Trying to get a service, dealer doesn't want business??

joeyjojo · 20 Mar 2015 at 12:19

My partner has a 59 Smart Fortwo (451 diesel) she bought last year. It was 11 months since the previous owner last serviced it (Aug 2013 @ 23k) so we took it to the local Mercedes/Smart dealer (July 2014 @ 34k). It was expensive (£267) but these cars are a bit weird and historically you've had to go to the specialist.

Service intervals explained at http://www.evilution.co.uk/servicing/451_service_schedule.htm

Now 10,000 miles later (March 2015 @ 44k) the service indicator is flashing. She called the dealer this week and was told they wouldn't do it because it's "not done enough miles"! Apparently they work to 15k intervals and have said if she brings it in they'll reset the indicator to flash in another 5k and they'll service it then. :confused:

So what should I do? The only thing I really want them to do is an oil/filter change. I get that modern cars need fewer oil changes but 15k seems long...

Cheers!

fastwunz · 20 Mar 2015 at 12:31

Changing oil and filters can be done by yourself (with a jack) or go find another garage I guess

Scania · 20 Mar 2015 at 12:34

Plenty of fast fit type places do oil & filter changes for not much money - more than DIY, sure but without the faff, if your just after peace of mind with fresh oil, I'd consider it. Just make sure they use the correct oil and filter!

Servicing within the interval imo is a wise move, I'd look for a different garage to deal with!

lemonade · 20 Mar 2015 at 12:38

I would look into whether the service interval has been revised by Smart and as said above any garage can change the oil and filter unless its somehow very complicated in these cars.

joeyjojo · 20 Mar 2015 at 15:46

Thanks all. I did consider DIY but it's a diesel so a bit more difficult...

lemonade said:
I would look into whether the service interval has been revised by Smart

Good idea. I called a different place and they said this one is meant to be 15k intervals and probably someone just set the interval thingy wrong :rolleyes:

No worries then! Will get them to reset the indicator for another 5k.

iamtheoneneo · 20 Mar 2015 at 16:32

joeyjojo said:
Thanks all. I did consider DIY but it's a diesel so a bit more difficult...

Doesnt seem that different at all, you just have to buy an extra accessory (the pump), if you have an hour or two to do it yourself - do it!

People need to stop paying garages silly money for simple diy jobs. (and learn more about their cars in the process)

tom_e · 20 Mar 2015 at 16:33

You'll probably put up with the flashing light as well when they tell you how much they'll charge to stop it!

Steampunk · 20 Mar 2015 at 16:41

joeyjojo said:
So what should I do? The only thing I really want them to do is an oil/filter change. I get that modern cars need fewer oil changes but 15k seems long...

Cheers!

Is it a 15K service interval, or a variable service interval? Our new car has a oil quality sensor, and it will come on in the dash any time between one and two years depending on the oil quality it detects in the car's engine.

The salesman said bring it in at two years, the servicing dept said it should have been at one year, and we had to explain that the variable service limit (as per the manual) was asking for an oil change (not a service) at eighteen months.

joeyjojo · 21 Mar 2015 at 11:54

iamtheoneneo said:
Doesnt seem that different at all, you just have to buy an extra accessory (the pump), if you have an hour or two to do it yourself - do it!

Thanks, I'm tempted. Need to work out which oil filter it needs first.

tom_e said:
You'll probably put up with the flashing light as well when they tell you how much they'll charge to stop it!

No charge, and they'll do a free overall visual inspection too.

Steampunk said:
Is it a 15K service interval, or a variable service interval? Our new car has a oil quality sensor, and it will come on in the dash any time between one and two years depending on the oil quality it detects in the car's engine.

Good question, I don't know, IIRC the manual doesn't say. I arrived at the 10k mile figure from reading around (e.g. the link posted earlier), plus the service indicator was set by them to 10k miles last time.

joeyjojo · 28 Mar 2015 at 20:10

In case anyone was wondering (anyone? lol) someone at the dealership took one look at it yesterday and said it did need a service and apologised for giving the wrong information before. :rolleyes:

Perhaps the newest model are on a 15k cycle.

/thread

Third Opinion · 29 Mar 2015 at 13:21

tom_e said:
You'll probably put up with the flashing light as well when they tell you how much they'll charge to stop it!

Probably not wrong there. My Fiat Sedici has one of these annoying flashing oil lights.

It is timed rather than giving you an accurate state of the oil. You can change the oil yourself then the dealer wants another £45 to turn off the light. None of the independents seem to be able to do it.

I invested in a ELM lead and Fiat ECU scan software. Paid for itself after the first oil change, plus it works on my Alfa so it is very handy all round.