Selected vehicles from Mercedes-Benz are sold with additional levels of preparation and assurance surrounding key elements of the vehicle.
Vehicles sold with these standards are identified as such on our online and sale day catalogues as well as having a full explanation displayed in the vehicle's window.
These preparation standards, and their associated additional charges are detailed below.
Retail Prepared
Maintenance Record
The correct model service book must be present and display a verifiable record of service work carried out to date. Any available records of other maintenance must also be presented to a new owner together with the service book.
Vehicle Exterior
- All exterior trim and mouldings (including badges and wheel trims) must be present and free from defects.
- Metal and plastic body parts and panels (including mirror housings and spoilers) must be free from damage and corrosion.
- Aerial and other holes must be properly repaired. The use of grommets is unacceptable.
- Paint chips are only acceptable if restricted to small areas such as the door and bonnet edges provided that the colour coat remains unbroken and there is no corrosion. Smart repairs should be used to rectify where possible. Any surface contamination must be rectified to “as new” standard.
- Individual dents up to 10mm in diameter are acceptable in isolation but only if they are irreparable using smart techniques. There should be no more than two per each side of the vehicle and the colour and lacquer coats must be intact.
- Surface scratching that does not penetrate the colour coat and exhibits no corrosion is acceptable up to 25mm in length so long as it does not detract from the overall quality of the paintwork.
- All rubber seals must be undamaged and fully serviceable.
- Any previous repair work must be compliant with bodywork warranty terms.
Glass and Lenses
All glass and lenses must be free of cracks and scratches. Windscreen chips must not exceed 5mm diameter and must not obscure the driver’s line of vision (MOT standards). Lamp units must also show no sign of moisture ingress.
- All wheels (including the spare) and trims must be free from visible defects such as dents, cracks, rim damage and corrosion. Flaking lacquer is also not acceptable.
- Locking wheel nut key and any originally fitted tools and associated equipment must be present.
- Tyres must have a minimum of 3mm depth of tread remaining across the central 75% of the tyre with visible tread on the edges. Wear must be symmetrical across the whole tyre width. Any uneven wear and its cause must be rectified. Any sidewall damage or cracking together with the use of tread plugs and tubes is not permitted. [Note: AMG vehicles minimum 4mm tread depth on centre 75%]
- Tyre make, model equivalent and rating must match across each axle and be to original quality and specification.
- Space-saver spare tyres must be serviceable.
General Mechanical Condition
- The vehicle must visually and operationally meet with the minimum standards of factory-set servicing and maintenance.
- Any faults, including recalls and factory warranty work, must be rectified before sale and a Multi-point Check completed and results actioned.
- The underside of the vehicle must exhibit no more than minor scuffs and marks commensurate with general wear and tear. Visible damage to any panel or component must be repaired.
Convertible Roof Fittings
All roof parts, covers, trims and seals must be free of damage and defects. A leak test must be carried out to ensure integrity and any failures rectified.
Interior
- There must be no visible stains, tears, burns, loose stitching, holes, marks or other damage present on any part of the interior fixtures, fittings, controls and carpets.
- Minor marking of interior handles due e.g. to the wearing of rings, is acceptable unless severe enough to detract from the rest of the fittings.
- A complete set of keys (programmed to the vehicle) must be present.
Cosmetic Prepared
Vehicle Exterior
- All exterior trim and mouldings (including badges and wheel trims) must be present and free from defects.
- Metal and plastic body parts and panels (including mirror housings and spoilers) must be free from damage and corrosion.
- Aerial and other holes must be properly repaired. The use of grommets is unacceptable.
- Paint chips are only acceptable if restricted to small areas such as the door and bonnet edges provided that the colour coat remains unbroken and there is no corrosion. Smart repairs should be used to rectify where possible. Any surface contamination must be rectified to “as new” standard.
- Individual dents up to 10mm in diameter are acceptable in isolation but only if they are irreparable using smart techniques. There should be no more than two per each side of the vehicle and the colour and lacquer coats must be intact.
- Surface scratching which has been smart repaired or touched-in is acceptable.
- All rubber seals must be undamaged and fully serviceable.
- Any previous repair work must been completed to an acceptable industry repair standard.
Glass and Lenses
- All glass and lenses must be free of cracks and scratches.
- Windscreen chips must not exceed 5mm diameter and must not obscure the driver’s line of vision (MOT standards).
- Lamp units must also show no sign of moisture ingress.
Wheels and Tyres
- All wheels (including the spare) and trims must be free from visible defects such as dents, cracks, rim damage and corrosion. Flaking lacquer is also not acceptable.
- Locking wheel nut key and any originally fitted tools and associated equipment must be present.
- Tyres must have a minimum of 4mm depth of tread remaining across the central 75% of the tyre with visible tread on the edges. Wear must be symmetrical across the whole tyre width. Any uneven wear and its cause must be rectified. Any sidewall damage or cracking together with the use of tread plugs and tubes is not permitted. [Note: AMG vehicles minimum 4mm tread depth on centre 75%]
- Tyre make, model equivalent and rating must match across each axle and be to original quality and specification.
- Space-saver spare tyres must be serviceable.
Convertible Roof Fittings
- All roof parts, covers; trims Seals must be free of damage.
Interior
- There must be no visible stains, tears, burns, loose stitching, holes, marks or other damage present on any part of the interior fixtures, fittings, controls and carpets.
- Minor marking of interior handles due e.g. to the wearing of rings, is acceptable unless severe enough to detract from the rest of the fittings.
