Well, I have only used them once and they were extremely accomodating. I was changing the driver's side half shaft on my 1986 190E 2.3-16 (217,000 miles) while my son had the car at college. I could not budge the nut holding the spline in the wheel hub, and had purchased a 6 foot cheater bar from Home Depot and rented an electric impact tool. It was Saturday, and at about 5 pm, I began to worry I would have to buy a compressor and a pneumatic tool. I called around and the only place open on Sunday was PepBoys. I had the car towed there that night after making arrangements with the shop manager, and the next morning at the moment the store opened, they assigned a mechanic. I told him all I wanted him to do was remove the nut, which I had to reuse so I was not interested in cutting it off, and then go get a coffee. He agreed and after setting the compressor pressure to its high end of the band, the nut came off. He left, got a coffee and my son and I finished the installation. The mechanic looked things over and set the car back down. We paid for the time it took for us to finish the job, but overall, I was very happy with the experience.

I would never take the car there to have a job I could do performed by PepBoys, the dealer or anyone else, unless it required a tool I did not have. In this case the shop manager was a good guy (it was in Albany, NY) and things worked out fine.

I also make a point of checking any work someone else does for me on my cars, and I never let anyone else work on brakes. At the moment, I see the new MB brakes as a problem. They are controlled by a computer that I am not going to be able to access, and the mechanics are not familiar with the whole concept. For me, that could be enough to avoid buying the car.

Anyway, I am not in the crowd of people who have had bad experiences at PepBoys. I also like the fact that they carry a lot of RedLine products, and Lexol interior care stuff. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)