C55 AMG Running costs/AMG Specialist Essex
Discussion
This seems like one of those questions that deserve the 'If you have to ask, you can't afford it' retort. However, I'm trying to make the fairly rational decision for my next car. I test drove a C55 AMG yesterday and loved the idea of it - Supersaloons are the epitome of cool to me. Like hot hatches on coke...
However, I cannot find any good information on the service costs for one and it's scaring me in pulling the trigger on an unknown quantity. The car in question needs a Service B in the next 5000 miles and I can only find the MB Main D(st)ealer numbers, which are a bit eye watering at £~900+. That's even worse than the Z4M I had for the last 2 years. So, the questions are:
1) What is the typically service schedule of a C55 AMG? Does it go Service A, Service B, Service A, Service B?
2) AMG specialists - how much would they typically charge for non-supplied parts for these services?
3) Any in Essex/South-East?
My Google-skills have let me down this time.
However, I cannot find any good information on the service costs for one and it's scaring me in pulling the trigger on an unknown quantity. The car in question needs a Service B in the next 5000 miles and I can only find the MB Main D(st)ealer numbers, which are a bit eye watering at £~900+. That's even worse than the Z4M I had for the last 2 years. So, the questions are:
1) What is the typically service schedule of a C55 AMG? Does it go Service A, Service B, Service A, Service B?
2) AMG specialists - how much would they typically charge for non-supplied parts for these services?
3) Any in Essex/South-East?
My Google-skills have let me down this time.
What age is the car and what is the mileage?
as it has the same engine ( and I am guessing transmission I guess ) as my SLK 55 i would say
approx £250-350 A service
£650-750 B service
Mine needs the transmission fluid changing at 40k so this needs to be done over the next 3 months - I was quoted last year 400£!
Overall it's not too expensive considering the performance- the biggest cost is fuel!
Re: Gouki's post- i also have an SLK 32 used by the missus- initially i had it serviced at the main dealer for the first six years i owned it but now it goes to an independent - for a 6k car i am no longer willing to pay main dealer rates
The biggest issue is the cost of parts as they get older ( especially brakes and discs)
as it has the same engine ( and I am guessing transmission I guess ) as my SLK 55 i would say
approx £250-350 A service
£650-750 B service
Mine needs the transmission fluid changing at 40k so this needs to be done over the next 3 months - I was quoted last year 400£!
Overall it's not too expensive considering the performance- the biggest cost is fuel!
Re: Gouki's post- i also have an SLK 32 used by the missus- initially i had it serviced at the main dealer for the first six years i owned it but now it goes to an independent - for a 6k car i am no longer willing to pay main dealer rates
The biggest issue is the cost of parts as they get older ( especially brakes and discs)
slk 32 said:
What age is the car and what is the mileage?
as it has the same engine ( and I am guessing transmission I guess ) as my SLK 55 i would say
approx £250-350 A service
£650-750 B service
Mine needs the transmission fluid changing at 40k so this needs to be done over the next 3 months - I was quoted last year 400£!
Overall it's not too expensive considering the performance- the biggest cost is fuel!
Re: Gouki's post- i also have an SLK 32 used by the missus- initially i had it serviced at the main dealer for the first six years i owned it but now it goes to an independent - for a 6k car i am no longer willing to pay main dealer rates
The biggest issue is the cost of parts as they get older ( especially brakes and discs)
It's a 2004. With 89k miles. as it has the same engine ( and I am guessing transmission I guess ) as my SLK 55 i would say
approx £250-350 A service
£650-750 B service
Mine needs the transmission fluid changing at 40k so this needs to be done over the next 3 months - I was quoted last year 400£!
Overall it's not too expensive considering the performance- the biggest cost is fuel!
Re: Gouki's post- i also have an SLK 32 used by the missus- initially i had it serviced at the main dealer for the first six years i owned it but now it goes to an independent - for a 6k car i am no longer willing to pay main dealer rates
The biggest issue is the cost of parts as they get older ( especially brakes and discs)
Are the costs you quoted for main dealer or independent?
Had a B Service at an independent a couple of months back, including the 16 spark plugs and cost less than £450. Need some new front brake pads/discs in the next 5k miles or so and the cost for those was quoted at £300. MPG wise, averaging just over 20mpg, insurance surprisingly cheap and tax £270 a year.
For about £10k, seem pretty hard to beat, hence I bought one.
For about £10k, seem pretty hard to beat, hence I bought one.
ispcarsurvey said:
Had a B Service at an independent a couple of months back, including the 16 spark plugs and cost less than £450. Need some new front brake pads/discs in the next 5k miles or so and the cost for those was quoted at £300. MPG wise, averaging just over 20mpg, insurance surprisingly cheap and tax £270 a year.
For about £10k, seem pretty hard to beat, hence I bought one.
I think you might have just convinced me. That seems pretty reasonable to me, given the performance. For about £10k, seem pretty hard to beat, hence I bought one.
