Main dealer service plan bargains
Discussion
Big (fourth year) service coming up on my Merc. Got a main dealer quote, it is £420.
Not too bad then, except it will want the brake fluid changing at £54. Oh, and a new pollen filter at £121, an air filter at £86, a set of plugs (six) comes to £257, and the auto transmission needs new oil and filter at £320
Oh yes, and an MOT, at £54.
Which makes it a rather frightening £1,315.
At which point the option of an independent comes sharply into focus at, what, 2/3 of that? Maybe half if I'm really lucky? But then I lose the full main dealer history, important to some, maybe not to others. Personally I like it and it was an important facet in choosing the car (and important to the dealer when I part exchanged my old Merc).
The following fifth year service is just a basic service and MOT at £385, the sixth year an inbetween at £650, giving a total of about £2,350 over three years.
But there is, it appears, a third way. Rather than pay £1,315 for the next service, I can pay £1,449 (an extra £134), and that buys me the next three services! Bringing the average annual cost down to less than £500 a year, including MOT's and, because it gives the car MBFSH, entitling me to continue the Mobilo program which is full breakdown cover.
And I get a free fully insured courtesy car or collection/delivery, free software updates, free oil top ups between services if it needs any and even free puncture repairs.
Oh, and I could even pay it over the three years in interest free monthly installments if I wanted.
The point being, before you write off main dealers as overpriced (as many seem to assume they are), it's possibly worth checking if they offer such a scheme because I doubt I could get full servicing, MOT's, and breakdown cover for much (if any) less than the £483/year I'm getting it at via this scheme, and even if I did I'd lose the MBFSH which has to be worth something.
My partner got a similar scheme on her VW Golf a year or two back, but sadly they seem to have stopped it now, so it's not just Mercedes offering these things.
I'm really chuffed. Cool starry bra and all that, but thought it might be useful info for someone.
Not too bad then, except it will want the brake fluid changing at £54. Oh, and a new pollen filter at £121, an air filter at £86, a set of plugs (six) comes to £257, and the auto transmission needs new oil and filter at £320
Oh yes, and an MOT, at £54.
Which makes it a rather frightening £1,315.
At which point the option of an independent comes sharply into focus at, what, 2/3 of that? Maybe half if I'm really lucky? But then I lose the full main dealer history, important to some, maybe not to others. Personally I like it and it was an important facet in choosing the car (and important to the dealer when I part exchanged my old Merc).
The following fifth year service is just a basic service and MOT at £385, the sixth year an inbetween at £650, giving a total of about £2,350 over three years.
But there is, it appears, a third way. Rather than pay £1,315 for the next service, I can pay £1,449 (an extra £134), and that buys me the next three services! Bringing the average annual cost down to less than £500 a year, including MOT's and, because it gives the car MBFSH, entitling me to continue the Mobilo program which is full breakdown cover.
And I get a free fully insured courtesy car or collection/delivery, free software updates, free oil top ups between services if it needs any and even free puncture repairs.
Oh, and I could even pay it over the three years in interest free monthly installments if I wanted.
The point being, before you write off main dealers as overpriced (as many seem to assume they are), it's possibly worth checking if they offer such a scheme because I doubt I could get full servicing, MOT's, and breakdown cover for much (if any) less than the £483/year I'm getting it at via this scheme, and even if I did I'd lose the MBFSH which has to be worth something.
My partner got a similar scheme on her VW Golf a year or two back, but sadly they seem to have stopped it now, so it's not just Mercedes offering these things.
I'm really chuffed. Cool starry bra and all that, but thought it might be useful info for someone.
AndyLB said:
Sounds like a good deal for you.
But does the plan cover the spark plugs and brake fluid change? I.E. is it a "full" service plan?
Yes, it includes everything. The only things I'd have to pay for are things that fall outside of the schedule (ie if it wanted new brake pads for instance).But does the plan cover the spark plugs and brake fluid change? I.E. is it a "full" service plan?
philmots said:
Sounds like a good deal if its comprehensive! It makes the prices around what it should be..
The original prices are laughable though. £120 odd for a pollen filter!? Have they got to remove the dash or something to fit it !?
I assume it's the pollen filter, it says "dust/combi filter" in the quote. But yes, it does rather stand out doesn't it?The original prices are laughable though. £120 odd for a pollen filter!? Have they got to remove the dash or something to fit it !?
Agree though, brings the annual servicing cost down to under £500 a year, which is much more like it, hence thought it was worth mentioning because I'm sure many people go to indis and pay that without realising that it might be possible to main dealer it for similar money.
It doesn't matter, all that matters is what I pay to get the car serviced. They can charge me £450 for the pollen filter if they do the rest for £1.
The point is that I can get a three litre Mercedes serviced, MOT'd, and covered for breakdown, all via a main dealer for under £500/year over three years (so including a large and an intermediate service).
I think that's pretty good value.
The point is that I can get a three litre Mercedes serviced, MOT'd, and covered for breakdown, all via a main dealer for under £500/year over three years (so including a large and an intermediate service).
I think that's pretty good value.
