Dealer vs Independent Servicing

[Yucca]

Hi all

Id welcome thoughts on dealer vs independent garage servicing. Not so much as to the pro's and con's of each option but more so WHEN or WHY you decide to move from having you car done by the dealer to your local garage.

I drive a 2017 Mercades CLK 22CDI with 145k on the clock. Iv historically had ALL work done from Mercades and have retained every receipt. I initially did this for the first few years as it was an expensive car and I wanted Merc to do the work - It gave me piece of mind. Plus I thought it'd be easier to sell. Now 8-9 years on the car is worth around 3k.

When do I move away from Merc to the local cheaper garage? Do you have a rule of thumb for such decisions?!

Its due a major service. Merc have quoted me £350. Halfords & Kwikfit are £180/£200.

 

[stoofa]

With my less prestige Octy vRS, I bought it new in 2011 and then used dealer servicing until it was 5yrs old - variable servicing, so that was less than 5 services.
That covered my 3yr warranty and then covered the 2yrs in which goodwill can be achieved if something major happens. Once it reached 5 I took it to a local indi. Obviously when it comes to sell or trade-in, main dealer can see all of the mian dealer services listed for proof.
I'm taking delivery of my 1yr old Octy VRS with Saturday and will probably do the same again. Main dealer until it's 5 and then move to indi - if there is a significant saving. I've seen in the past adverts where a Main Skoda or VW dealership were only £20 more than the indi, might as well take it to the main dealer in that case.

 

[Armageus]

I wouldn't touch Halfords/Kwik fit at all at those prices.
Is there no "mercedes specialist" or "German car specialist" local to you?

As above though main dealers can be competitive on some fixed price repairs, and it's worth taking into account some of the extras you sometimes get (e.g. I've had breakdown cover included with main dealer services at ford and vauxhall in the past)

 

[Jez]

I don’t see any value whatsoever in a Halfords/Kwik fit receipt. To me a receipt from a cheap outlet such as eurocarparts would hold just as much weight.

Either use the main agent, a recognised proper specialist, or buy the parts from your main agent including nice headed receipt.

Anything else just buy cheaply from carparts4less or eurocarparts.

 

[Martynt74]

I drive a 2017 Mercades CLK 22CDI

I initially did this for the first few years as it was an expensive car and I wanted Merc to do the work - It gave me piece of mind. Plus I thought it'd be easier to sell. Now 8-9 years on the car is worth around 3k.

Is there a typo here as you're talking about a car that's only a year old. Presume you mean 2007?

 

[Psycho Sonny]

Hi all

Id welcome thoughts on dealer vs independent garage servicing. Not so much as to the pro's and con's of each option but more so WHEN or WHY you decide to move from having you car done by the dealer to your local garage.

I drive a 2017 Mercades CLK 22CDI with 145k on the clock. Iv historically had ALL work done from Mercades and have retained every receipt. I initially did this for the first few years as it was an expensive car and I wanted Merc to do the work - It gave me piece of mind. Plus I thought it'd be easier to sell. Now 8-9 years on the car is worth around 3k.

When do I move away from Merc to the local cheaper garage? Do you have a rule of thumb for such decisions?!

Its due a major service. Merc have quoted me £350. Halfords & Kwikfit are £180/£200.

Do not use halfords or kwikfit under any circumstances.

Find yourself a well recommended indy. Go onto mercedes forums they usually have a local indy feedback section.

I went onto one and i found a few that were recommended. tried the first one a few times and was just like any other garage. overpriced. tried the second recommendation and it's been so good i am planning on sticking with the same manufacturer as he only does BMW's and nothing else.

try recommended indy's on decent merc forums.

 

[Semple]

Is there a typo here as you're talking about a car that's only a year old. Presume you mean 2007?

First thing i clocked on as well!

Frankly i'd have moved on to indy servicing (specialist rather than halfords/kwik-fit) years ago. Pretty much after the warranty is up there's not much use continuing with dealer servicing. Yes some people may pay a few quid more for FMDSH, but now at a car of nearly 10 years (or over 10 if it's 07 plate), no-ones really going to care about FMDSH vs FSH.

 

[Bug One]

2017 with 145k on the clock Even a Taxi driver would struggle to pull that off!

So, as said I'm guessing you mean 2007. In which case, I'd probably be getting my hands dirty and replacing the oil and filters myself. Or getting a 'proper' independant local garage to do it.

 

[Gaygle]

Buy all OEM parts required for servicing and give it to a local trusted garage to fit and charge the labour.

This means you get the highest quality parts, fitted by a garage who can do it without ****ing it up. Keep both receipts as proof.

 

[Roland Butter]

If you think you'll get a better price for a 8 year old car because it's had all its servicing done at a dealer you don't know much about
the car trade, you get the book price.

Ah, but it's got new brake discs all round, a new cat and a new suspension links, no matter, you'll get offered the book price.

 

[Yucca]

Yes 07 and not 17, sorry.

There are several 'Mercades Specialists' around Birmingham but how do I know they really are specialists using OEM parts and not just marketing slogans? I rang a couple today who quoted £250-£280, in which case the saving is not that big. Especially as I get free Mercades break down cover included. (Armageus - Id forgotten about this, thanks for reminding me!)