The insurance isn't that cheap for me, for some reason. I was on about £610 for my Z4M (being 25 at the time...) and it's £702 for the C55 two years later. Oh well, at least the tax isn't £490.
It's a main dealer- worth haggling as your car ( like mine) is outside the warranty period so they are aware that you can take to an indie- i made it clear when i got the price from them... let's face it 1k on a service is a lot smaller % on a 100k car then a 10k car. If you know a decent indie I would also consider that- they are often more knowledgeable but for me tracking one down is the problem as there are a lot of shysters in London!
Are the costs you quoted for main dealer or independent?
GroundEffect said:
slk 32 said:
What age is the car and what is the mileage?
as it has the same engine ( and I am guessing transmission I guess ) as my SLK 55 i would say
approx £250-350 A service
£650-750 B service
Mine needs the transmission fluid changing at 40k so this needs to be done over the next 3 months - I was quoted last year 400£!
Overall it's not too expensive considering the performance- the biggest cost is fuel!
Re: Gouki's post- i also have an SLK 32 used by the missus- initially i had it serviced at the main dealer for the first six years i owned it but now it goes to an independent - for a 6k car i am no longer willing to pay main dealer rates
The biggest issue is the cost of parts as they get older ( especially brakes and discs)
It's a 2004. With 89k miles. as it has the same engine ( and I am guessing transmission I guess ) as my SLK 55 i would say
approx £250-350 A service
£650-750 B service
Mine needs the transmission fluid changing at 40k so this needs to be done over the next 3 months - I was quoted last year 400£!
Overall it's not too expensive considering the performance- the biggest cost is fuel!
Re: Gouki's post- i also have an SLK 32 used by the missus- initially i had it serviced at the main dealer for the first six years i owned it but now it goes to an independent - for a 6k car i am no longer willing to pay main dealer rates
The biggest issue is the cost of parts as they get older ( especially brakes and discs)
Are the costs you quoted for main dealer or independent?
Edited by slk 32 on Wednesday 16th July 09:28
Pentoman said:
Sorry to off topic a little, but the parts prices for these AMGs are a real turn off.
They're getting near to Porsche/Aston prices, and I think it's overkill.
I really want one - an old cLK55 or C32 for me - but it's hard to justify.
They only "AMG" parts on my C43's were the front discs. Pretty much everything else was generic Merc. They're getting near to Porsche/Aston prices, and I think it's overkill.
I really want one - an old cLK55 or C32 for me - but it's hard to justify.
AC43 said:
They only "AMG" parts on my C43's were the front discs. Pretty much everything else was generic Merc.
That's good.I wonder if this is true of the later stuff. The c43 being of the earlier AMG era which sold in lesser numbers and, perhaps, used more parts bin bits as a result.
To be honest both of mine haven't been too bad for costs. Discs and pads are the major expense ( £500 front with pads for the SLK 32 at main dealer, slk 55 are £1k but havent had to do these yet!)- other parts are pretty reasonable and if you use a decent indie will be cheaper still. It's always worth haggling with the main dealers though- they will often price match to get your business
Have a look on the mbclub forum. Tonnes of info over there including lots of indies who'll advise on servicing costs. It doesn't have to be horrendously expensive if you're sensible about it, but remember that prevention is always better than cure(and cheaper)!
Pretige Car Service are very good, they did a lot of work for me, I had a C43 with a 55 conversion.
Pretige Car Service are very good, they did a lot of work for me, I had a C43 with a 55 conversion.
braddo said:
AC43 said:
They only "AMG" parts on my C43's were the front discs. Pretty much everything else was generic Merc.
Another biggie is exhaust, and bodykit as well. The C43 exhaust is academic though since Merc has no stock (I was quoted £2200 for the front section....).Service costs have been in the order of £400-£600 which is the ball-park most others are referencing here (c55 estate in my case). Even some of the parts which are model specific have been very reasonable e.g. £300 for front discs/pads (Merc parts but fitted by me)
Definitely recommend Wayne Gates in Wealdstone as an excellent specialist - sensible rates, good quality work and understands what customer service means - not a given amongst the garage trade!
Like others here, I'd highlight the fuel costs over the servicing and repairs - the latter is periodic, the former rears its head every 300 miles when the needle's back on empty
But hey! it's the best car I have ever owned so thirst is a small price to pay
Definitely recommend Wayne Gates in Wealdstone as an excellent specialist - sensible rates, good quality work and understands what customer service means - not a given amongst the garage trade!
Like others here, I'd highlight the fuel costs over the servicing and repairs - the latter is periodic, the former rears its head every 300 miles when the needle's back on empty
But hey! it's the best car I have ever owned so thirst is a small price to pay
type-r said:
Can you tell me the name of the specialist? £450 for a B service inc spark plugs is awesome.
Sure, it was at PCS in Portsmouth. Got a cheaper price as I had it done during a weekend they were holding an event so saved a bit (£50-100).http://www.prestigecarservice.co.uk/
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