Was this a reasonable price? Mercedes B service, £1270

[pocketspring]

Panamax said:

pocketspring said:

Literally the third post down mentions about the fuel tank.

Mentions what??

Is this a normal expense or not? That's what counts.

Does everyone with a slightly older car have it dismantled at considerable expense to change the hard-to-get-at fuel filter when the car's running perfectly? Not me.

It mentions about the fuel tank.

[Panamax]

pocketspring said:

It mentions about the fuel tank.

Now answer the question.

[Sheepshanks]

pocketspring said:

Panamax said:

pocketspring said:

Literally the third post down mentions about the fuel tank.

Mentions what??

Is this a normal expense or not? That's what counts.

Does everyone with a slightly older car have it dismantled at considerable expense to change the hard-to-get-at fuel filter when the car's running perfectly? Not me.

It mentions about the fuel tank.

I don’t think the tank needs to be removed to change the fuel filter so it’s just written is an odd way - there’s no corresponding charge for actually removing it.

I don’t know if other manufacturers do this but Mercedes does itemise out the cost for removing things so you don’t get charged twice if another job is done at the same time.

[TarquinMX5]

Panamax said:

Maybe nobody else actually bothered to read what was posted, but what's all this about fuel tank removal? Was there a problem with the car before it went in?

People talk constantly about the attractions of "specialists". There are at least as many dodgy self-appointed specialists a main dealers.

You seem to have a strange way of dealing with people: on many petrol MBs the filter is in the tank and the fuel tank needs to be removed to change the filter. It's a service item and if, on that model it's every 10-years, then a MB dealer would have done it. You might not bother but a main dealer should follow the service schedule.

I agree with your comment about 'specialists', good and less-good, as with everything.

[LeeM135i]

We have had my wife's B200 for 6 years and haven't paid more than £750 for a service including brake fluid and wipers and its had a few. I would say £1270 is a bit rich, my C63S cost about that with gearbox and diff oil change.

[mubmoh]

Panamax said:

Maybe nobody else actually bothered to read what was posted, but what's all this about fuel tank removal? Was there a problem with the car before it went in?

People talk constantly about the attractions of "specialists". There are at least as many dodgy self-appointed specialists a main dealers.

No problem with car before it went in. I believe they are changing the fuel filter as this is a service piece which is supposed to change every 10 years. To do that they are charging me to remove the fuel tank.

[V6Alfisti]

The answer seems to me to be, when you have a service coming up with lots of the added extras inc coolant, brake fluid and gearbox oil change (this all get's included on the service plans). It's best to kick start one of the 2 year service plans for that period (on a GLC it's something like £40-45 a month).

It then costs about the same as taking it to a good specialist, if not a bit less in some cases e.g. when including the 9G gearbox oil change e.t.c

I have found specialist prices all over the place.

Basic service A's at specialists for £240-250, plus £100 for an air filter !. Mercedes wanted £570 for the same thing.

A service A is basically an Oil/Filter change and a few basic checks, the oil from Merc is about £30 + £14 filter. So god knows where £200 of labour comes into play at a specialist, it must be a 45 min max job.

[Sheepshanks]

V6Alfisti said:

Basic service A's at specialists for £240-250, plus £100 for an air filter !. Mercedes wanted £570 for the same thing.

A service A is basically an Oil/Filter change and a few basic checks, the oil from Merc is about £30 + £14 filter. So god knows where £200 of labour comes into play at a specialist, it must be a 45 min max job.

Last A service I had at an indie was £140 - mind you, some dealers will still do the old "MB Value Service" - this one does it for £119 on an A Class: https://www.sandown-group.co.uk/value-servicing/

Servicing is fantastically profitable - different car, but the same work of oil and filter change and some quick safety checks - I waited while daughter's Golf had its first service. It was in the workshop 20 mins. They accidentally gave me a copy of the invoice that goes to VWFS and it was £68.

B servicing is even more of a rip off - the actual physical work is the same (long gone are the days of it being a "wheels off" service) but you're paying them to find more work then can charge you for!

[Skd884]

£139 to service my v8 c43 amg and same price for my c180

https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/w204-2013-c180...

[Dewi 2]

My W208 CLK 320 (owned for 20 years) has just had a B Service.

Before some particular date of manufacture, the older cars doing modest mileages only require servicing about every 2 years, so I have continued with main dealer servicing. Service book now full !

I wouldn't blame them if they looked for additional extra work, but all that was needed, were replacement rear brake discs and pads.
That is the first time either of those wearable components have been changed since new, 23 years ago!
The car has been remarkably reliable, which is why I have continued to use it as a daily. Still in excellent condition too.
Assuming zero value now, the average annual depreciation (bought from MD) has been £750. How about that, as cheap motoring for any car, let alone a Mercedes-Benz ?

It will probably go into retirement during the next year. Perhaps best not to push luck too far and I am also being tempted by a forthcoming M-B. amongst the last of their petrol engine models.

A happy customer.