Ask a Service Manager anything...anything at all.

[Lord Pikey]

super7 said:

How does a Mercedes dealer who never gives an inch, justify charging close to £600 to service E-class Convertible which is 2yrs old and with 12000 miles on it.... Needs a B1 service according to the dash on the car? An oil change, Brake fluid change (after 2 years ????) and a pollen filter change.... on a convertible????

Oh.... also needs the windscreen fluid checked, the first aid kit checked along with a whole host of other sh*t which is totally pointless!!

i might be able to shed some light on a bit of this. The first aid kit will be in the service / inspection schedule because in Germany (and maybe the rest of Europe) the first aid kit is checked as part of the Tüv (MOT). It has an expiration date and must be present in the vehicle and in date.

[sparks_E39]

Surely paying £600 for a service isn't a big deal for someone who can afford to buy a Mercedes, a brand that is known to be prestigious and expensive?

[Buster73]

sparks_E39 said:

Surely paying £600 for a service isn't a big deal for someone who can afford to buy a Mercedes, a brand that is known to be prestigious and expensive?

That may be the case, but it doesn't matter if you can afford it or not you need to feel that you're getting value for money.

I think £600 for a service fits into the not value for money side of the argument.

[The Mad Monk]

Sheepshanks said:

Zoobeef said:

You think that brake fluid DOESNT need changing after 2 years?

Actually it doesn’t. It’s a scam. In the US they test it but rarely change it.

I think the problem is that the official recommendations always allow for the worst case scenario. i.e. Mr Madface who is charging up and down Alps all day long, getting their brake discs red hot and brake fluid close to the boiling point of water.

Whereas Mr & Mrs Miggins who take a gentle pootle to Fortnum and Mason to get more kedgeree once a day and drive down to the estate in Wiltshire at the weekend are told to change their brake fluid at the same frequency.

It isn't logical.

There is no adjustment for drivers with different driving habits.

[jhfozzy]

Buster73 said:

sparks_E39 said:

Surely paying £600 for a service isn't a big deal for someone who can afford to buy a Mercedes, a brand that is known to be prestigious and expensive?

That may be the case, but it doesn't matter if you can afford it or not you need to feel that you're getting value for money.

I think £600 for a service fits into the not value for money side of the argument.

It is a sliding scale, you can double that for a Ferrari service.

http://www.dicklovett.co.uk/ferrari/servicing-repa...

[Buster73]

jhfozzy said:

It is a sliding scale, you can double that for a Ferrari service.

http://www.dicklovett.co.uk/ferrari/servicing-repa...

I'm an Aston owner I know all about main dealer prices but it doesn't change my opinion about vfm.

[jhfozzy]

Buster73 said:

jhfozzy said:

It is a sliding scale, you can double that for a Ferrari service.

http://www.dicklovett.co.uk/ferrari/servicing-repa...

I'm an Aston owner I know all about main dealer prices but it doesn't change my opinion about vfm.

Basically the more toys and gadgets the car has and the more complicated the engine (filter locations, some Mercs & BMWs don't have a dipstick so you need to buy a special tool etc. etc.), the longer the service will take and therefore the more expensive the service will be.

[Buster73]

jhfozzy said:

Basically the more toys and gadgets the car has and the more complicated the engine (filter locations, some Mercs & BMWs don't have a dipstick so you need to buy a special tool etc. etc.), the longer the service will take and therefore the more expensive the service will be.

bks , it's about profitability, nothing less .

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Buster73 said:

bks , it's about profitability, nothing less .

You say that as though profitability is a bad thing.

If they all went bust, you wouldn't have anyone to service your car.

[TA14]

Buster73 said:

sparks_E39 said:

Surely paying £600 for a service isn't a big deal for someone who can afford to buy a Mercedes, a brand that is known to be prestigious and expensive?

That may be the case, but it doesn't matter if you can afford it or not you need to feel that you're getting value for money.

I think £600 for a service fits into the not value for money side of the argument.

