What is a dealer/indepenent specialist FSH really worth?
Discussion
Morning PHers....
I am wondering what to do here....
I have a 2002 Merc SL500 (newer shape). It's got 78K on the clock and is in mint nick. It needs a service, however from a maintainance point of view I cannot see any need to take it to a dealer or (more likely at this age) an indie - the car is running fine, no problems or issues. I have a well appointed garage with every tool I'm likely to need so am more than capable of doing all the work on the service schedule myself for (a) a fraction of the price and (b) without the faff of getting car to garage etc. I also have a *massive* mistrust of garages - Merc themselves have been good but I've yet to come across an indie who I am happy with.
So my point is this - bearing in mind that I am likely to keep this car at least another 2 or 3 years by which time it will be 11 or 12yo with 140K or so on the clock perhaps - if I have done this service (and other routine services) myself, have kept the receipts for the parts and lubricants etc would you, as a potential buyer, see this as a Bad Thing? How much will it devalue the car by? Will it even matter? Most people are impressed by my level of fastidiousness and how I keep my garage whenever I sell something on, so that would help.
I'm just a bit loathe to go shelling out several hundred pounds extra for a stamp in my book when I know I can do the job at least as well myself (and not get charged for eg. cabin filters that weren't replaced like last time (I'm so mistrustful of garages that I mark parts. So far nobody has been honest except MB).
I am wondering what to do here....
I have a 2002 Merc SL500 (newer shape). It's got 78K on the clock and is in mint nick. It needs a service, however from a maintainance point of view I cannot see any need to take it to a dealer or (more likely at this age) an indie - the car is running fine, no problems or issues. I have a well appointed garage with every tool I'm likely to need so am more than capable of doing all the work on the service schedule myself for (a) a fraction of the price and (b) without the faff of getting car to garage etc. I also have a *massive* mistrust of garages - Merc themselves have been good but I've yet to come across an indie who I am happy with.
So my point is this - bearing in mind that I am likely to keep this car at least another 2 or 3 years by which time it will be 11 or 12yo with 140K or so on the clock perhaps - if I have done this service (and other routine services) myself, have kept the receipts for the parts and lubricants etc would you, as a potential buyer, see this as a Bad Thing? How much will it devalue the car by? Will it even matter? Most people are impressed by my level of fastidiousness and how I keep my garage whenever I sell something on, so that would help.
I'm just a bit loathe to go shelling out several hundred pounds extra for a stamp in my book when I know I can do the job at least as well myself (and not get charged for eg. cabin filters that weren't replaced like last time (I'm so mistrustful of garages that I mark parts. So far nobody has been honest except MB).
I think on a car that old, the difference between main dealer and indie specialist is pretty much non-existant.
I suppose you should look at what FSH and non-FSH cars are going for on Autotrader and see whether the difference is more or less than the difference in cost between servicing it yourself and getting an indie to do it over the period of time for which you intend to own the car. If you're going to do it yourself, keep the service book up to date with dates and what you've done, and keep receipts for any parts you used (including oil and things) to show to a prospective new owner.
I suppose you should look at what FSH and non-FSH cars are going for on Autotrader and see whether the difference is more or less than the difference in cost between servicing it yourself and getting an indie to do it over the period of time for which you intend to own the car. If you're going to do it yourself, keep the service book up to date with dates and what you've done, and keep receipts for any parts you used (including oil and things) to show to a prospective new owner.
I would imagine you would save a lot more in servicing costs over 3 years than you would loose in value by doing the work yourself. I'm guilty of doing all the work on mine myself but it's a non-issue as I'll be planning on keeping the car till it's run into the ground.
Alternatively you could just get the oil changed to keep up the service stamps and do any additional work yourself, brakes etc.
Alternatively you could just get the oil changed to keep up the service stamps and do any additional work yourself, brakes etc.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
This is what I fear. I suppose I could change air, cabin filters myself and then get it done. (This may sound cheapskate but I'm not in the habit of giving my money to people for performing elementary tasks).MB do indeed do a cheaper rate for older cars - I'm up in Leeds a lot and last time I checked they were something like £70/hour. Might be my safest bet, I suppose!
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