SLSHOP SERVICE PROCESS

SLSHOP Service Process: Here at SLSHOP, we want to make your visit to us as enjoyable and hassle free as possible. We believe that after over 10 years of working with Classic Mercedes owners, we can satisfy your requirements. Above all, we’ll truly go the extra mile to do so.

So, to begin your SLSHOP Service Process experience, contact our experienced Front of House Team (FOHT) for a consultation, either by phone or by e-mail. This initial enquiry can provide valuable advice on the types of services we offer, how we can help with transportation if required, personal transfers from our premises to public transport stations, local hotel recommendation’s and reservations, working space and WiFi on site if you choose to wait for your vehicle, our Parts policy, general advice on classic Mercedes cars and ownership and much more.

Learn more about SLSHOP Service Process here

Should your enquiry progress to a Firm Booking what should you expect?

On arrival, our FOHT staff will greet you enthusiastically. After a welcoming coffee/tea, we’ll invite you to a complimentary tour of the site, where you can see vehicles currently benefitting from the attention of our skilled workforce. Of these, some may be a full bare shell restoration, others might be a service. On other cases, you may witness repairs. I’m sure you’ll find it interesting, and you’re free to ask questions as you go.

While you enjoy your tour, your car will be ‘inducted’ into our proven quality assurance process. Before entering the workshop, we’ll prepare it with upholstery covers to protect the seats, a steering wheel cover and carpet protectors. Also, it will be digitally photographed from all angles to record condition. Afterwards, we’ll provide you with a full appraisal of the vehicle and contents. Then, we’ll remove personal items and store them separately before the vehicle enters the workshop areas (we appreciate it if personal items left with the vehicle are to the minimum).

Once you’re satisfied that we’ve understood your full requirements, you’re free to continue your day. Whether that’s a transfer to the nearest station, a taxi to your hotel if you’re staying in the area, or a quiet place to sit and relax or work.

The Process

Next, we’ll enter your vehicle into the workshop system where we’ll assign a skilled technician to complete the service/repairs required. Then, we’ll complete an initial road test to assess the dynamic performance of the vehicle.

We operate a continuous information system and we’ll immediately notify you of any defects discovered that require authorisation from you. Also, we’ll provide comprehensive cost information of both parts and labour. As well as these, we’ll explain our rationale behind the required work. We’ll record digital photographs of defects and provide them to you. Please note that prompt response to such requests ensure that we meet timescales and minimise delays.

Once the workshop has completed the tasks requested, your vehicle will have a final road test. Also, we will valet it prior to its return to you.

You will receive confirmation of all works carried out, as well as a list of parts fitted and the final cost.

A convenient date for collection or delivery back to you will be agreed with the FOHT.

If you’re collecting in person, we’ll spend  a short time discussing some advice for future planning based on some of our observations. Then you’ll have the opportunity to review your SLSHOP experience with us. Thereafter, if requested, our Sales director will be happy to discuss the value of your individual vehicle or more general information on the Classic Mercedes market place.

After your visit, you’ll become part of the SLSHOP Family. From now on, your personal and vehicle details will be on our system, enabling us to send timely reminders of due services and MOT Tests.

The Service Products

Here at The SLSHOP, we pride ourselves on offering products that exceed the expectations of our customers. With that in mind, we looked at how we might improve vehicle servicing. Now, we’re pleased to offer 3 products that make choosing the correct service for your vehicle as easy as A,B,C.

So, how to make the choice. Traditionally, all manufacturers designed their service programs based on either time or mileage. Instead of keeping to that, we’ve added a third consideration to that. That is, the vehicle is ‘used’ by you.

It doesn’t matter whether you keep your vehicle as part of a collection for investment, a hobby car for high days and holidays, or you’re a regular user of your vehicle. Either way, we have a product or combination of products to suit your needs.

We believe that vehicle owners should keep their car in a fully reliable and roadworthy condition at all times, ready for you to enjoy at the turn of the key. Therefore, we always recommend the vehicle is ‘serviced’ annually, preferably at the anniversary of its MoT test. But what level of service? That’s the question. 

What do all mechanical devises need to keep them running smoothly? The answer is lubrication, lubrication and more lubrication. So maintaining the lubricants in your vehicle at the correct levels and in optimum condition are the first priority. If your vehicle has been used for less than 1000 miles per year, then we would suggest our ‘A’ service product as a first step.

The A Service package will provide:

1. A full inspection of the vehicle to MoT standards and report on its condition
2. Full underbody corrosion assessment
3. Tyre pressures and tread depth checked
4. Spare wheel checked for pressure, condition and security
5. Wheels removed for thorough inspection of brake components
6. One of our experienced staff will test-drive the vehicle to assess its dynamic performance
7. We’ll change the engine oil and filter
8. All other lubricant levels checked
9. We’ll service all grease points
10. We’ll check coolant level and antifreeze strength
11. Issuing of a new MoT certificate

Of course, with low mileage vehicles, its easy to slip into the habit of a minor service each year. But as time progresses, you should consider changing other basic components that affect the running of the vehicle. 

