he's definitely getting reported to BAR - we'll see how it plays out

Duuuude, have you read any of this thread????

Nearly every single post is a testimonial from customers who were happy with his work.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I see that you are willing to call someone like "mcdeity" who have ONE post a "customer" though we don't know who this person is. One single post is a little suspicious don't you think?

I also find it suspicious that someone claims to have traveled 1000 miles just to goto an auto mechanic - then posts a photo of an MB at a motel apparently to prove that his story is true, haha

nothing against the auto mecanic or mr mb motors - i don't like dishonesty or getting ripped off...why not do like i did and post the specific price you paid and specifically what you got? If you got a good deal then so be it but w/out these numbers there is no basis for judgment, imo.

As I said, Enrique charged $100 and change for a pair of front brake pads (which he called "FBP" on a piece of paper in his handwriting) which is the same retail price charged by Mercedes Benz of Beverly Hills, the Dealer. That is what Enrique charged me - I will find out in due time what kind of pads they are and if they really did come from the Dealer as Enrique alleges.

I think you've got a bone to pick with him, and no matter what evidence is presented to you, you're not going to listen to it, so I'm done trying to discuss this with a brick wall.

Yes, I've been going to Enrique for about 10 years over five different cars, and I have a file folder full of receipts to prove it....and no, I'm not going to post them on the internet.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Perhaps you will be willing to call Enrique and ask him what kind of "FBP" (front brake pads) he sold me for $100 and change. He says that he bought them from the Dealer for $70 whereas you said that he doesn't use Dealer parts. I don't know what kind of pads they are but I intend to find out and report back to the forum.

He also claims that he "internally reset" the computer on my car and read certain codes but he was not willing to tell me what the codes said - not verbally and not on the invoice. He charged $40 for this "service" the alleged benefits of which I have yet to realize.

At this point, my review of MB Motors is "NOT RECOMMENDED." The shop neither appears to be busy so maybe it's time for him to hang it up, retire.

Enrique is fantastic. One of the more experienced, one of the most honest Mercedes technicians I've had the pleasure of meeting. I've used him for nearly 10 years. Unfortunately I have strayed at times but only to return to him with a feeling of gratitude that there are honorable mechanics like him.

Go visit your local dealer if you are so inclined, then you will truly understand.

Nah, I just stick to the facts which is specific parts and specific prices, a simple and straightforward way to evaluate whether someone has good prices.

Is this your review on yelp where you claim that his hourly labor rate is $50 and that a regulator for your 2001 E430 costs $300? http://www.yelp.com/biz/mr-mb-motors-tarzana

I just looked up the price on Fastlane and saw about $70 for the rear and $125 for the front regulator. I don't deny that Enrique quoted you $300 for a part that you can get for 3x less than that. He charged me $100 for brake pads which is the same price as the Dealer - but I'm not sure if they are the same quality as Dealer pads. Enrique claims that he bought the brake pads directly from the Authorized Mercedes Benz Dealer.

Here is another less than good review about the auto mechanic:

Well I read all the forums and there were years of raves about Enrique's fairness and his skills at his Reseda Blvd Mercedes shop in Tarzana. And, in the beginning, it was true. He would do little things, like change the poorly working antenna with a better one and not charge for it, transport your car to a test only smog place and give the car a tune up several hundred dollars less than most Mercvedes shop. And he is a genuinely nice guy. But since I first got the car he would egg me on about getting the transmission rebuilt and he would do it for a good price: $1500. So after a year or two, when the car begin stalling at traffic lights, I sprung for the transmission rebuild against my families' wishes. Afterall this was a car with more than 200,000 miles and 20 years old. But I believed it would make it a better driver and Enrique assured me it was worth it as the engine was Mercedes' best. But the phone call before I was to pick up the car said that he discovered other problems and that there would be additional $1000 to the cost. And it actually was $2600. And on the way home the car stalled at a traffic light! Back to Mr. MB Motors and he couldn't find the answer to the stalling problem. Not for a year and a half. It certainly had nothing to do with the transmission. A neighborhood mechanic changed the fuel filter and that seemed to work for a few months. Finally when it was time to smog the car, it went back to Mr. MB. When I picked it up after $327 worth of "tuning" he sat me down and said that the car couldn't pass a smog and that a cat converter may not even help and that the engine leaks oil and the wiring harness might have to be replaced and that I should cut my losses and get rid of it. Am I the only customer who took a beatiing at Mr. MB Motors of Tarzana? Mordecai F.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mr-mb-motors-tarzana

No, that is not my review.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I have just had my first trip to Enrique. I left my car a few days ago completely prepared for a $3000 bill. I wanted the AC working and the front suspension dealt with. The shop in Pasadena told me $1500 for the AC and $1800 for the front suspension. Enrique told me that the compressor was unplugged, the fan in front of the radiator didn't work. He switched it to R134 and recharged the system, replaced the fan, fixed a vacuum gizmo and that cost me $670. As for the suspension, he said that my suspension was fine and my lower ball joints were shot. That cost me $400. New belts, getting the tach to work, getting the reverse lights to work was another $136. I'm a happy camper.