My concern with fixed-price servicing has always been what they skimp on to do the job within the price. These deals would appear fine for a new-ish car you intend to get shot of, but for an older car or a "keeper", I'd rather the certainty that it had been done properly.
Sounds a decent deal for you, though.
Sounds a decent deal for you, though.
Perhaps I am naive, but I think it's extraordinarily unlikely that a Mercedes (or any other) main dealer will skimp on any service items. They're so tightly regulated in everything that they do and it's just not worth the aggro or risk to their reputation.
To be honest I'd be more concerned about a small independent (for instance) not having the right oil and thinking "oh, that'll do" and chucking a can of something similar in.
To be honest I'd be more concerned about a small independent (for instance) not having the right oil and thinking "oh, that'll do" and chucking a can of something similar in.
Those prices you quote seem way OTT - for example my local dealer, Inchcape owned MB Chester, did a B service (which includes pollen filter, it's not extra), brake fluid and ATF change for £430. And valeted the car and supplied an E350CDi for the day.
And I know someone who had the same work done and paid £400.
They do MOTs for £35 and that includes a £500 guarantee against failure of the next MOT.
On 7yrs+ cars, they do a service for around £150 (this is an MB deal, most dealers outside London offer it). Even if the your car isn't 7yrs old, it shows what they can do if they want to.
On VW, my daughter has a Golf with the £300 for 3yrs service deal. Took it for first service and the dealer showed me the invoice they send VW. It was for £68, inc parts labour & VAT. So I conclude that anyone who pays anything like what the dealers ask for is being royally reamed.
And I know someone who had the same work done and paid £400.
They do MOTs for £35 and that includes a £500 guarantee against failure of the next MOT.
On 7yrs+ cars, they do a service for around £150 (this is an MB deal, most dealers outside London offer it). Even if the your car isn't 7yrs old, it shows what they can do if they want to.
On VW, my daughter has a Golf with the £300 for 3yrs service deal. Took it for first service and the dealer showed me the invoice they send VW. It was for £68, inc parts labour & VAT. So I conclude that anyone who pays anything like what the dealers ask for is being royally reamed.
Ari said:
Perhaps I am naive, but I think it's extraordinarily unlikely that a Mercedes (or any other) main dealer will skimp on any service items. They're so tightly regulated in everything that they do and it's just not worth the aggro or risk to their reputation.
To be honest I'd be more concerned about a small independent (for instance) not having the right oil and thinking "oh, that'll do" and chucking a can of something similar in.
yeah rightTo be honest I'd be more concerned about a small independent (for instance) not having the right oil and thinking "oh, that'll do" and chucking a can of something similar in.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Ari said:
Perhaps I am naive, but I think it's extraordinarily unlikely that a Mercedes (or any other) main dealer will skimp on any service items. They're so tightly regulated in everything that they do and it's just not worth the aggro or risk to their reputation.
To be honest I'd be more concerned about a small independent (for instance) not having the right oil and thinking "oh, that'll do" and chucking a can of something similar in.
The main dealers aren't much better when it comes to oil, I remember calling about 4/5 dealers, all of them quoted different brands of oil to the "official" oil and one a different spec!To be honest I'd be more concerned about a small independent (for instance) not having the right oil and thinking "oh, that'll do" and chucking a can of something similar in.
I don't assume that specialists are any better, but be wary! Also the difference in cambelt changes is quite surprising, some change various gaskets/bolts e.t.c in the price and some don't. Little consistency or there certainly was when I made calls for a V6 Alfa a few years ago.
Ari said:
I think it's extraordinarily unlikely that a Mercedes (or any other) main dealer will skimp on any service items. They're so tightly regulated in everything that they do and it's just not worth the aggro or risk to their reputation.
You'd think that wouldn't you but they are not regulated by anybody, not even the manufacturer. And being a business they will skimp where they think they can.Ari said:
To be honest I'd be more concerned about a small independent (for instance) not having the right oil and thinking "oh, that'll do" and chucking a can of something similar in.
It was discovered a couple of years ago that many MB dealers weren't using the low ash oil that diesels with dpf's need. MB229.51. They were putting normal fully synth MB229.5 into everything.
A dealer isn't going to run their workshop in any special way just because they are a franchised dealer. There is no magic "ooh we're a dealer so we'll make 100% sure we do everything spot on". Economising on oil is a popular one - they just buy an oil in barrels and stick it in anything that comes along, because its cheaper.
As I said on another recent thread franchised dealers have high targets for workshops, reciprocated by bonuses to staff if they have over 100% efficiency. They are interested in volume through the door.
My car goes to a main dealer, but a mate is one of the technicians, if he doesn't do the car he'll direct it to one of the guys he'd trust and out the hands of the monkeys!
As I said on another recent thread franchised dealers have high targets for workshops, reciprocated by bonuses to staff if they have over 100% efficiency. They are interested in volume through the door.
My car goes to a main dealer, but a mate is one of the technicians, if he doesn't do the car he'll direct it to one of the guys he'd trust and out the hands of the monkeys!
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