Do I Have To Get My Mercedes Serviced At The Dealership

17 Mar Do I Accept To Take My Mercedes To The Dealer For Service?

Posted at xviii:23h in German Car Repair

This is a common question new Mercedes car owners have and one nosotros get asked often. "Am I required to have my BMW or Mercedes back to the dealer for service?" "Does an independent repair store void my warranty if they work on my automobile?" The list goes on and on. The respond is NO. Yous are permitted to take your machine any place you would like to have it serviced and repaired. The Mercedes dealer would like you to believe that your local European repair facility doesn't take the tools, correct diagnostic equipment, or skills to work on your vehicle.

The Mercedes dealer has a vested interest in making sure you lot keep coming dorsum to the dealership and proceed to pay the high prices they sometimes charge. Virtually new machine dealers rely heavily on their repair business organisation to survive and often sell new vehicles at suspension-even prices (or even at a loss) hoping to brand it up on your oil changes, new tires, and other regular maintenance and repairs.

It is e'er a expert thought to remember this i very important fact; most independent shops are endemic and operated by mechanics that cut their teeth at the dealership. The path of a career German mechanic is very similar from 1 shop to another; many of usa got our start working for a large franchise Mercedes, BMW, Audi, or Porsche dealer. Then after several years, nosotros either movement on to an independent store or venture out on our own.

For myself, I spent many years working for a talented mechanic from Germany who spent years at a Mercedes dealership right here in Chicago. I got to see an entirely different side to the repair business, both expert and bad. One matter I speedily learned was how much of a price difference there is between a dealer and your local BMW repair shop. Yep, I understand that a dealer has a large overhead, just information technology however seems to exist outrageous. Automd.com recently released a report and constitute that the average dealer charges most 25% more across the board compared to independents.

Let's look at a few ways dealerships like to make y'all believe that you can't take your car whatsoever place merely them-

We use proprietary oil and fluids that only a dealer tin can become.

In this day and age, does that even brand sense anymore? The dealer likes to tell you that your Porsche takes special oil, and while yep, 0w-twoscore is non the most common weight, information technology is still readily available in the real world.

Independent Mechanics do not have specialized diagnostic computers.

At first glance, this may seem similar a reasonable claim, but many contained mechanics, including Autobahn Automotive Service, invest heavily in the specialized equipment information technology takes to correctly diagnose and repair German vehicles. Most manufactures also license their own diagnostic software to repair facilities.

Independent Mechanics practice not take the same training.

Here is some other claim that is only as false every bit the remainder. I would venture to say that about quality independent shops have higher skilled mechanics than the dealer. Walk into many Mercedes Benz dealerships across the country and the average years of feel are only a fraction of a German Car Specialist. Furthermore, there are factory training classes offered for almost every major vehicle manufactured.

Only the dealer can get factory parts.

This is one of my favorite statements we hear from dealer service managers. In that location is a huge aftermarket parts distribution network for OEM parts (Original Equipment Manufacturer.) They are available across the state from many sources. In fact, most dealers reach out to the mechanics in their ain boondocks to offer replacement parts wholesale for their shops. The benefit goes well across using 18-carat parts; we are able to offering them cheaper than the dealer.

Simply the dealer knows the required maintenance.

Does this even make sense? It's a real line I have heard from customers and on more than just one occasion. News flash: the vehicle service schedule is in every owner's transmission and, at the very least, there's this thing chosen Google. This is a troubling annotate because it shows the lengths the dealer will go to in guild to gain service work. On top of this, "extreme use" is the first trick the dealer volition utilize to increment the service ticket. They say your vehicle needs more than maintenance because of how you drive.

Exercise I Have To Utilise The Dealer For Service?

Afterwards so many years fixing BMW'south, Mercedes, Porsche, and Audi's, I have heard many horror stories from customers who were coerced into spending more money with the dealer. With their large facilities, fancy piece of furniture, and dainty uniforms it's piece of cake to perceive them every bit 'honest experts.' However, nigh service writers are paid a commission on the job and services they sell, so how tin can you always be certain they have your best interest at heart? In addition to their ambitious sales techniques, most dealers accept monthly repair or ticket quotas to run into. Again, how can yous know you are getting real, unbiased communication about your vehicle when someone is always trying to "hit their numbers?"

Reading this may seem shocking, just before you mitt over your credit card on your side by side oil alter, exercise your research and interview some alternatives to the dealer. Of class you lot are reading this on our Blog, just it holds true for many shops; when y'all come to Autobahn, you become to deal directly with the owner. We survive on bang-up reviews and word-of-rima oris advertising from our clients. Putting your all-time interests first and doing an excellent task will brand sure nosotros meet our goals!