Presumably you think that the extra it has cost you at the franchise dealer is worth it in reducing loss in resale value or you would have gone to an independent who wouldn't have done the things that you moan about and charged you less. In that sense it is value for money.

[Buster73]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

You say that as though profitability is a bad thing.

If they all went bust, you wouldn't have anyone to service your car.

Never said profitability was a bad thing at all , can't understand where you've picked that up from.

[itcaptainslow]

TA14 said:

Buster73 said:

sparks_E39 said:

Surely paying £600 for a service isn't a big deal for someone who can afford to buy a Mercedes, a brand that is known to be prestigious and expensive?

That may be the case, but it doesn't matter if you can afford it or not you need to feel that you're getting value for money.

I think £600 for a service fits into the not value for money side of the argument.

Presumably you think that the extra it has cost you at the franchise dealer is worth it in reducing loss in resale value or you would have gone to an independent who wouldn't have done the things that you moan about and charged you less. In that sense it is value for money.

At the end of the day it’s the customer’s choice where/when/if they have their vehicle serviced. They just need to accept the ramifications if they don’t follow the manufacturer’s schedule.

Typically however, those who don’t stick to the schedule are usually the whingers that will want the manufacturer to warrant their cholesterol filled engine when it chucks a rod through the block, the heater fan that’s burnt out because it’s breathing through a choked pollen filter or the coil pack that has failed as it’s trying to ignite a worn out spark plug...

Or those who want goodwill after the warranty has expired yet the car has never seen the inside of a dealer’s workshop for something that is paid for by the customer!

[lee_fr200]

Ive deleted my Comment on page 1 and i apologise to my uncle for any harm caused

[MellowshipSlinky]

lee_fr200 said:

Ive deleted my Comment on page 1 and i apologise to my uncle for any harm caused

Yeah, but someone else quoted you so it's still there..

[itcaptainslow]

What did I miss...?

[DonHorizon]

itcaptainslow said:

What did I miss...?

Supagard... thoughts?

[lee_fr200]

I'd happily discuss anything over private message not putting anything on pistonheads public ally apart from a ph snitch bh member tracked down the garage and went to them with screenshots of my post!

I've done as I said I removed the post and apologised

End discussion

[Countdown]

[itcaptainslow]

DonHorizon said:

itcaptainslow said:

What did I miss...?

Supagard... thoughts?

Probably more appropriate for the sales thread but...I wouldn’t buy it.

However, I’m a car cleaning freak so it would be wasted on me anyway!

[sjj84]

Ninja59 said:

I will be honest I am a picky and awkward customer, but then I love my cars and truth be told probably overservice them. If something is not done to the letter (or slightly above) then I find it hugely frustrating. My service manager at BMW originally got off to a rocky start because my initial interaction was nothing short of appalling since then though it has been awesome (and I now see some of his pressures with staff off ill and trying to manage both BMW and Mini servicing can be a nightmare).

The old one I used to know at Mazda Canterbury did go on to unlike the OP to join Mazda UK though in an aftersales position (after years of being a tech then SM).

How hard did you find it to meet (and I suppose manage) customer expectations? and I suppose how many picky/awkward customers did you meet and have to deal with?

I have witnessed the flipside in my BMW dealer of having a customer go well just do the end of warranty service check and when the service adviser said it needed an oil change she went mental. Is there ways to convince owners (when clearly work needs doing not just for pulling profit)?

One thing I do find hugely frustrating is that some of the more senior SM's hide away fearful of customers what the hell is that all about? (my previous Volvo dealer SM did this hugely it was like trying to track down a bloody diamond - I knew every single one of the rest of the team, and I got to only meet him once after the car clearly had a failing DMF and then I wanted to lamp the sod). In a sense I feel lucky with the current BMW one and the previous Mazda one as they have actually been "approachable" instead of just appearing when there has been an utter screw up.

Finally, having spoken with both of the ex Mazda SM - likened keeping an eye on techs as herding cats is that true?

Which BMW dealers is it that you use?