I have never been to this shop, but I am always on the lookout for good quality MB Mechanics as they seem to be in short supply..... When you say that he charged you $40 and did not tell you verbally or on the "invoice" what the codes said, was the "invoice" you referring to the piece of paper that had FBP on it? Or was this a proper invoice? I am confused

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2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL

Not relevant to most of us, but might be useful. Enrique has performed routine maintenance on my wife's Lexus hybrid SUV. And, his prices are way, way better than the dealership. He can even reset the computer codes too, the ones that tell you how many miles left before the next service. If you are considering getting your routine work done on a non-MB product, best to call ahead of time so he can have any required filters on hand when you show up.

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-Steven

---
1959 190b, totalled
1968 220D, sold
1969 230/8, sold
1980 240D manual, gave away at 300k (stupid me)
1985 190D 2.2 manual, gave away to a youngster
1989 300CE, sold when I retired - major regrets

Wow! Who the hell is this 'willy2004' idiot?

There's an old saying that "you can't have a rational discussion with an irrational person".

It is hard to believe that anyone could ever, Ever, EVER have a legitimate beef against Enrique. I have a sneaky suspicion that "willy2004" is a person whom doesn't have a lot of long-term friends, and is utterly clueless about how to get along with people, not to mention bewildered by life in general. Of course, people like that don't have enough introspection to recognize those deficiencies, yet I digress... Albeit probably well deserved, I'll stop the character assassination. (Then again, if someone has no character, is it possible to assassinate what doesn't exist? )

If this willy2004 moron were to actually call in a complaint to the BAR, there would be dozens & dozens of people that would be happy to refute anything bad that could possibly be said.

For ANYYONE that reads this thread in the future - Please take notice: Enrique will use OE / OEM aftermarket parts ONLY when his (extensive) experience has shown those parts to be equal to dealer sourced parts. He is very candid and honest about it, as it is not something to hide, as willy2004 alludes. Sometimes there is not enough of a price difference to make aftermarket items worthwhile. Other times, such as with critical safety items, Enrique will use ONLY dealer sourced parts. Brake pads are a PERFECT example. I know for a fact that he uses ONLY dealer sourced brake pads. When I asked him why, he said that it is well worth the extra money to be absolutely confident about something as critical as the brakes fitting & functioning properly. These are the words of a wise man indeed.

I'll digress a bit here again, but... I too will also use only dealer sourced or OEM aftermarket parts for certain critical items. I learned the hard way - I bought some well known brand name (TRW) parts when I rebuilt the front end on one of my SLC's several years ago. After only a few miles, a lower ball joint failed. I mean FAILED! The ball section literally ripped out of the socket, causing the front wheel to collapse. But back to Enrique...

Enrique is the rarest of the rare. He is not just an excellent mechanic, he is highly intelligent, knowledgeable, worldly, honest to a fault, and is quite frankly one of the finest human beings that I know to exist on this planet. I discovered his shop several years ago through the internet, and I've recommended numerous people to him. Some of these people are very knowledgeable about their cars, others don't know which is the proper working end of a screwdriver. But I will tell you that ALL of them have nothing but the nicest things to say about Enrique.

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Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.

I have followed this thread with interest for several years. Located on the east coast, I don't expect to ever deal with this shop, but clearly, the shop and its owner have acquired an enormous following of satisfied customers. A forum like this does a valuable service by giving customers an opportunity to share their experiences, both good and bad. Bad reviews can be even more important than good ones and so, should be welcomed. But when they are made with what looks like malicious intent, as the recent one from our friend Willy, they undermine whatever kernel of truth there may have been in this individual's experience with Enrique. It raises the strong suspicion that whatever grievance he felt he had against the shop, he probably approached the owner with the same sort of aggressiveness that he's shown in this thread. That's never a good--or even a reasonable--way to deal with others. I can't get inside this gentleman's head, but I do know that anyone reading what has become a rant, has surely dismissed him and the points he was trying to make.

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1988 California version 260E (W124)
Anthracite Grey/Palomino
Owned since new and still going strong and smooth
MBCA member

Past Mercedes-Benz:
1986 190E Baby Benz
1967 230 Inherited from mom when she downsized
1959 220S Introduced me to the joys of keepin' 'em goin'

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world--those who understand binary and those who don't

Enrique will use original OEM Mercedes parts if needed. He does purchase them from the local dealership. He does use oe and oem aftermarket parts as needed as well.

I have known enrique for over 20 years, he has never steered me wrong or done wrong by me.

As with any business, you will never be able to please everyone, that is just the way things are.

I have never had a poor experience using him. And have no problems with referring him to anyone who is looking for a good, knowledgeable experienced tech for the cars.

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

wow, you guys are still going on this
name some things you bought from Enrique and how much he charged

these facts are noticeably absent from your reviews, lol

He charged me $100 for a set of front brake pads he claimed he bought from the dealer
Anyone denying this? Facts are facts boys.