E Class Servicing?
Discussion
My W211 E Class is just coming up to 11 years old. Mileage is just over 100,000.
Until a year or so back I had the car serviced by MB, the full service initially, then the the 7+ economy service. MB don't offer the 7+ service now, it's the full monty or nothing.
Last year I went to an indie. No problems except the cost. It seems I pay a lot of money, whether at MB or an indie for someone to do a lot of checks. e.g. check tyres for cuts, bulges etc. Check tyre pressures. Check everything on the planet. All stuff that I can do myself.
My point is that I can check those things, or they are inspected on the MOT. I don't need to pay an expensive "technician" to check stuff that I can check myself.
Starting this year I am considering asking my local garage - who have done the MOT since it started - to do an MOT, plus engine oil and filter change. And nothing else.
Good idea, or bad idea?
Until a year or so back I had the car serviced by MB, the full service initially, then the the 7+ economy service. MB don't offer the 7+ service now, it's the full monty or nothing.
Last year I went to an indie. No problems except the cost. It seems I pay a lot of money, whether at MB or an indie for someone to do a lot of checks. e.g. check tyres for cuts, bulges etc. Check tyre pressures. Check everything on the planet. All stuff that I can do myself.
My point is that I can check those things, or they are inspected on the MOT. I don't need to pay an expensive "technician" to check stuff that I can check myself.
Starting this year I am considering asking my local garage - who have done the MOT since it started - to do an MOT, plus engine oil and filter change. And nothing else.
Good idea, or bad idea?
Nothing wrong with that. We have done that with our Scenic for the last 5 years with no issues. We did have an air filter in addition last year. It's in next wek for it's Mot and an oil change, fingers crossed.
I have an E class that was full Merc service history until I retired, now I have a very good indy who get's it Mot'd for me and he only does what needs doing for the service, not what Merc says needs doing.
He is also less than half the labour cost of Merc as well, but just as knowledgeable if not more, and can link into the Merc digital servicing system.
I have an E class that was full Merc service history until I retired, now I have a very good indy who get's it Mot'd for me and he only does what needs doing for the service, not what Merc says needs doing.
He is also less than half the labour cost of Merc as well, but just as knowledgeable if not more, and can link into the Merc digital servicing system.
Monkeylegend said:
Nothing wrong with that. We have done that with our Scenic for the last 5 years with no issues. We did have an air filter in addition last year. It's in next wek for it's Mot and an oil change, fingers crossed.
I have an E class that was full Merc service history until I retired, now I have a very good indy who get's it Mot'd for me and he only does what needs doing for the service, not what Merc says needs doing.
He is also less than half the labour cost of Merc as well, but just as knowledgeable if not more, and can link into the Merc digital servicing system.
How far are you from Surrey?I have an E class that was full Merc service history until I retired, now I have a very good indy who get's it Mot'd for me and he only does what needs doing for the service, not what Merc says needs doing.
He is also less than half the labour cost of Merc as well, but just as knowledgeable if not more, and can link into the Merc digital servicing system.
The Mad Monk said:
Monkeylegend said:
Nothing wrong with that. We have done that with our Scenic for the last 5 years with no issues. We did have an air filter in addition last year. It's in next wek for it's Mot and an oil change, fingers crossed.
I have an E class that was full Merc service history until I retired, now I have a very good indy who get's it Mot'd for me and he only does what needs doing for the service, not what Merc says needs doing.
He is also less than half the labour cost of Merc as well, but just as knowledgeable if not more, and can link into the Merc digital servicing system.
How far are you from Surrey?I have an E class that was full Merc service history until I retired, now I have a very good indy who get's it Mot'd for me and he only does what needs doing for the service, not what Merc says needs doing.
He is also less than half the labour cost of Merc as well, but just as knowledgeable if not more, and can link into the Merc digital servicing system.
For many years I just had an indie for the wifes W211 and my a class. I would do the research and buy genuine parts from the Merc Dealer. Saved £800 on an new alternator with a £60 part for the W211.
I then swapped the W211 for a GL and decided to find a merc indie since the car was more complicated and I also needed both cars looked at for star diag just to make sure.. So now I get the merc indie to do star diag and other complicated things and my normal indie to do oil, pads and other regular stuff.
NB Merc Indie is in High Wycombe and indie is in Taplow.
I then swapped the W211 for a GL and decided to find a merc indie since the car was more complicated and I also needed both cars looked at for star diag just to make sure.. So now I get the merc indie to do star diag and other complicated things and my normal indie to do oil, pads and other regular stuff.
NB Merc Indie is in High Wycombe and indie is in Taplow.
Oil changes on the W211 are a piece of piddle once you have an oil extraction pump and the correct spanner for the oil filter housing. I can change oil, filter and air filters in approximately 30 minutes. Spark plugs can be a ball-ache but get the proper cranked spanner for the boots and you're good.
I've also bought a Mercedes-specific diagnostic tool, but obviously it doesn't do programming/coding so anything requiring those jobs is a job for the indie.
I've had... SBC pump replacement, transmission fluid change, brake pads/discs, engine and gearbox mounts, parking sensors and some suspension joints replaced by indie, but standard engine servicing I do myself now.
I've also bought a Mercedes-specific diagnostic tool, but obviously it doesn't do programming/coding so anything requiring those jobs is a job for the indie.
I've had... SBC pump replacement, transmission fluid change, brake pads/discs, engine and gearbox mounts, parking sensors and some suspension joints replaced by indie, but standard engine servicing I do myself now.
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff