Mercedes GLC Forum banner

GLC Service Care Plan?

24K views 26 replies 10 participants last post by  ceasar 
#1 ·
Whilst I was sitting there gooey eyed looking at my brand new sparkling white GLC, the sales guy was trying to sell me (well in fairness to him pointing out to me) lots of extra stuff. GAP insurance tire insurance and a service car plan.
About the only thing I thought seriously about was the service care plan.

He seemed to suggest that you'd save maybe 20% on serving costs by taking it out. Mind you at that time I could see my car keys and was eager to get driving.

Anyone doing the service plan, where you pay and amount per month? Is it worth doing? Do you really save?
It's £35 per month...

Many thanks,
Graham
 
#2 ·
I certainly think it is worth doing and even better if you do it right! The plan buys you 3 services for a monthly payment of £35. Your first service with be an A-service followed by a B then another A. It is far better to pay separately for your first A-service in 12 months time as it is nothing more than an oil & filter change and a visual check. Then you immediately sign up for the plan. That way you will get a B, A and a B service. The B-service is far more extensive requiring the removal of the wheels and obviously costs more than an A if you buy it in isolation. Doing it this way gets you to the end of the warranty period for the least money. Beyond this point you will find an independent garage will be far cheaper for annual servicing.
 
#3 ·
About independent shops, if you live in a big city like New York then it will be really worth considering, but aside from that, independent shops are a hit or miss. This is so true that often I see people driving to the city just to get better service. You'd be surprised to see how far some people go. But at the same time some give in to the local dealer.
 
#4 ·
Great advice, thanks. I'll wait until after the 1st service..

We have a local mechanic near me, they could certainly do an oil change and replace standard wear and tear stuff after the warranty
 
#5 ·
Just check the terms and conditions of the service plan offer. I vaguely remember I could only sign up at the £35/month rate if I did so before Red Ken's first anniversary. My A-service was done at 51 weeks and I bought the plan at the same time. I don't know if the plan is at the same rate if you try to buy it after the car is a year old.
 
#6 ·
I think Toobad is correct, I am paying the £35 a month for 2 years as when the car is 3 years old will be changed and I will not need to pay for 3rd service.
 
#7 ·
It's now gone up to £37 / month. Looking at the online MB service prices, for 2 services (3 years ownership) it's cheaper to just pay for an A and B service unless the service package includes other stuff?
 
#8 ·
Do you know the cost of the A and B services for the 43?
 
#10 ·
You can go to book a service on line and play about with the mileage so it offers you either A or B. Prices varies a little as to which dealer you choose. Think an A was £350 and a B £420 from memory but will check later on.
 
#9 ·
My A service was priced at £325.14 inc. VAT for a 220d Sport with the Premium Plus package. This included "free":
SAE 0W30 Oil @ £72 ex-VAT
Oil Filter @ £12.14 ex-VAT
Sump Plug Sealing Ring @ £0.85 ex-VAT
Screenwash @ £6.25

The AdBlue tank was topped up for an additional cost of £10.80 ex-VAT (for 5399 miles travelled). The service schedule also states the CR2032 battery in the key fob is also routinely replaced but at an additional cost. I suspected a CR2032 in a 3-pointed star blister pack would cost a King's ransom rather than the 50p charged in the High Street so I inquired as to the price. The service manager said it was easier to mark it F.O.C. rather than find out for me.

I doubt if an A service on a 43 is much different as, apart from the oil/filter change, everything else is just a visual check. A 2-service package must work out cheaper if you intend to PX for another Mercedes just before the first MOT. If you end up selling outside the marque, your trade-in price will probably heavily reflect your GLC is lacking an immediate service.
 
#11 ·
I doubt if an A service on a 43 is much different as, apart from the oil/filter change, everything else is just a visual check. A 2-service package must work out cheaper if you intend to PX for another Mercedes just before the first MOT. If you end up selling outside the marque, your trade-in price will probably heavily reflect your GLC is lacking an immediate service.[/QUOTE]

Exactly what I am doing Toobad.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Those service costs sound horrendous to me and I'll be doing some serious research before my car is due its' first service in October.

I don't understand the fixation with main dealer servicing, unless things have changed you are legally allowed to have your car serviced by any reputable VAT registered garage providing they use genuine OEM parts and recommended lubricants and this will not affect your warranty.

On my last BMW and 2 of my Audis, all within warranty period I used an independent who specialises in German cars, they also, as can any independant, register the service digitally by making a payment though sometimes they lump a few together to save costs or of course stamp a service book.

I was for example, quoted £190 for an "oil service" by the main dealer but the independent charged me £126 for exactly the same thing. The first service on my last A6 was quoted at around £230 but when I argued and quoted the independent they knocked off £60 so I let them do it even though still more expensive.

If you HAVE to use the main dealer then at least negotiate as they want and need your business and will in my experience discount the price, you can't do that is you're paying on a plan so in my opinion it's better to stick that £35 a month into a savings account.

I'm referring only to the UK of course and in my case it didn't affect trade in value in any way.

Bob
 
  • Like
Reactions: K44ent
#15 · (Edited)
Question to our overseas readers :
We here in Oz do not have a Service booklet that details what each progressive 25,000km / 12 mth service entails, no definitive listing of what is done.
Back to servicing costs from earlier post.
Advice given to me has been:
1st service, 12mth/25,000km is $495, fixed price
2nd svc, 24 mth/50,000km is $895, fixed price
3rd svc, 36 mth/75,000km is $895, fixed price
4th svc, 48mth/100,00km is $1952 – not sure what's done yet.
5th svs, 60thmth/125,000km is $3165 – again, not sure what's done.
This is for 250d model.
I will try and see if I can obtain more detailed data, difficult due to not having a paper based servicing booklet – all internal to MB data fields.


All info and digital records held by dealer/MB Aust. We only have a copy of what's done when paying and collecting our car from service.
Do any of our colleagues from USA, Europe, UK, Ireland, Sth Africa, ets have a service book that lists all the work and has to be stamped by the dealer ?
Alternatively if you have a PDF of such a document I would love to have a copy please.
We have a 250D.
Many Thanks
 
#16 ·
No service book in UK Teckno.
 
#17 ·
G'day Techno, hope you are enjoying that Melbourne heat. I suspect Aussie service requirements may differ slightly from those here in the UK to reflect driving conditions. I've attached some quick and dirty grabs from the generic European Service Booklet which you may want to peruse. Most services will comprise of a cursory glance and function testing. Things like the condition of drive belts are only checked for wear in the areas that can be seen so if a belt is hanging together by a thread at a point shrouded by another component and subsequently breaks causing catastrophic engine damage, that's just bad luck for you. We do, however, get a short GoPro video depicting some places where the £100/hour eyes have looked.

The high cost of your 125,000 km service reflects the price of changing the automatic transmission oil and oil filter as well as the oil in the 4MATIC transfer case. I can only assume it is a nightmare to drain and replenish. I believe brake pad renewal also comes at an eye-watering price as it requires recalibration of the car's computer and sensors. I think high reliance on the Distronic Plus variable cruise control wears down brake pads quicker than with conventional driving so that may come round to haunt many people sooner than expected.

Hope this helps,
Trev.
 

Attachments

#20 · (Edited)
Hi Techno ,
I was on the Corporate Program because my work is a member . I have free 3 years service because of that. It is wise to ask the dealership or your salesman if your work is a member. Its great at least you don't have to pay for the service. I'm not quite sure about the adds on eg. Ad blue ,brake pads etc. I suppose those are extras but will see when my first service comes but still a long way to go for me.
To get that Corporate Program ,you need to get a certificate from your current employer if your full time employee and it goes from there. once its done ,your invoice will say that you have free 3 years service, no membership fee no wait for __ years just ask if your employer is a member of the program .
Hope it helps.

PS.
Hijack this topic, can you tell me how to fill up Ad Blue if you want to fill up yourself? Of course after the warranty finishedD just curious ( have watched you tube )probably need a funnel to suit!!!!
Cheers
 
#22 ·
can you tell me how to fill up Ad Blue if you want to fill up yourself? Of course after the warranty finishedD just curious ( have watched you tube )probably need a funnel to suit!!!!
Cheers
I haven't done it on my GLC yet though I did buy 5 litres of ad blue in readiness just a couple of weeks ago.
I filled up My previous Audi A6 and its very simple as the ad blue bottles come complete with a screw on funnel nozzle.
 
#21 ·
Also when changing brake pads ,this if for DIY people on the know only , I've been told that you have to be checking your pads often so that you can see how far are you from damaging the sensor because of friction from the rotors, if you can do that ,you can replace the pads without replacing the sensor and any calibrating factor of the car .Main thing is sensor should be intact not a scratched from the rotor, only then we can save lots of cash (labour and price of pads from Merc) specially those who are out of warranty. Is that make sense? I think so......
Cheers
 
#23 ·
But does the adblue gauge need to be reset? I started filling up my Macan myself to avoid the ridiculous dealer cost, but because the electronics weren’t reset (only the dealer can do!) the gauge kept showing empty and the car thought so too and stopped to avoid damage. Just one of the many reasons that that car is going to a new home at the earliest opportunity.
 
#25 ·
My Audi reset itself but you need to fill it right up to reset the sensor. I assume it's similar on the MB but not sure.
 
#26 ·
Not getting rid of it just for that, there’s the rattles and knocks, grinding brakes when warm, ticking heater element from cold, the self cracking outer door trim, the rusting boot lid struts, the dab radio that takes ages to connect, the stupid grooves in the wheels that pick up tar and not forgetting the leather on the steering wheel that bubbles and had to be replaced. No, the Adblue issue is minor. Was nice to return to a dealer (Mercedes) that didn’t look down their nose at me, as if I was doing them a favour by buying one of their overpriced products. Seemed a good idea at the time!
 
#27 · (Edited)
Lons, thats what I read on that link it reset itself but have to fill right up. Hope Merc is like that. Adam with all your problems with you car, your right it needs new home but make sure you get the best of it for a sale or trade in. Having said that ,I've read about crabbing issue with the GLC but I haven't experience it as yet hopefully never. I'm happy overall with my car so far.
Also according to the link it expires within 18 months so there's no need to stack up heaps ,just when we need close to empty will probably do. I have not search yet if we can buy this stuff in bottles of 5,10 litres in a local servo.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top