OV9

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 .

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.

never tell 'er indoors how much you have saved lol

Zonda_ wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 1:25 pm 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!

Brilliant.

Who did you take it to?

Nefarious wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 1:20 pm 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.

mik wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 2:38 pm 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.

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.

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.

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

Nathan wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:41 pm 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.

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

Nathan wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:41 pm 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

Didn't realise it was so low mileage sorry

Unlucky that.

Pffffffft

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

Richard wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2019 2:09 pm Pffffffft

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

Fiat Punto for starters.

Nefarious wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 4:18 pm

Nathan wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:41 pm 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