Servicing Costs

[Grand Tourismo]

Actually, may I ask what dealer that was Steve?

MB Peterborough seem to be offering quite competitive rates at the moment Steve, you could always use a quote from them to motivate your local dealer if they are too far away.

 

[Samebutdifferent]

The thing is that brake fluid is hydrophilic and collects water, making it much less effective as it ages...water in yer brakes in a 2t van anyone? Brake fluid needs changing every two years really.

But 8 ltr of oil seems a little on the high side? I have no idea what the sump holds on a V250 but 8ltr ?

3 to 4 yrs is fine for brake fluid.

Oil service pack is 9lt but £140 +VAT is daylight robbery. Edit; Change longline synthetic oil at 2500ml and chuck it and charge £170 plus £120-£140/hr to do it. There is no defending MB

I won't be using MB for any of my servicing especially if your expected to haggle.

 

[SteveR]

I doubt there is a Standard charge from what I've seen and heard.

What really bugs me is that most vehicles can go 12k even 20k as in the Fiat Ducato I had previously without changing any fluids, and yet at less then 3k they dump the oil and brake fluid, and did all the filters really need changing? Make as much money as they can by changing things that don't need to be changed and bugger the customer and the environment.

Can't make head nor tail of this:


View attachment 1576View attachment 1577

Laughable really: “Perform Quick Test” - £16.15 (plus VAT)!!!

 

[SteveR]

The thing is that brake fluid is hydrophilic and collects water, making it much less effective as it ages...water in yer brakes in a 2t van anyone? Brake fluid needs changing every two years really.

But 8 ltr of oil seems a little on the high side? I have no idea what the sump holds on a V250 but 8ltr ?

Yes and pricy too at £16.50 + per litre

 

[SteveR]

MB Peterborough seem to be offering quite competitive rates at the moment Steve, you could always use a quote from them to motivate your local dealer if they are too far away.

Thanks GT
If only I could get a quote LOL. I’ve spent the past three days trying and every call to service, regardless of which dealership, gets diverted and handled by a central call centre!

 

[Grand Tourismo]

Thanks GT
If only I could get a quote LOL. I’ve spent the past three days trying and every call to service, regardless of which dealership, gets diverted and handled by a central call centre!

Click the option that you already have your car booked in on site, that should divert you through to dealership.

 

[Steve B]

Actually, may I ask what dealer that was Steve?

It was Northampton main dealer

 

[Method7]

I’m going to get a quote from MB Commercial when I next need a service, I think they will have better knowledge of the Vito/V-Class and all this MB pompous bull[x] is over priced because we all expect to me called Mr[whatever] while we lounge around in leather sofas with free coffee and a ~20K loan car.

 

[Samebutdifferent]

So can anyone answer why one MB main dealer charges £350 and another £599 for the same service????

 

[SteveR]

So can anyone answer why one MB main dealer charges £350 and another £599 for the same service????

Mad isn't it. I can only assume that it is not standardised somehow. Either one dealer has missed something off that should have been done or one dealer has added an item that may not have been scheduled

 

[Steve B]

I had two different quotes from the same dealer! Can't remember what the higher one was but took the lower anyway, warranty intact.

 

[Grand Tourismo]

MB P'borough explained to me that they set their own labour rate and that they were currently also offering a discount on service parts...rumour has it that roughly only 30% of MB customers return to MB for service within the first 3 years of new vehicle purchase, which is a shocking attrition rate for a new vehicle dealer & due wholly to service costs.

Seems best to seek out the more independent MB dealer and strike a deal!

 

[Samebutdifferent]

Seems best to seek out the more independent MB dealer and strike a deal!

Nearest dealer to me is 2hr round trip, that's 4hrs traveling if done and dusted in a day. I could find a cheaper deal by looking further afield but I'd need overnight accommodation to do that If by chance they can do it while I wait I certainly wouldn't be paying £290 labour. The nearest independent Merc specialists are 2hr and 3hr round trips

Best for me to go to local garage I trust where they will fit genuine MB parts, are VAT registered and just use main MB dealers for warranty issues

 

[PeteS]

I have read that Mercedes are trying to get people to take up a service plan and are less interested in people just paying for there service when it is due. This could be why they are not interested in giving out quotes. On my last car a VW Caravelle it was serviced at the commercial dealers and the prices were very good plus they would price match local independent garages. The last time I have the car serviced this saved me £100 and this keen pricing lead me to return to them for servicing.
I think that Mercedes feel that if you are on a service plan then there is no haggling over the price plus they are guaranteed that the car will be serviced at one of there dealerships.
I am luckily that there is a Mercedes car dealership and a Mercedes commercial dealership within 5 miles of where I live. I brought my V class from the car dealership but I might consider the commercial dealership for servicing. I wonder if Mercedes won’t allow V class’ in a commercial dealership. I have not asked the question but I did purchase my rubber mats from the commercial dealership with no problems. The other downside is my local commercial dealership can be a bit daunting with trucks moving around and having to park in between large HGVs. But if it is cheaper I might put up with that Every two years.

 

[Carol]

Well l just had service number 2 , shocked at cost £970.with just 32000 miles on clock at 4 years age

 

[Andofire]

Well l just had service number 2 , shocked at cost £970.with just 32000 miles on clock at 4 years age

It’s worth having a look around. Assuming you’ll keep the van for some time ( like me) mine is up for its first B service this year
I’ve found a garage where the techs are all ex Merc, use Merc equipment, Merc parts and oil and can add to the electronic log book. Will do all in £360 including file filter which is required at year 4.
i think that’s a bargain. I’m content to wait a further to get the transmission oil done in what is year 6 with the A service. I think my B is good value for that

 

[Carol]

It’s worth having a look around. Assuming you’ll keep the van for some time ( like me) mine is up for its first B service this year
I’ve found a garage where the techs are all ex Merc, use Merc equipment, Merc parts and oil and can add to the electronic log book. Will do all in £360 including file filter which is required at year 4.
i think that’s a bargain. I’m content to wait a further to get the transmission oil done in what is year 6 with the A service. I think my B is good value for that

Hi Andofire, l will be looking around as you suggest for any future work , your guys are they within travelling distance from Colchester

 

[Andofire]

sorry between Bath and Bristol but there’ll be a similar set up I’m sure near you

 

[Carol]

I have read that Mercedes are trying to get people to take up a service plan and are less interested in people just paying for there service when it is due. This could be why they are not interested in giving out quotes. On my last car a VW Caravelle it was serviced at the commercial dealers and the prices were very good plus they would price match local independent garages. The last time I have the car serviced this saved me £100 and this keen pricing lead me to return to them for servicing.
I think that Mercedes feel that if you are on a service plan then there is no haggling over the price plus they are guaranteed that the car will be serviced at one of there dealerships.
I am luckily that there is a Mercedes car dealership and a Mercedes commercial dealership within 5 miles of where I live. I brought my V class from the car dealership but I might consider the commercial dealership for servicing. I wonder if Mercedes won’t allow V class’ in a commercial dealership. I have not asked the question but I did purchase my rubber mats from the commercial dealership with no problems. The other downside is my local commercial dealership can be a bit daunting with trucks moving around and having to park in between large HGVs. But if it is cheaper I might put up with that Every two years.

Hi , l visited the commercial vehicle workshop and the chap there tried inputting my vehicle into the system, but it would not input, He thought that was to make customers go to car dealership for servicing

 

[Carol]

sorry between Bath and Bristol but there’ll be a similar set up I’m sure near you

My son lives at Evercreech near Shelton Mallet , so l will look further than Colchester