MBS Mercedes BMW Exeter

27/10/2026

How would you describe THIS MINI engine noise if it were your car?

You wouldn't believe some of the descriptions (and attempted impressions!) we've heard over the years.

From "it sounds like a goose" to "it whooshes" and even "it's like a clackety clackety noise"!

But we think this MINI engine noise could inspire some interesting ones.

Go on, what would you say if you were ringing the garage to book it in? We'd love to hear your attempts!

On a more serious note, if your MINI has developed an unusual rattle, knock or engine noise, don't just turn the radio up and hope it goes away.

We're independent MINI specialists based in Marsh Barton, Exeter, offering diagnostics, servicing and repairs.

Got a noise you're worried about? Get in touch with us at MBS Exeter, and we'll be happy to help.

24/10/2026

When it comes to changing spark plugs on your Mercedes, there's something you need to know ...🔧

On certain Mercedes-AMG engines, spark plug positioning matters.

Fitting the spark plugs incorrectly, or, as we've seen before, using inferior or non-genuine ones, can cause misfires, rough running, or warning lights.

It's one of the reasons we're particular about the parts we fit, and in the case of spark plugs for the Mercedes 63's experience has taught us that it's super important.

If you're looking for an independent Mercedes specialist in Exeter to look after your car, we'd be happy to help; just get in touch

https://mbsmercedesbmw.com/contact-us/

21/10/2026

🤔 Would you trust a mechanic who stopped learning 10 years ago?

It's probably something you haven’t considered.

The cars we drive today are very different from the ones we drove 10 or 20 years ago. With technology changing at a frightening speed, being a ‘qualified’ mechanic isn't enough. To stay current, technicians must keep learning.

Like George, who's just started an 18-month Diagnostic Technician training course at the prestigious training centre Tech Topics.

He was apprehensive about going back to college, but to his surprise, he's actually enjoying it!

When asked why he wanted to do the course, his answer was refreshingly straightforward:

"I want to learn new techniques for finding faults, improve my diagnostic skills and become even better at getting to the bottom of problems.”

This is relevant for our customers, too.

When something goes wrong with your Mercedes, BMW, or MINI, you want a garage with the expertise to diagnose the problem, not someone 'winging' it or having to send the car elsewhere.

George has only completed his first two days, and he's already brought back some useful knowledge to the workshop.

His last statement summed up the importance of ongoing training better than we ever could:

"Technology changes, the brain needs to change with it!"

How important is it to you that your garage invests in keeping its technicians up to date? Let us know in the comments!

18/10/2026

You love your Mercedes, BMW or MINI. But do you love taking it to the garage?

When you enjoy driving your car and want to look after it properly, finding the right garage is important.

And when your car needs attention, you want someone who'll explain what's going on without making you feel as though you should already know the answers.

That's where choosing an independent specialist can make a real difference.
At MBS Exeter, we work on Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and MINI vehicles every day.

Whether your car needs its annual service, an MOT, diagnostics to investigate a warning light, or a repair, our team has over 24 years of experience working on these makes.

We also have specialist diagnostic equipment and can update your car's digital service record, just like any dealer.

Based in Marsh Barton, Exeter, we look after Mercedes, BMW and MINI owners across Devon.

So, if you've been wondering where to take your car next, you may have just found somewhere worth remembering.

We're always happy to help, so if you have any questions, just give us a call. We’ll do our best to assist you.

13/10/2026

What does a diagnostic computer actually tell us about your car?

Years ago, when diagnostic computers became a familiar sight in garages, people seemed to think finding a fault was as simple as plugging one in and reading the answer.

And to be fair, modern diagnostic equipment can tell a technician an awful lot about what's happening inside your car.

But it's worth keeping this in mind:

Reading a fault code and finding out what's actually causing the problem aren't necessarily the same thing.

A fault code can point a technician in the right direction, but it doesn't always tell them exactly what's wrong or which part needs replacing.

That's where their knowledge, experience and further testing come in.

We're genuinely interested to know what you think happens when you take your car in for diagnostics.

Have you always assumed the computer tells the mechanic what's wrong, or did you know there's more to it? Let us know in the comments.

In Part 2, we'll show you George investigating an electrical fault on a Mercedes-Benz in our Exeter workshop, so you can see what vehicle diagnostics can involve.

09/10/2026

09/10/2026

A few drops of oil on your driveway. Nothing to worry about, right?

It's tempting to think that if your car's running perfectly well and there are no warning lights on the dashboard, a small oil leak is nothing to be concerned about.

Sometimes it isn't anything serious.

But the size of the oil patch doesn't necessarily tell you how serious the problem is.

What matters is where the oil is coming from, how much you're losing and what's causing it.

Leave a leak unchecked, and you could end up with a much bigger problem, particularly if your engine starts running low on oil.

And as you'll see with this BMW M4, even when you've found the cause, fixing it isn't always as straightforward as you might think!

So, if you've noticed oil where you regularly park, it's worth getting it checked rather than guessing.

It's better to know what you're dealing with than to find out later when it's become a much bigger job.

06/10/2026

Sometimes, physically locating the fault is the only way when everything seems fine electronically.

This Mercedes came into MBS Exeter because the main beam assist wasn't working properly.

Electronically, everything appeared to be working as it should. So the next step was to understand what the system relies on, check those areas, and look for what the computer couldn't tell us.

That led Pete to the sensors around the windscreen, where he found just how badly obscured they were.

It's a good example of why diagnosing a problem can take time. People seem to think it's just about plugging a computer in to get the answer, but it's the physical investigation that follows that helps us work out what's actually going on.

And that's ultimately what you want when something on your car isn't working as it should: not guesswork, but someone who knows where to look next.

Have you had a car fault that was particularly difficult to pin down? What did it turn out to be? Let us know in the comments 😊

01/10/2026

You notice what your car tells you. But what about the things it doesn't?

A warning light. A strange noise. A vibration when you brake. That's usually what gets you booking into a garage.

But not everything that wears will warn you first. That's why every car that comes into MBS Exeter gets a free vehicle health check.

This driver knew about the brake judder. What they didn't know was that the front suspension had enough movement to fail an MOT, and some of the rubber bushes were starting to split.

Finding something doesn't mean we'll just go ahead and do more work. We'll explain what needs sorting now and what just needs keeping an eye on, so you can decide.

Peace of mind is knowing what's going on with your car before it becomes a problem.

If you live in Exeter or the surrounding area and drive a Mercedes, BMW, or MINI, your next visit includes a free health check, so you'll always know how healthy your car is!

Missed part 1? It's the video before this one on our page.

When did you last have your car checked over? Let us know in the comments!

29/09/2026

Your car is juddering when you brake… but the brake discs are nearly new. So what’s going on?

That’s exactly what had happened when this car came into us.

Think of it like putting a vinyl record on a turntable. The record itself can be perfectly fine, but if there’s something underneath stopping it from sitting completely flat, it won’t spin and play as it should.

That’s the simple way of explaining what Pete and Jason found here!

The brake discs had been fitted elsewhere only around 3,000 miles ago. When we removed them to investigate the judder, we found corrosion on the surface behind them, which meant they weren’t sitting completely true.

When something is spinning as fast as your wheels and brake discs do together, even a tiny amount of corrosion can make a difference, and it’s definitely something you can feel when you brake.

With a record, you’d hear the difference. With your brakes, you feel it as a judder.

It’s a good example of why fitting a new part is only part of doing the job properly. What it’s being fitted to matters too.

If you’re concerned that your Mercedes, BMW or MINI has developed a vibration or judder when braking, get in touch with us at MBS Exeter in Marsh Barton and we’ll happily investigate what’s causing it.