Several have said use a recommend/trusted garage but recommended/trusted by whom?! The Merc forums that you have suggested - Could you link please?

The idea of buying OEM parts myself and then paying for the labour..... Firstly I have no idea what parts are required for the service and secondly where would I buy OEM parts from? Im not sure there would be much of a saving on a £350 service to warrant the messing about?

Defo won't be 'getting my hands dirty' as I know very little about cars, as you can probably see!

 

[Yucca]

If you think you'll get a better price for a 8 year old car because it's had all its servicing done at a dealer you don't know much about
the car trade, you get the book price.

Ah, but it's got new brake discs all round, a new cat and a new suspension links, no matter, you'll get offered the book price.

I will sell private on Auto trader eventually in a year or two. I was under the impression that full Merc history would fetch a few hundred more and get me a faster sale.

 

[bowey]

I will sell private on Auto trader eventually in a year or two. I was under the impression that full Merc history would fetch a few hundred more and get me a faster sale.

I personally wouldn't be bothered who it was serviced from just as long it was serviced. People seem to think a service is a major thing when all they do is change filters oil top ups and wd40 the hinges, literally takes minutes.

 

[tom_nieto]

Get some quotes from specialists and go from there. At this age and mileage, as long as it’s been serviced that’ll be good enough for most people. There are certain perks with main dealer servicing like breakdown cover which could make the difference in price worthwhile.

Wouldn’t go to Kwik fit or Halfords for servicing though!

 

[Gaygle]

There are several 'Mercades Specialists' around Birmingham but how do I know they really are specialists using OEM parts and not just marketing slogans? I rang a couple today who quoted £250-£280, in which case the saving is not that big.

A lot of "specialists" started out as charging 50% of what dealers do for servicing, but IME as they get more popular they steadily increased their prices to being at least 75-80% of what dealers want, often not worth it. As their business matures, I think a lot of their customers continue to go to them now not because of their prices, but because of the fundamental distrust of main dealers.

Especially as I get free Mercades break down cover included. (Armageus - Id forgotten about this, thanks for reminding me!)

Very true, something to factor in.

Several have said use a recommend/trusted garage but recommended/trusted by whom?! The Merc forums that you have suggested - Could you link please?

Do you have friends? Family? Facebook? Google? If you can't find a garage that can servicing a ****ing Mercedes in Birmingham, you clearly haven't looked beyond the end of your driveway

The idea of buying OEM parts myself and then paying for the labour..... Firstly I have no idea what parts are required for the service and secondly where would I buy OEM parts from? Im not sure there would be much of a saving on a £350 service to warrant the messing about?

Buying OEM parts is often cheap as hell compared to what the dealer will charge you for the exact same part. Many of them have the manufacturers logo badly scratched off on the part.

If you don't know what Mercedes are charging you £350 for, why are you paying them £350? They could be charging you £350 for a £6 oil filter and some oil for all you know? If you're bothered enough to be looking into how to save money on servicing, you should probably start with knowing what Mercedes are charging you £350 for. And not a "full service" or rubbish like that, you need to know exactly what they're doing. Oil/oil filter? Air filter? Fuel filter? Brake fluid? Their quote of £350 is meaningless unless accompanied by a list of items they're doing.

Defo won't be 'getting my hands dirty' as I know very little about cars, as you can probably see!

We guessed...

 

[ahenners]

My Octavia VRS was 5 last month and I'm still having it serviced by a dealer rather than an independent. They do an Oil + filter change for £99. With 5.7L VW spec oil + a filter + labour I can't imagine the profit margin is huge and I haven't found a trustworthy independent that will undercut enough or even get close to this price to make it worthwhile. Plus the facilities are nice and they'll wash and vac if you like.

Air + pollen filters are simple enough to do and OEM quality Mann filters are cheap from ECP. Had brake fluid done last month for £54, even places like ATS charge £40. DSG service is £179, £20 cheaper than a trusted local independent will do it for.

I'll likely be using dealers for servicing for some timea still and independents for when stuff breaks and needs fixing or when consumables need replacing.

 

[Nasher]

Dealer service isn't usually more expensive these days tbh. I've been taking my gt86 to Toyota because every time I've taken it to an indy garage for work I get "oh we've never worked on one of these before", which doesn't fill me with confidence Also Toyota halve the service price after the warranty has expired!

But yea...I wouldn't let Kwikfit or Halfords anywhere near my cars.

 

[Hades]

If selling privately then it may add some value to continually get a dealer service. But it probably won't recoup the extra cost over that time. If you intend to trade the car in then it won't make a difference.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

My local indy is cheaper and does a better job. As soon as it is out of its first 3 years, off to the indy it goes. Has never affected my resale.

 

[tamzzy]

There are several 'Mercades Specialists' around Birmingham but how do I know they really are specialists using OEM parts and not just marketing slogans? I rang a couple today who quoted £250-£280, in which case the saving is not that big. Especially as I get free Mercades break down cover included. (Armageus - Id forgotten about this, thanks for reminding me!)

i've used stourbridge automotive and can recommend them