dealer in Caen when I had an unfortunate incident in Normandy - not many garages will get staff in on a Sunday) .I am also somewhat sceptical of claims that they're cheaper - very often people go direct to an indie assuming that they're cheaper. Not always true - and MB will always price match IME. (Example - even without haggling MB have done complete gearbox oil and filter changes cheaper than I could find at indies).
Nothing against indies - I just felt the need to redress the balance. (And I bet my car is worth more with it's stack of MB paperwork).
Hi,
The Mercedes service plan NOT necessary a good idea, I have taken out 4 years services plan, 48 payments for 4 services over 4 years for my C220. Just like everyone think this can take care of the services for next 4 years.
But I sold my C220 after 3 years after I make 38 payments, Mercedes NOT refund me the 2 month extra payments BUT to demand further 2 more payments. They said the account was classed as having broken even in terms of income and expenditures, so they sending me letters and emails demand for more money after I sold my car, I still in arguing with them at the moment.
Be careful the trap, you may lose, tied up by Mercedes for 4 years and gain nothing.
The Mercedes service plan NOT necessary a good idea, I have taken out 4 years services plan, 48 payments for 4 services over 4 years for my C220. Just like everyone think this can take care of the services for next 4 years.
But I sold my C220 after 3 years after I make 38 payments, Mercedes NOT refund me the 2 month extra payments BUT to demand further 2 more payments. They said the account was classed as having broken even in terms of income and expenditures, so they sending me letters and emails demand for more money after I sold my car, I still in arguing with them at the moment.
Be careful the trap, you may lose, tied up by Mercedes for 4 years and gain nothing.
I have the 2 year plan on my C220 CDI. For servicing they are fine. However, my car was taking ages to warm up so I diagnosed a thermostat problem. When I took it for the last service I mentioned the thermostat and that it needed to be replaced. When the service was done and I got the bill for the service it had almost £70 on it rather than £0. I asked what that was for and they said it was to investigate the thermostat and that it needs to be replaced. I TOLD THEM THAT!!! I wasn't happy so refused to pay it.
They then said that replacing the thermostat would be around £350. That's £75 for the part and the rest was coolant and labour. There is a decent Indy near work so I asked them for a price. £208. The thermostat through them was around £50 - a genuine Merc item bought from the main dealer that quoted me £75 for the part!!!
So what I am doing now is seeing out the service plan but getting any extra work done by the Indy.
They then said that replacing the thermostat would be around £350. That's £75 for the part and the rest was coolant and labour. There is a decent Indy near work so I asked them for a price. £208. The thermostat through them was around £50 - a genuine Merc item bought from the main dealer that quoted me £75 for the part!!!
So what I am doing now is seeing out the service plan but getting any extra work done by the Indy.
I've just had a B5 service done on my 2012 E250 by an independant (who is a friend of mine). £730 was a bit of a shock, but having said that, I had transmission fluid change and brake pads all round, so if the Merc service plan includes stuff like that, it may not be as expensive as everyone thinks.
Thankfully, 'A' service in 12 months so not expecting any pain for an oil and filter change.
Only problem I have is that my friend was unable to reset the ASSYST PLUS warning, and the procedure on the internet doesn't work either. So, I either have to live with it, or pay my merc Dealer £40 for the privilege of resetting it. But when the 'A'service is due next Feb, I'll have the same problem!!!
Decisions, decisions......
Thankfully, 'A' service in 12 months so not expecting any pain for an oil and filter change.
Only problem I have is that my friend was unable to reset the ASSYST PLUS warning, and the procedure on the internet doesn't work either. So, I either have to live with it, or pay my merc Dealer £40 for the privilege of resetting it. But when the 'A'service is due next Feb, I'll have the same problem!!!
Decisions, decisions......
Sandgrounder said:
I've just had a B5 service done on my 2012 E250 by an independant (who is a friend of mine). £730 was a bit of a shock, but having said that, I had transmission fluid change and brake pads all round, so if the Merc service plan includes stuff like that, it may not be as expensive as everyone thinks.
It doesn't include the brake work. Did they really just change the pads? That seems unheard of these days.
My partner took out a 3 year service plan when she purchased a s/h ML350 last year, It's only £35 a month lol turned out to be £43 with the not mentioned vat
For convenience when the electric tailgate played about we took it to our local main dealer,First words uttered to us "You did not purchase from us"
Which set the tone for what was to be awful experience with them.
Had the car all day but came back still with the same fault
A year later it was due a A3 service she decided to give them another chance.
When she popped in to book it in "We don't do A3 service anymore , It needs a Major B service and we will need it all day!
Got it there at 9 15 and asked if we could pick it up at 3 pm to avoid the rush hour traffic.