Our ‘B’ service product addresses this issue. As well as covering all elements of the ‘A service’, it has the addition of changing all spark plugs and the air filter both key components in the operation of the engine.

The B Service package will provide:

1. 1. A full inspection of the vehicle to MoT standards and report on its condition
   2. Full underbody corrosion assessment
   3. Tyre pressures and tread depth checked
   4. Spare wheel checked for pressure, condition and security
   5. Wheels removed for thorough inspection of brake components
   6. One of our experienced staff will test-drive the car to assess its dynamic performance
   7. Engine oil and filter changed
   8. All other lubricant levels checked
   9. All grease points serviced
   10. Coolant level and antifreeze strength checked
   11. Spark plugs replaced
   12. Air filter replaced
   13. Issuing of a new MoT certificate

The C Service package will provide:

1. A full inspection of the vehicle to MoT standards and report on its condition
2. Full underbody corrosion assessment
3. Tyre pressures and tread depth checked
4. Spare wheel checked for pressure, condition and security
5. Wheels removed for thorough inspection of brake components
6. One of our experienced staff will test-drive the vehicle to assess its dynamic performance
7. The engine oil and filter changed
8. The power steering system serviced and the fluid changed
9. The transmission serviced, automatic gearbox filter and fluid changed
10. The fuel filter changed
11. All grease points serviced
12. Ignition system components inspected and timing checked
13. Exhaust emissions checked and adjusted if required
14. All other lubricant levels checked
15. Coolant level and antifreeze strength checked
16. All spark plugs replaced
17. Air filter replaced
18. Brake fluid replaced
19. Issuing of a new MoT certificate

Owners should alternate this product with our B service product on High mileage vehicles (vehicles covering between 6000 to 10,000 miles/annum) and every three years in other cases

Our experienced staff will be happy to discuss your individual needs. From there, they can design a service program based on the ABC principle which exactly matches your individual requirements.

Of course, maintaining the correct service history for your vehicle is important in both terms of the value and the desirability of your vehicle. Take note that if allowed to lapse, you can’t rectify it. 

We must remember that classic vehicles were designed in an ERA where lubricant technology was not as advanced as today. Also, manufacturing processes were more dependent on people’s skills than computers. Since then, driving conditions have also evolved. Today’s technology has enabled modern vehicle servicing intervals to extend beyond what was ever envisaged in the past. You shouldn’t compare them to the needs of a Classic Vehicle.

Additional considerations

We want you to have the best ownership experience from your Classic Mercedes. So our Sales Director Bruce, a long-term enthusiast of the Mercedes product, an active member of the MB Owners club, and an owner and concours winner himself, has taken the time to pass on some of his best tips for ownership of the popular models we work with.

Our Service team is always available to help. So if you have question or are unsure about any aspect of your SL, please ask.

General – All Models

1. When Cleaning/Valeting your car only use good quality products
2. Never use a pressure washer TOO CLOSE to the paint work
3. Avoid using water when cleaning in the engine bay area
4. Drive as often as possible to keep Lubricants circulating
5. After starting always allow engine to reach operating temperature before shutting down- this prevents excessive condensation within the engine

W113 Pagoda Specific 

1. The Fuel system needs specialist knowledge to achieve optimum set up but once this is complete the car is a joy to drive- however regular use is essential to maintain this performance. Long periods of being idle will cause starting and running issues
2. Like wise the Auto gearbox requires skilled knowledge to set up correctly and should be a priority to have completed
3. Cooling system maintenance – if your car overheats in traffic please get it checked
4. Front suspension King pins – need greasing regularly
5. Regularly check your engine oil level
6. Keep front bulkhead cavity drain holes clear
7. To ensure easy usage of the soft top, adjust the closure at the rear

R107 Specific 

1. Front bulkhead corrosion- costly to rectify but a top tip to minimise is to keep the bulkhead drain tubes Clear
2. Hard top removal- understand fully the process and function of the release lever to avoid damaging your hard top- we will happily demonstrate this for you- adjustment is part of our service program
3. Regular use – ask our FOHT about what ‘exercise’ these cars should have on a monthly basis

R129 Specific 

1. Like all modern vehicles with copious amounts of electrical gadgetry flat batteries are all to common on vehicles that are seldom used. Jump or Boost starting can be detrimental to sensitive electronic components so we would strongly recommend that you use a battery ‘Conditioner’ to avoid the flat battery scenario
2. Do not try and open doors if the battery is flat as the windows will not drop and may damage the window seals
3. Raise and lower the roof regularly to keep in working order