you can also try MR MB Motors in reseda I think is where it is. near the 101 fwy and reseda exit if I remember correctly.

Guy to talk to there is Enrique. He used to be the manager of Beverly Hills Mercedes several years ago.

Does very good work, and is not too expensive. he knows mercedes in and out.

Alon

Just wanted everyone in los angeles/san fernando valley to know about this shop. They are excellent, and have very good pricing.

Mr MB Motors
5557 Reseda Boulevard, Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 708-8086

The mechanic there is Enrique. He used to be the manager of Beverly Hills Mercedes Dealer Service Dept. He is excellent.

If you are in Los Angeles Area, I highly recommend him.

Alon

About a month ago we bought a 1991 420 SEL with 157k, the next day I found this forum and the day after that I started looking for a great mechanic. Although I have been using a MB shop that has been open since the late 30's I did not have complete confidence that things were as good as they could be.

I found four shops in my area that were recommended in this forum, I called them all and decided to try Mr.MB in the SFV. Through the telephone "interview" and subsequent visits here are my impressions.

Qualifications: Enrique (owner/mechanic) has been repairing MB's since 1960's. He spent 26 years at Beverly Hills LTD, many as the shop foreman,then 6 years as the shop foreman at Auto Stiegler.

Facilities: They seem to have every imaginable tool plus a large parts inventory. The shop area is near spotless and there is a comfortable lounge area. It's not an ultra posh auto spa but it is clean, comfortable and purpose built.

Pricing: My service included new timing chain, rails, tensioner, oiler tubes, valve seals, power steering hose, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs and an oil change for under $1,000. In my experience this qualifies as very reasonable.

Overall: Enrique is very adept at communicating what your car needs, when it will need it and why it will be necessary. He is quite frank and generous with his knowledge. He is a high quality diagnose and repair type of mechanic will a ton of experience. High praise.

Yes I know this review is long winded but after reading some of the horror stories on this forum (not to mention personal experience) I get down right excited when I find a good shop.

BTW I also recently found a great LandCruiser shop in the LA area if anyone is interested.

[Edited by fredsegal on 07-29-2001 at 12:41 PM]

Fred:

Thanks for your post. The price you paid for the work done in your car sounds very reasonable. If I should ever have car problems in those rare occasions when I leave my beloved Ventura County and cross the Ventura-L.A. border, I will give Enrique a call. Likewise, if you ever find yourself in trouble out here in strawberry country, check out Christensen Motors and give Norman a try. He was able to fix a cold rough idle that the dealer could not diagnose (but wanted to throw over $2K worth of parts at it anyhow).

Total costs for Lexus-like idle in my 1991 420SEL after Norman got done with it: less than half the price of a new fuel distributor that the dealer insisted I need!

Truly a skilled MBZ service center(shop).

Enrique
818-708-8086

There are two mercedes repair shops on santa monica blvd, between beverly glen and westwood blvd. Both are not bad shops, and usually have a good deal of cars to repair.

I live near these shops, but I go to MR. MB in tarzana, because of the quality and knowledge enrique has. His prices are also excellent, and he knows almost everything about fixing a mercedes. His diagnosis is usually right on.

My brother just took his 85 380sl in for a new timing chain before it breaks, and for an intermittent power loss and surge problem. Car was done quickly, and runs like a champ, didn't cost him much either.

Alon

UPDATE
 

I just had my A/C serviced by Enrique, it now blows factory cold.

Since I had a little extra time and money I asked him about redoing the suspention bushings, he put it up on the rack and said "no sale, yours are fine" I just love when I go to the mechanic and drive away with peace of mind (at least as far as my auto is concerned)


High marks for Mr. MB Motors

Brian,

Do a search for "Enrique" You should find some posts about Mr. MB Mototrs, well worth the trip.

Regards,

fredsegal

As before, MR MB Motors in Tarzana, CA.. With pics!
 

I took some pics of Enrique's Shop, MR MB Motors in Tarzana, CA.

He is located just south of the 101 freeway off of reseda Blvd. Literally a half block from the freeway off ramp, on the west side of the street.

