Servicing FAQs
With changes in technology, in most instances your car’s dashboard or multimedia interface will alert you to when a service is due. Alternatively, you can refer directly to the Manufacturer’s servicing guidelines.
A common myth is that you have to use a main dealer to service your car to keep it under warranty. This is simply untrue and often results in individuals unknowingly paying over inflated prices with poorer customer service and satisfaction. Current EU Legislation, which you can view here means that as long as long as genuine or approved manufacturer parts and oils are used during the service, you are not breaking any terms of your contract and your new car warranty is guaranteed. We at Mercedes, BMW and Audi Independent only use genuine manufacturer parts and oil and we are also fully authorised to update your digital service book.
Yes we are. As a specialist independent we are fully registered and authorised to update your digital service schedule, which has recently begun to replace the traditional service book. This record will be stored centrally in the Manufacturers database and will provide a complete overview of your car’s service history. If your car still has a traditional paper service book, our specialist approved technicians will stamp your service intervals. The service light is automatically reset to the appropriate interval
We at Mercedes, BMW and Audi Independent pride ourselves in leading the way in independent dealerships. As a professional independent we invest in the very latest diagnostic software which is constantly updated in order to be able to access the latest on-board computer systems. In addition, our specialist technicians have direct access to technical databases where they are able to view any technical or maintenance query.
Of course! Here at Mercedes, BMW Audi Independent we have absolutely nothing to hide. You can speak and watch our specialist technicians at work if you visit the service centre.
Our experienced technicians in Mercedes, BMW, Audi and other prestige cars, will be working on your car.
We at Mercedes, BMW and Audi Independent believe that quality is paramount, so we always use dealer specification parts.
We understand that maintaining older vehicles can sometimes be very costly. At Mercedes BMW Audi Independent we are able to give you a choice of genuine manufacturer parts or suitable aftermarket parts to help suit your budget.
Yes, free dealer servicing generally only covers basic oil services and doesn't include items such as brake pads, discs, tyres, wiper blades to mention but a few, any additional work carried out will be chargeable...at inflated dealer rates. We advise you check what is free and save money by having any extra work carried out by ourselves.
Yes, you can, new laws now allow us to complete all of your annual service requirements and wear and tear items such as brakes, discs, wipers etc at a fraction of the cost of main dealer prices. Should any major mechanical fault occur simply take it to the nearest franchised dealer and they will carry out the repair free of charge under the terms and conditions of your existing warranty.
It’s quite simple with no fancy showroom and sales staff to support we have much lower overheads than main dealers. With our substantial buying power, we are able to save money on dealer specification parts which we source direct from the manufacturer. We also keep an eye on all our costs enabling us to charge a much lower hourly rate for labour typically half that of the main dealer hourly rate, and we are able to offer all services you can imagine.
Air Conditioning FAQs
Turn the air conditioning on, ensuring that it's not set to 'economy' mode. When you first get into a hot car, open the windows, ensure that the air vents are set to face level and the system is set up to do the same, not pointed at your feet- remember cold air falls. Turn the temperature to as low as it will go, and the blower as high as possible. Also make sure that the air is on 'recirc' mode and not taking air from outside. When the temperature is more comfortable, close the windows and increase the temperature to a more suitable level as well as decreasing the blower speed. You should also point the air vents upwards to ensure the cold air flows down again.
As previously mentioned, through non-use seals can seize. Your car manufacturer when they service your car only test to see if the air conditioning works, not that all the components are working properly and in full working condition. Regular air conditioning system servicing ensures the system is full of coolant, that there are no leaks, the pressure is correct and that the hoses, seals and pipes are all in full working order.
Your air conditioning system can lose up to 15% of its coolant every year, so a 3-year-old car may have lost almost half its coolant, seriously impacting on the performance of the system and damaging the components involved. You should regularly have the air conditioning systems serviced to reduce wear and tear on the components and help avoid potentially big repair bills. We offer recharging and servicing.
The answer to this is 'yes' it does, however not by much. When you think of the alternatives, you could have the windows open but that would increase wind resistance which can add up to 10% to your fuel consumption, especially at speed and don't forget the extra noise and pollution through that open window. Also, it's worth pointing out that you should run your air conditioning at least once a week, especially in the winter as the seals can seize up through non-use potentially costing you more in future in new parts and repair!
The origin of the smell is caused by fungus, bacteria and other microbes growing inside the evaporator core. The moisture-laden environment is very conducive to the growth of these organisms. As automakers downsize components to save space and weight, this problem has been increased. Because the automakers made the evaporator smaller, they added more fins and packed them closer together to increase the efficiency of the evaporator. While this has made the evaporator more efficient, it has also made it more prone to trap moisture that contributes to the growth of these organisms. We offer a full odour removal service using the latest research, tools and equipment.
- Efficient cool air in summer.
- Warm dehumidified air in winter easily demists steamed up windows.
- Filters pollutants / airborne particles inc pollen helping allergy sufferers.
- Pleasant and odour free vehicle atmosphere at all times.
Wheel Alignment FAQs
We have the latest digital alignment equipment that equals the specifications for the dealership network, with this comes all the relevant factory specifications for all cars.
New or old tyres fitted will make little difference to the alignment readings. They will however have a big effect on the way the car feels to drive (even after the alignment has been corrected). Where there was a high degree of misalignment and hence, tyre wear present it would be recommended to have new tyres fitted at the time of when the alignment adjustments are made.
4 Wheel Laser Alignment - £60 - £120 This includes all adjustable front/rear end settings to within manufacturers range. If your vehicle is only front end adjustable then it will be cheaper, however, if your car is front and rear end adjustable it will take more time and therefore be slightly more expensive.
Additional charges may be applied when suspension components are seized and require work to free up and make adjustable.
The first way forward on any car is to capture the current measurements for all the alignment angles - this will then give the complete answer and lead to the necessary diagnosis and subsequent adjustments. However, as a general rule excessive toe-out will lead to premature inside edge wear - this will generally show on both tyres on that axle. The steering wheel not being straight is most likely caused by more adjustment having been made on one track rod than the other - This 'fault' is common when tracking alone has been done.
Tracking is an across the axle check of total toe. With the tracking gauges touching the edge of the wheel rim the operator peers through a 'scope' or views a light/laser beam on a scale. With no allowance for run out compensation the reading taken will at best be approximate. So, for tracking - we have one angle measured approximately. Four Wheel Alignment will give a minimum of 12 angles measured, all referenced to the car wheel centreline and displaying these alignment angles and comparing them to the factory alignment data. Allowance is made for wheel rim run-out. We will have accurate repeatable readings that will allow the full picture of how the vehicle drives and whether undue tyre wear will occur. Adjustment would involve the steering wheel being set straight and adjusting the individual toe to maintain a straight steering wheel while the car is driven.
Follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation noted in your owner's manual. However, as a general rule, have your vehicle's tyres checked every 10,000 miles or at least once a year.
You should have your car checked:
- If excessive or uneven tyre wear is found
- If there is a feeling of looseness or wandering
- If there is steering wheel vibration
- After 10,000 miles or one year of driving
- If your vehicle pulls to the left or right whilst driving straight
- If you need to hold on to the steering wheel to drive straight
- If you need to keep the steering wheel unlevel to drive straight
- After changing a set of tyres
- After a change of suspension or steering parts
- After the first 2,000 miles of driving a new car
Extremely! Research indicates that the average car is driven about 12,000 miles per year. A car with toe alignment just 0.34 degrees (Just 0.17 inches) out of specification has dragged its tyres sideways for more than 68 miles by the end of the year.
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