Mercedes 'Value Service' - what am I missing out on?

[Ari]

My SLK 280 is due its annual service. It's nine years old now and I kind of begrudge spending £400 (admittedly including an MOT) on an A service (which I believe is the more basic one).

The dealer has offered me a 'Value Service' for £139 which 'is similar to a minor A service and includes the following':

· Visual brake inspection
· Oil and filter change
· Tyre check
· Wipers and washers check
· Seat belt check
· Check suspension components
· Inspect Poly-V Belt
· Brake fluid level check
· Power steering fluid level check
· Check lights
· Re-set service indicator
· Wash and vac

I've asked for confirmation of what I'm missing out on but I've not heard back yet. Can anyone see anything obvious? It looks pretty much like an A service to me at half the price (even with an MOT which I guess is about £50)...

[PositronicRay]

Basically you're getting oil and filter, a cursory glance and a stamp in the book.

Make your own mind up.

[swisstoni]

Probably missing some of the customer conveniences offered on other services?

[Ari]

PositronicRay said:

Basically you're getting oil and filter, a cursory glance and a stamp in the book.

Make your own mind up.

As opposed to a £350 oil and filter, cursory glance and a stamp in the book which, as far as I can discover on line, is what an A service is...

Hence my question really, is there something more to it that I'm missing?

[Ari]

swisstoni said:

Probably missing some of the customer conveniences offered on other services?

Well I wondered that (and that would be perfect if so), but ironically it includes a wash and vacuum, which you'd think would be the first thing to go.

[chiefski26]

It is pretty much an A service at a bargain price for older mercs although you lose mobilo breakdown cover which you would be entitled to with an A or B service.


https://www.mymercedesservice.co.uk/myoption/show/...

[ecain63]

It appears to be a renamed A service. No difference other than the price. lol

Sound like Audi!

[tvrforever]

In 4yrs of Merc ownership I can't say they've ever cleaned / washed the car whenever they've had it in (unlike other companies / brands) - so wouldn't worry about missing that....

[swisstoni]

Pretty nice that they offer a leg up for older cars and their owners.

[Ari]

ecain63 said:

It appears to be a renamed A service. No difference other than the price. lol

Sound like Audi!

That's what I thought. Massively cheaper too. There doesn't seem to be a B service equivalent though...

[Ari]

tvrforever said:

In 4yrs of Merc ownership I can't say they've ever cleaned / washed the car whenever they've had it in (unlike other companies / brands) - so wouldn't worry about missing that....

The irony is firstly that they do still do it with the value service, and secondly that I always ask them not to (and leave a note in the car to that effect).

[Ari]

chiefski26 said:

It is pretty much an A service at a bargain price for older mercs although you lose mobilo breakdown cover which you would be entitled to with an A or B service.


https://www.mymercedesservice.co.uk/myoption/show/...

That's helpful, thanks.

So, £400 for the A Service including MOT.

£170 for the Value Service plus £50 (guessing) for the MOT and about £80 for breakdown cover that I currently get for 'free'.

So in reality, a £100 saving...

[chiefski26]

Supply your own oil and have an A service it results in a significant saving.

[jonah35]

Ari said:

My SLK 280 is due its annual service. It's nine years old now and I kind of begrudge spending £400 (admittedly including an MOT) on an A service (which I believe is the more basic one).

The dealer has offered me a 'Value Service' for £139 which 'is similar to a minor A service and includes the following':

· Visual brake inspection
· Oil and filter change
· Tyre check
· Wipers and washers check
· Seat belt check
· Check suspension components
· Inspect Poly-V Belt
· Brake fluid level check
· Power steering fluid level check
· Check lights
· Re-set service indicator
· Wash and vac

I've asked for confirmation of what I'm missing out on but I've not heard back yet. Can anyone see anything obvious? It looks pretty much like an A service to me at half the price (even with an MOT which I guess is about £50)...

Id just take it to an Indy £139 for them to top up the oil and kick the tyres!

[anonymous-user]

swisstoni said:

Pretty nice that they offer a leg up for older cars and their owners.

Nothing to do with being nice or offering a leg up. It's the only way they can get the older cars in.

Just shows how much those with newer cars are being fleeced.

[Sheepshanks]

Ari said:

That's helpful, thanks.

So, £400 for the A Service including MOT.

£170 for the Value Service plus £50 (guessing) for the MOT and about £80 for breakdown cover that I currently get for 'free'.

So in reality, a £100 saving...

As others have pointed out, the big thing you’ll miss out on with Value is the Mobilo cover. I think the use of MB parts / approved oil is optional too, but in practice I understand the mechanics do the same series of checks whether it’s Value, A or B. Years ago B was a “wheels off” service, but they haven’t done that for some time.

Is that price just for the A Service, or is there other work called for?

Try Mercedes Chester in MyService for a price comparison. I just had a B service with air and fuel filters and brake fluid for £380. They charge £35 for MOT. I got an E Class courtesy car free (they did try and charge £30 for that but took it off as soon as I mentioned it). The car got a pretty good valet inside and out too.

Last A service they charged £190. I tried 2 local indies and they both quoted £180.

I don't use the car much so it will run 2yrs between services so the Mobilo cover more than swings it for me as I'd have to buy 2yrs breakdown cover.


However….I’ve ignored the Mercedes forum warnings about taking an older car to a dealership. In the past the car has been fine, this time a different technician worked on it and I was presented with an enormous list of urgent work. If you plan to keep the car then now would be a good time to start building a relationship with a good indie.

[swisstoni]

I'll be taking my 9 y/o SL to a Merc dealer for the first time (for me, not it) in a couple of weeks, as the car has told me it wants to.
The normal B service is over £1k. The old-timer, no frills Value price is about £160. That's really a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.
I'm ready for a list of stuff to fix a mile long but I'll say 'thanks for the info' and go home.

[Sheepshanks]

swisstoni said:

The normal B service is over £1k.

To be fair that's not a "normal" B service. To hit that price level pretty well every serviceable item must need doing. I imagine a big part of the cost is changing the plugs - not a trivial task on an SL, some are very awkward, and there's 16 of 'em.

I'm baffled by the point of taking it to MB for a Value Service. It's not a proper MB service, so Mobilo won't continue.

[DSLiverpool]

I booked my SL55 in for a value service a few years ago (car now sold) and they actually did a great job because they were so chuffed to see it they said.

[muckymotor]

I had a value service on my cls last year, they did do their hardest to talk me into having the normal service though

Funnily enough I received the Mobilo paperwork through the post a few days later, obviously an oversight.