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Mercedes C Class
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 1074
- Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2015 1:17 pm
Mercedes C Class
Just had to post this as I couldnt believe it.
A friend with a 10 year old c class V6 diesel had a headlight bulb go out. Took it to halfords who replaced it for him , we then fast forward a couple of months. Bulb went out again around the time a standard service was due. He took it to his main dealer who said water had got into the headlight as halfords hadnt sealed the unit properly. He left car with dealer for service and new headlight. He then got a call to say the headlight was not available at any Mercedes dealers so one had to be manufactured and it would take a number of weeks. He agreed to this and the other day got a call to say car could be picked up. Main dealer said they also found a leak on the oil pump which needed to be stripped down and they presented him with a bill for £5400. £180 an hour plus vat labour rate.
Just couldnt believe it, what a rip off.
A friend with a 10 year old c class V6 diesel had a headlight bulb go out. Took it to halfords who replaced it for him , we then fast forward a couple of months. Bulb went out again around the time a standard service was due. He took it to his main dealer who said water had got into the headlight as halfords hadnt sealed the unit properly. He left car with dealer for service and new headlight. He then got a call to say the headlight was not available at any Mercedes dealers so one had to be manufactured and it would take a number of weeks. He agreed to this and the other day got a call to say car could be picked up. Main dealer said they also found a leak on the oil pump which needed to be stripped down and they presented him with a bill for £5400. £180 an hour plus vat labour rate.
Just couldnt believe it, what a rip off.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8471
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Mercedes C Class
Two lessons to be learned there;
1. Don't use Halfords for anything as they are crap
2. Don't use a main dealer as they are also crap (generally) and extremely expensive.
Reminds me of the old comedy saying ; "I maybe useless, but at least I'm expensive"
1. Don't use Halfords for anything as they are crap
2. Don't use a main dealer as they are also crap (generally) and extremely expensive.
Reminds me of the old comedy saying ; "I maybe useless, but at least I'm expensive"
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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- Newbie
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 2:28 pm
Mercedes C Class
Unbelievable prices, surely owner had an idea of costs before and during so it wasn't a shock?
- Scubaregs
- Lifer
- Posts: 3015
- Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:36 am
Mercedes C Class
^This^
Who has a main dealer do any work without getting a quote?
Who has a main dealer do any work without getting a quote?
Abstinence is fine, in moderation.
San Francisco red G29 30i. BMW S1000r Sport.
San Francisco red G29 30i. BMW S1000r Sport.
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14702
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Mercedes C Class
There is also no evidence it was Halfords fault. It could have been water ingress that popped the first bulb.
- mr wilks
- Legend
- Posts: 21897
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:02 pm
- Location: Lancashire
Mercedes C Class
there isn't a 10yr old Mercedes worth £5400 is there
Owner deserves all he gets taking a aged Mercedes anywhere near a main dealer
though as the saying goes a fool & their money . . . . . . .
Owner deserves all he gets taking a aged Mercedes anywhere near a main dealer
though as the saying goes a fool & their money . . . . . . .
Last edited by mr wilks on Wed Jan 11, 2023 9:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
3 ZMRs
3 E89s
5 Si coupes
5 Si roadsters
997 C4
TTRS
F82 M4
MK7 Golf Gti
current Bmw 6 Gran Turismo
3 E89s
5 Si coupes
5 Si roadsters
997 C4
TTRS
F82 M4
MK7 Golf Gti
current Bmw 6 Gran Turismo
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23809
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Mercedes C Class
How much?
There I was thinking BMW dealers were expensive!
There I was thinking BMW dealers were expensive!
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
- ronk
- Lifer
- Posts: 14222
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:50 am
- Location: Durham
Mercedes C Class
But there is all that "Free" coffee!
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
- MikeyH
- Lifer
- Posts: 4843
- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:57 pm
- Location: Devon
Mercedes C Class
And biscuits?
Now, Sterling grey Z4 2.2 with cup holders, stubby aerial and sport seats. Roadsters ‘cause they’re great with the roof down.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8471
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Mercedes C Class
And Wifi, so you can still use your laptop to trade your bitcoins while you wait.
I was in a Merc dealership once (and only once) for a service (lease conditions). The bird on reception made a big thing about the 'free' filtered coffee. I said "keep your coffee and give me money off my extortionate service instead". She said NO.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
- ronk
- Lifer
- Posts: 14222
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:50 am
- Location: Durham
Mercedes C Class
It’s not as tho they are particularly good/skilled/efficient either- they rarely get it sorted first time!
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
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- Newbie
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 2:28 pm
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26517
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 1064
- Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2015 9:17 pm
- Location: By the M6 Toll Rd Staffordshire
Mercedes C Class
Did he pay the bill
My Cars
2021 X3 M Sport loaded with Tec
1974 Triumph TR6 in Mimosa Yellow
Gone but not forgotten
2008 Z4 3.0 SI Roadster
2021 X3 M Sport loaded with Tec
1974 Triumph TR6 in Mimosa Yellow
Gone but not forgotten
2008 Z4 3.0 SI Roadster
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 1074
- Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2015 1:17 pm
Mercedes C Class
Yeah, he paid the bill and says car is now running well!!. He has no idea about cars and always uses the main dealer. They gave him a figure of around £3k for the service and headlight unit. Whats the betting they have him earmarked as a mug and will be calling him back soon on some pretence like air con needs regassing or tyres need safety checks.