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

[itcaptainslow]

Street2408 said:

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!! [/quote
—-----------
Presume you know the manufacturer sets the service interval and what is required to be checked and changed at each service?
No point in taking it out on the dealership or the staff is there?

What difference does it make that the cars a convertible?

Probably should have done some research before you bought the car...

I've just noticed that-pollen filter change on convertible? Erm, yes, it has one, so will need changing...

Sounds like Sir purchased the wrong vehicle!

[itcaptainslow]

Magictrousers said:

Would a Service Manager appreciate the chance to reunite a mechanic with some tools that a customer later found under the bonnet, or would the customer just get the nonchalant shrug treatment?!

Just found a nice little Snap on spanner and ratchet combi while topping up the washers! I think I'm destined to have it, based on the fact that Volvo have had it in twice, once to carry out the service, then it being recovered back to them after the sump plug wasn't sealed properly resulting in a fair leak!

Damn it, I'm just going to bh about it on twitterbook and a car forum and jolly well take it somewhere else next time!

Edited by Magictrousers on Sunday 8th October 18:53

The service manager would but the mechanic would even more-Snap On prices made my jaw drop the first time I saw them as a wet behind the ears front desk jockey!

[itcaptainslow]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

To be fair my local Honda bike dealer where I take my CB1100 has always been reasonable-can't remember what their labour rate is exactly but I think it's in the region of £50 p/hour.

[itcaptainslow]

HTP99 said:

Terminator X said:

Perhaps they have the ignition on and don't want the lights etc draining the battery over a few hours? Noticed this myself too

TX.

Or more likely; like the mechanics at our place, they drive the car into the workshop and the first thing they do is check all the lights are working so they move the headlight switch to the sidelight position and then main light position and then to "off" as opposed to "auto".

Exactly this-lights are the first thing checked when driving in and the switch is usually switched to off just purely out of habit I guess.

[itcaptainslow]

super7 said:

TA14 said:

itcaptainslow said:

Street2408 said:

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!!

Presume you know the manufacturer sets the service interval and what is required to be checked and changed at each service?
No point in taking it out on the dealership or the staff is there?

What difference does it make that the cars a convertible?

Probably should have done some research before you bought the car...

I've just noticed that-pollen filter change on convertible? Erm, yes, it has one, so will need changing...

Sounds like Sir purchased the wrong vehicle!

Hayfever is not something that I suffer from but AIUI for many sufferers it's a seasonal thing so it's quite reasonable that for those people they may have the roof up for a few weeks until the season is over and then enjoy top down motoring for the rest of the year. Thus it will be important for some to have the pollen filter in good order on a convertable car.

You really have to Laugh....... What a bunch of pedantic, perfect, people :-)

Now you point out that someone might have Hayfever..... I so get it now... Going to make sure that the filter gets changed!!!

And now you have also pointed out that I probably bought the wrong car.... I must get one with a metal roof :-O No wonder I kept getting wet!

No doubt if the car was under a complementary service pack and the dealer didn't bother changing the pollen filter "Because it's a convertible Sir" you'd be the first to complain!

The OP is a good example of what the motor trade has to contend with sometimes-a customer who wants the latest thing, with the best badge, but doesn't want to pay to maintain it. Unfortunately a prestige car comes complete with prestige running costs. It smarts a bit paying Lotus main dealer prices; but I do because I want the full dealer history to protect my car's value, the dealer I now go to knows their stuff and offers good customer service and I like to think if I build a relationship with them, it would be reciprocated should the turds hit the air con unit.

[itcaptainslow]

lord trumpton said:

Have you or any of your team shagged any of the service advisor birds?

No comment.

[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!

[itcaptainslow]

What did I miss...?

[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!

[itcaptainslow]

Countdown said:

What's the most "profitable" job from a service point of view? i.e. what earns you the most money for the least hassle?

It’s usually service work or things like changing brakes.

[itcaptainslow]

Zooks said:

Interesting thread. Whats your opinion of lifeshine & superguard etc
Does it always get applied by valets or does it get done in house?

In my honest opinion it’s a waste of time if the car receives a reasonable amount of care in its life. The valeters apply it-usually with a minimum amount of training so the results can be, um, varied!