3pm and no call so we phoned to be told that they had been busy and they had not started it yet
We got a call to say it was done , Time 5 20 pm, Also we could pick it up by 6
We drove thru a snow storm night traffic and got there 6 05 to be told the workshop was closed and a salesman gave us the key and paperwork
Next morning looking at the paperwork it was not a priced proper Mercedes document just a resume saying a B service had been done plus extra work which did not need doing due to the mileage be low
Both air filter s ,Fuel filter and change the brake fluid.
As the car had only been in the workshop for just over a hour this raised alarm bells and on inspection the black oil fitter cover was still covered in dust and not disturbed and the Engine oil very contaminated despite only driven 20 miles
As it happened the workshop advisor phoned up at that moment to see everything was ok, My partner told him about our concerns and he told her he would look into it.
He phoned back back in the afternoon to say that the oil and filter had definitely been changed, The trouble for him was untill I retired a spent my whole life in the motor trade and many hours at Milton Keynes training center.
I asked him if could come a buy one of his special tools that enable you to change the oil filter without disturbing the screw cover!
He blustered away to say it had been done and that was it!
As I have a ML myself I keep spare filters handy and have the proper Mercedes cover socket I decided to look at the filter, Having taken pics first I took the filter element out and it was heavily contaminated with black sludge which was photoed.
My partner took the photos in to show the service manager the next day and to get a proper itemised bill.
He said he would speak to the mechanic and get back to us
The bill came to £633 with the added work which we did not ask to be done.
He phoned back to say that the oil and filter had been changed and that was that.
My partner then phoned Mercedes to complain and cancel the agreement and pay the balance to clear the bill.
Needless to say we will not being visiting a Main dealer again and a reliable Mercedes specialist can look after the car
For convenience when the electric tailgate played about we took it to our local main dealer,First words uttered to us "You did not purchase from us"
Which set the tone for what was to be awful experience with them.
Had the car all day but came back still with the same fault
A year later it was due a A3 service she decided to give them another chance.
When she popped in to book it in "We don't do A3 service anymore , It needs a Major B service and we will need it all day!
Got it there at 9 15 and asked if we could pick it up at 3 pm to avoid the rush hour traffic.
3pm and no call so we phoned to be told that they had been busy and they had not started it yet
We got a call to say it was done , Time 5 20 pm, Also we could pick it up by 6
We drove thru a snow storm night traffic and got there 6 05 to be told the workshop was closed and a salesman gave us the key and paperwork
Next morning looking at the paperwork it was not a priced proper Mercedes document just a resume saying a B service had been done plus extra work which did not need doing due to the mileage be low
Both air filter s ,Fuel filter and change the brake fluid.
As the car had only been in the workshop for just over a hour this raised alarm bells and on inspection the black oil fitter cover was still covered in dust and not disturbed and the Engine oil very contaminated despite only driven 20 miles
As it happened the workshop advisor phoned up at that moment to see everything was ok, My partner told him about our concerns and he told her he would look into it.
He phoned back back in the afternoon to say that the oil and filter had definitely been changed, The trouble for him was untill I retired a spent my whole life in the motor trade and many hours at Milton Keynes training center.
I asked him if could come a buy one of his special tools that enable you to change the oil filter without disturbing the screw cover!
He blustered away to say it had been done and that was it!
As I have a ML myself I keep spare filters handy and have the proper Mercedes cover socket I decided to look at the filter, Having taken pics first I took the filter element out and it was heavily contaminated with black sludge which was photoed.
My partner took the photos in to show the service manager the next day and to get a proper itemised bill.
He said he would speak to the mechanic and get back to us
The bill came to £633 with the added work which we did not ask to be done.
He phoned back to say that the oil and filter had been changed and that was that.
My partner then phoned Mercedes to complain and cancel the agreement and pay the balance to clear the bill.
Needless to say we will not being visiting a Main dealer again and a reliable Mercedes specialist can look after the car
Overall I'd say the service plan is a good bet. MB Dealers are variable in their customer service so shop around to find a good one. One thing that's not obvious when you take out a plan is that having been serviced by MB you get a years Mondial roadside assist to go with it. Saved me a fortune in transporter fees when one of the cam position sensors failed.
Dunit said:
Next morning looking at the paperwork it was not a priced proper Mercedes document just a resume saying a B service had been done plus extra work which did not need doing due to the mileage be low
Both air filter s ,Fuel filter and change the brake fluid.
.....
The bill came to £633 with the added work which we did not ask to be done.
Mercedes us an ESS - Electronic Service Sheet - system which anyone can access - http://lite.servicemercedes.co.uk/pc/pc_start.asp - to determine the work needed. Most things are mileage/time based - whichever comes first, so low mileage doesn't matter. Brake fluid is done every 2yrs and air and fuel filters every 4 years.Both air filter s ,Fuel filter and change the brake fluid.
.....
The bill came to £633 with the added work which we did not ask to be done.
They won't have done work not called for in the ESS as ServiceCare won't pay for it. It's much more likely they didn't actually do stuff they invoiced ServiceCare for.
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