Flatbedding a 140 from Montana to LA? That must cost a serious % of the cost of the car, amazing. I would think he could find somebody (Stu Ritter's old shop?) in Denver that could do a decent job.

It was good to meet you as well, Paul, I hope to catch up with you soon.

I just had enrique redo my head on the car, gasket went, and it was time. He rolled ina anew chain and guise, new valves and all.

WhenI brought the car in, within 10 minutes, he had the valve cover off the car, radiator out, and all. he started attacking it like he was on a racetrack, and he showed me that though my car had been running great, my timing was off, he even told me that he couldn't believe the car ran as great as it was because of it. now that it's been fixed, the car is better than ever before, and has more power than I remember.

All in all, he charged a great price, and had the car fixed within days.

My friend's tranny on his 300e went out, and enrique got the car on a monday morning, and had the car back to my friend by wednesday.

Now thats service.

Enrique is definately the best MB Mechanic I have met. testaments from other members who have gone there on my recommendation say enough.

Any members want to get together to make him a wall plaque in appreciation for him taking care of us and our cars?

I'm willing to drop a few bucks in towards it.

Alon

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

I'll chip in. Unless it's an emergency or something very minor, I'll only let Enrique work on my SD. It says a lot that I drive 700 miles so he can service my car.

Had Enrique re-build the tranny on my 300D. Car not only shifts like it should now, but has a ton more get-up-and-go.

Went to pick it up today with my dad in his 240. While there we asked him about the slop in the shifting linkage, and inability to start the car in park. Within a few minutes he had it up on a rack, and replaced the bushings, FOR FREE!! My dad was stunned.

My dad and I ended up talking to him for the next 15 minutes about Spain, Soth Africa, Grandkids and of course Mercedes.

Great experience and great guy. Highly recommended.

P.S. You will never see a cleaner shop anywhere in your life.

Does he Enrique work on newer models too?
I have a 96 W210 and I will need some basic maintenance work done for now. But if I get into some major, I will need a good mechanic.

Yep, he works on everything, including the new ones.

Your 1996 W210, if it is an E320, has the same engine and transmission as 1993 300E (3.2's) and 1994-1995 E320's.

Enrique's has three personal cars: an R129 500SL, a 1993 400E, and a 1999 E430.

__________________
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 found an Arizona 85 300D on this forum for a friend's cash-strapped young cousin who's a student at USC and lives in Pasadena; the car was close to mint, and had every major (and most minor) system replaced at the dealer in the last 20k miles (currently at 150k). Part of the deal (in return for me not just keeping it for myself, we got it for $3k..) was that she had to have Enrique maintain it by the book, starting with a 30k service just to establish a baseline. She thought I was strange for making her drive 25 miles to Tarzana, but she did it anyway. She was glad she did after the first service (she and Enrique bonded, spoke in Spanish for 45 min., etc.). Here's her second experience with him - he wouldn't do this for me, and probably not for you, but I think he was feeling paternal in her case:

"I have been meaning to email you about my Enrique story...here it is. My sister was driving my car when all of a sudden it just stopped working, it stopped right in the middle of the freeway, she could barely even pull over. She had to get it towed off the freeway and to my mom's house in Pasadena. There was no way that I could afford to tow the car all the way to Tarzana so I called Enrique to get a recomendation for a mechanic in Pasadena. Enrique said that he didn't know of anyone in Pasadena, but he wanted to help me out. So, he drove all the way to Pasadena after he got off of work to see what the problem was!!! Not only that, the next day he came back so he could fix it (replaced the fuel pump)!!! I was so amazed that he did that for me!!! Thank you so much for sharing him with me!"

She also told me that Enrique didn't charge her at the time; she went to the shop the following Monday, and he only charged her for the part, nothing for the labor. Enrique's a good reason on his own to keep driving MB's (at least until he retires, then maybe switch brands...)