His phone number is 818-708-8086

Here are some great pics of his shop:

http://216.218.211.187/~ashman/mrmb/mrmb1.jpg

http://216.218.211.187/~ashman/mrmb/mrmb2.jpg

http://216.218.211.187/~ashman/mrmb/mrmb4.jpg

http://216.218.211.187/~ashman/mrmb/mrmb6.jpg

http://216.218.211.187/~ashman/mrmb/mrmb3.jpg

http://216.218.211.187/~ashman/mrmb/mrmb7.jpg

http://216.218.211.187/~ashman/mrmb/mrmb5.jpg

I consider Enrique to be the best Mercedes mechanic in the Los Angeles area. I know of a few shops that are within a few miles of my house, both mercedes specialists and I am sure they do good work too, but time and again, Enrique has proven he is the place to get your Mercedes repaired. I do not mind the extra time it takes to get to his shop, he is worth the drive. His diagnosis is almost always right on, and he can and will tell you of impending failure of other parts of the car. His work is Top Notch, his prices are very reasonable, and his labor rate is $60.00 an hour. He knows Mercedes inside and out, and works very quickly. He has been working on Mercedes cars for over 30 years. He used to be the shop foreman at Beverly Hills Mercedes, and Then at Auto Steigler before opening up his shop.

He has all the tools required to properly repair and maintain your Mercedes. He won't tell you your car needs something unless it really needs it, and he will check over the car for you to make sure everything is ok before he gives the car back to you. He will also tell you if it doesn't need something you thought it might. His shop is always very clean and well organized.

Make sure you tell him Alon Sent you (Don't worry, I don't get kickbacks from him, but its nice to let him know where his refferals come from). I have known him for many years, and my father has known him for even longer. Every Mercedes we have ever owned has been serviced by Enrique.

A few other members have gone to his shop based on my recommendation, and have been extremely pleased with the service they got and the prices they paid. If anything, it doesn't hurt to give Enrique a try, you can always find another shop if you don't like the service, but I am positive you will leaving feeling good about the money you spent, and the work performed on your car.

I am the type of person that gets things fixed if he finds something that needs to be repaired while he is doing other work, he knows I will authorize the repair, and will just go ahead and fix it for me. I consider this an excellent service, and I expect him to fix other things that he finds are warranted, because if he tells me about them, I will authorize the repairs regardless. I have this relationship with him, because of the trust I have for him. If an engine mount or anything is bad, he knows with me he can change it and I will gladly pay for the work he did over and above what I originally took it to him for, because I know he is only concerned that my car is in tip top shape when it leaves. Not everyone likes to do it this way, but I feel that it is for the best of the car, and I am glad he is keeping an eye on these things. I wouldn't want it any other way.

***** 5 stars to Enrique @ MR MB Motors.

Good luck,

Alon

Brian,

Enrique is definately worth the drive, a simple hop on the 134, then the 101, its only like 30 minutes from pasadena maybe just a fraction more.

See my latest post with the recommendation and pics.

Alon

You may have mentioned this before, but since there are probably so many MB repair shops in your general area - Beverly Hills / West L.A., Santa Monica, etc., how did you find this guy all the way out in Tarzana? Just curious...

Like I said before, because of your and Hi-Power's (Ernesto's) testimonials, I think I'm going to drive the 30-40 minutes and have my car serviced by Enrique.

Thanks guys for the recommendation of Enrique. I am going to give my mechanic one last shot this weekend, but if he isn't up to par I'll be making a trip to the valley. I'll keep you all posted.

Brian

Enrique is awsome two thumbs up I live in hollywood and he is well worth the drive, beautifull clean shop, I had some work done on my front end , he then took my car to a wheel allignment shop nearby, got everything taking care off, he is my mechanic now :)

Tkd, Give Mr MB Motors a call in tarzana. Go down and check it out. Enrique the owner is top notch, and has excellent prices for labor and parts. His diagnosis is almost always 100% on.

818-708-8086

From west hollywood, its really not a bad drive at all. I drive there from Beverly Hills every time, only takes 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. If traffic is really bad it can take longer, but he is well worth the drive.

I can't recommend any other shops, My family has followed enrique to every place he has worked for the last 20 years. When he was at beverly hills mercedes as the shop foreman, we took our cars there. When he moved to auto stiegler, we took our cars to him there. and when he opened his shop, we take our cars to him there.

When you find a good mechanic that you can trust, keep him for as long as you can.

Alon

In west LA I can't give any recommendations. I only deal with one guy, and he's not too afr from west LA. MR MB Motors in Tarzana. 818-708-8086. Owners Name is Enrique.

He is on Reseda Blvd. Just south of the 101 freeway.

Not a bad drive at all from west LA, I go there with my car, so does my brother, and my father. And also several other members go there too. The service is excellent.

Alon