Expensive service

[Nefarious]

The Merc was due a service. Just a basic "A" service - oil and filter. Merc wanted 600 notes for the privilege, so got a swift fuck off. Unfortunately with the new electronic service books, I could only choose from independents who've paid out for access to the central database, which ruled out everyone in Edinburgh.

So, trip to Glasgow arranged. Car booked in at a far more reasonable £150. Happy days. Except I made the mistake of mentioning said trip to Mrs. Nef, who thought coming along, and spending the waiting time mooching around Glasgow city centre would be fun. I think you can see where this is going...

In the end, the Merc is now serviced and Mrs Nef has a Vivienne Westwood coat. The hole in my wallet is substantially larger than if I'd just paid the main dealer in the first place .

[Orange Cola]

[Zonda_]

What Merc do you have? Mine has the foot operated parking brake which needs adjusting and I was wondering it it's a job I can do or if it needs to go somewhere.

[Mr Pish]

never tell 'er indoors how much you have saved lol

[Nefarious]

What Merc do you have? Mine has the foot operated parking brake which needs adjusting and I was wondering it it's a job I can do or if it needs to go somewhere.

2010 ML350. Multi-purpose "family" car, builders van, tow vehicle and general lugger of loads. Very effective, but lacking in charisma.

Can't tell you much about the footbrake adjustment, I'm afraid. I haven't actually done any work on the car myself in the 6 months I've had it at all, and TBH mostly intend to keep things that way!

[mik]

Brilliant.

Who did you take it to?

[Matty]

I could only choose from independents who've paid out for access to the central database

Why does it need to be in the central database?

And £600 for a basic A-service? Sweet jesus, and here's me thinking McSwede's BMW quote was bad.

[Nefarious]

Brilliant.

Who did you take it to?

TJ O'Neills. Seem like a decent bunch of blokes.

Matty - that's the Merc system - all the service records are held on a central database in Germany somewhere, and anyone who wants to read or add to them has to pay for a licence. Fucking scam if you ask me.

Strictly speaking, I could just have a normal service and keep all the paper records from here on in, but I suspect that nay future buyer would regard that as a bit pikey and rightly or wrongly make a negative inference on the quality of the work.

[Orange Cola]

It should be free to access the records, even if it means posting a copy of the service paperwork to MB and they update it a few weeks later or whatever.

[dinny_g]

I don't think Central Servicing Databases are just a MB thing are they ??

I bought a Volvo V40 in 2005 (in the UK) and my mate back in Dublin, who worked in a Volvo Dealership was able to send me the full skinny on the car, services intervals, recall work (there was a recall on the Radio, it was frying fuses), the lot.

[Nathan]

Why do you care about the Merc service database on a 5k car?

[Gwaredd]

Why do you care about the Merc service database on a 5k car?

This. That's £40.00 in parts & an hour under the car tops. You deserve to be fleeced by your wife for being so carefree with your money. I bet you said no to the match handbag too, you heartless beast.

[Mito Man]

I thought being in Scotland you could get it serviced for £40 at a main dealer

[Nefarious]

Why do you care about the Merc service database on a 5k car?

It's a £12k car, and I'm not planning on running it into the ground. It's only got 53k OTC and is in pretty good shape - I'd like to keep it as one of the premium ones when it comes for sale time

[Nathan]

Didn't realise it was so low mileage sorry

[Broccers]

Unlucky that.

[Richard]

Pffffffft

I’ve serviced cheaper cars for much more than that!!

[NotoriousREV]

Pffffffft

I’ve serviced cheapest cars for much more than that!!

Fiat Punto for starters.

[Foz]

Why do you care about the Merc service database on a 5k car?

It's a £12k car, and I'm not planning on running it into the ground. It's only got 53k OTC and is in pretty good shape - I'd like to keep it as one of the premium ones when it comes for sale time

Sadly nothing like that