Anybody out there dealt with Jeff at Jeff's Mercedes on Pico Blvd near Bundy in West Los Angeles, CA ??? I understand that ENrique in Tarzana is the man but just wondered if anyone had any feedback on this shop- it's mercedes only, busy, and I've been happy w/ the service since 2001 but am at a crossroads and after reading all the accolades on here I am considering making the switch to MR MB....any feedback appreciated!!!!!

Give my guy Enrique a call and see if he can do it or knows someone who can. his shop is called mr mb motors.

818-708-8086

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

Hey all, I want to do the plaque for enrique. I am going to purchase a Snap-on Wrench and have it affixed to a plaque.

Anyone have any ideas of what it should say? I am definately going to put Thank you from And then the names, and of course a mention of Mercedesshop.com

If anyone is down, please reply here with names and I will get a price done.

Alon

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

Kinda lame, but how 'bout something like . . .

To Enrique Rodriquez, owner of Mr. M.B. Motors in Tarzana, California in appreaciation for his many years of faithful, honest, and dedicated service in the maintainance of the beloved automobiles owned by . . . We feel you love our Mercedes Benz automobiles more that us owners do.

I don't know? Just off the top of my head. There are others here who can come up with something better. Put me down anyway. He sure deserves it!

In a way, I'm sad everytime I go to visit him because I know that the time will come soon when he will retire. He has a villa in the north of Spain near the Basque country that he will talk to you about and is eager to return to. But, then again, his daughter and granddaughter have just moved to Lancaster, so maybe he will split his time between Spain and California. Maybe we can convince him to do a little maintainance and repair work when he visits his kin?

Steven L. Adams
Palmdale, CA

Isn't 13mm a much more common size bolt head on the Mercedes? Seems like just about everything is either 8mm, 10mm, or 13mm. Just a few are 17mm. Never ran across any that was 14mm.

Just a suggestion. Maybe 13mm being more common, the price might be less. Does Enrique use Snap-On tools?

I guess a drive from orange county will be worth it! i'm so impressed with this forum and phil at fastlane that i'll chip in a few bucks for the plaque too. and look forward to meeting enrique someday!

__________________
"NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID PEOPLE IN LARGE GROUPS!"

If you're anywhere near the west San Fernando Valley, try Enrique at MR MB Motors - a lot of us have had great experiences with him. He's been an MB mechanic since the 113's were new, so he's seen his share. See this thread:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=38339

krwax -

I'm in Houston. I used Enrique Rodriguez early this month to get a 280SE roadworthy (1600 miles - bought off e-bay, long story). I needed to have it carried to him from Huntington Bch. Enrique lined up the towing (and paid the man); fabricated the vacuum line for the brake booster because the part could only be ordered from Germany; did brakes around with calipers and rotors replaced on the rear, pulled & recored radiator; spent two hours with me in his shop and road testing after I flew in; made sure I had a good spare and jack, working wipers and lights; loaded me up with some water jugs (small leak at the servo) from his shop and then undercharged me. I left his shop Monday afternoon. Tuesday afternoon he calls my cell phone and leaves a message (long distance on his dime) to see how I was progressing (couldn't answer - I was in central Texas with about 7 hours straight of no signal).

Wednesday, I make Houston and call him back. He's genuinely happy to hear I made it. I ask him if he remembered to charge me for the gas he put in ($40) and mention that I didn't see a couple of other parts on the bill I thought he replaced. He forgot to charge me. Simple as that. Said not to worry his problem, not mine.

So, long story short. Honest as the day is long; treated me like his grandson going back east to school; charges $60/hour but only for his actual time (not book rate); he does most repairs in less than half the book labor guide by the labor charges on my bill. Knows MBz. Works ONLY on MBz.

You couldn't do any better than to go to him (Enrique does the work himself).

I'm putting another check in the mail on the way home tonight (for real) - I'm not able to sleep well until I do.

I'm not kidding.
Kevin

P. S. - I only knew of Enrique through this forum; he didn't know me except as some nut on the phone in Houston that bought a car on ebay.

Tell him the MercedesShopForum gang sent you over.