Servicing the G at the official MB dealer - do or don't

hi Most MB dealerships have to go through a "Learning Curve" when it comes to G' wagen..and charge you accordingly...lots of wasted manhours...G' specialists are few and far between in the UK but the GWOA has a wealth of experience... if you are handy with the toolbox!! .I can fax you a 47 item pre workshop visit visual inspection schedule which you can do yourself.... then if in doubt ask the forum....... and find a good mechanic who will do the wrench bending and the dirty bits.....

Took the G400 to MB Brooklands for a change of Transmission fluid (auto-box). The job was done (very reasonable, £190 including filter, oil etc), but they noted that the V-belt , although not bad, could do with being replaced as it was showing small cracks in the rubber surface. At the time, they thought, however, that it would be a big job involving the removal of the Intercooler for access.

When I called to book it in again, they quoted less than 1-hour (?) to do the work, and so I made an early appointment, for a while-you-wait service.
The night before, however, I found an old copy of the WIS and looked up the service procedure. It was "ZM"-rated, meaning as long as necessary, but it did look to be more than 1-hour, certainly.

The next day, I arrived at 08:00 and the technician began working on the car at 08:30......At 12:00 he was still working on the car and the service manager kindly loaned me a brand-new E-class to get to work. At 5:00 pm, I received a call saying the job was done. I collected the car at 6:00 pm, all cleaned and washed.

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that they were very good about the work and although the job took about 8 hours, they only charged for 4 hours and included a 3+ discount (20% I think on parts and labour). I guess if you're familiar with this engine and the G, then probably 3-4 hours is what the job would take, but still, compared to previous experiences with other MB dealers, even on standard MB cars, I would highly rate MB Brooklands.

When I called to book it in again, they quoted less than 1-hour (?) to do the work, and so I made an early appointment, for a while-you-wait service.
The night before, however, I found an old copy of the WIS and looked up the service procedure. It was "ZM"-rated, meaning as long as necessary, but it did look to be more than 1-hour, certainly.

The next day, I arrived at 08:00 and the technician began working on the car at 08:30......At 12:00 he was still working on the car and the service manager kindly loaned me a brand-new E-class to get to work. At 5:00 pm, I received a call saying the job was done. I collected the car at 6:00 pm, all cleaned and washed.

Anyway, what I wanted to say is that they were very good about the work and although the job took about 8 hours, they only charged for 4 hours and included a 3+ discount (20% I think on parts and labour). I guess if you're familiar with this engine and the G, then probably 3-4 hours is what the job would take, but still, compared to previous experiences with other MB dealers, even on standard MB cars, I would highly rate MB Brooklands.

Glad you had a positive experience. Did you remember who you booked it in under? Brooklands look after my Merc's since they have opened (My old MB Dealer Mechanic went there and I followed). Did a great job on the replacing the Kats and exhaust a few weeks back. (Mind you exensive parts, but they did discunt them as much as possible! :cry: )

Spider1V

Spider1V

Yes, Andrew Hillier (Service Manager). Maybe it was your G that I saw there a couple of weeks ago, when having the auto-box oil changed?

Oooh! Maybe! Tecktite Grey, V8 GWO, It was in for a week, new air mass thingy, new exhaust, new Kats, new clips........ the list goes on and on! :P around the start of this month (july)

Spider1V