Can anyone recommend a good independent shop in Phoenix?

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Richard Seaman
1982 300D Turbo 198k
1987 420SEL Sold
1993 400SEL 123k
MBCA Desert Stars

The BEST independant shop I have ever used, for anything - Atwood European - Andy Atwood, owner - 4825 N 7th Street - 602-287-9666.

Tell him I sent you!

-David
92 500SEL
94 SL600

Atwood European has always had a great reputation. My husband is in the automotive business and really believed in Mr. Atwood and referred european car owners on a regular basis to him. Recently Atwood moved to a new shop and may be trying to grow too quickly. We took my 190E to him for A/C problems. He had it 3 weeks and $500 later, it came back to us and the A/C problems were still there. Took it back, he had it another week. Found a loose wire in the ignition causing the A/C problem. He was nice enough not to charge us any more hours labor. Problem....the car came back with grease on the drivers seat, the floor mats were trashed with grease. The interior passenger side molding was laying on the dash and the speedometer no longer works. I am so disappointed. I can be understanding of the length of time it took as long as the car works afterwards. What I cannot believe he let the car leave unfinished. I certainly hope he can pull himself back in and get back to good customer service! I'm afraid we won't be referring anyone or going back ourselves...we are just calling it a bad investment.

**Update: They messed up the paint on the hood...my guess is they parked my car under a car on a lift that was leaking brake fluid. I had the car washed yesterday and it appears the clear coat has eaten away....*sigh*

Pam,
I have been using and highly recommend MB Motors at 2730 E.McDowell,Phx.
Phone 602-392-0686. Bud Cloninger is the owner and does very good work on my 1993 400SEL and my 1982 300D Turbo.

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Richard Seaman
1982 300D Turbo 198k
1987 420SEL Sold
1993 400SEL 123k
MBCA Desert Stars

Thanks Richard, I'll check it out!

I've had my cars done by both Bud and Andy, for a short while. Bud does good, slow work ... but don't ever insist on knowing a time or date of completion or he will bite you. He has a hot temper and not many people skills.
Andy's shop has jumped the shark. Forget them.
Myerstar in Tempe is very good but on the pricey side, and no matter what you have repaired or maintained, they will ALWAYS advise you that something extra needs to be done, "so bring your car back real soon before it becomes dangerous."
Best of all is M.D. CLASSY CARS (name sucks -- used to be called Phoenix Foreign Car Service) but they are top notch. Small shop. Guy to see is Jeff McNulty. He and his techs have looked after my 1984 300D, 1985 300SD and 1987 300SDL for almost 10 years now ... always a damn good job, always a fair and honest price, which he tries to keep as low as possible. AND he is a straight shooter. I use them now exclusively.
They're at 2048 E. Indian School, just off the 51, and a hair west of Sprinkler World ... (602) 277-7077.

Sure you haven't been abusing Bud? He's normally a very mild mannered guy.

We took our 300se to a shop in Mesa on Apache for AC issues and overheating. 4Gs+ later we still had ac issues (thermostatic switch and the actual turn on switch were still working sporadically). they "fixed" the ac problem by removing the heater hose and doing a bypass of the heater core. I should have known when I walked into their shop and saw crap everywhere.

I second the recommendation of Bud and MB Motors. I've been bringing my cars to him exclusively since 2001.

I can drive in, tell Bud the symptoms, hand him the keys and leave with the comfort and confidence of knowing that I'm not going to get ripped off and he'll fix only what actually needs fixing.

As for setting deadlines, I normally don't do it. I'd rather he know that he is not under the gun. On the other hand on those occasions when I've said, I need the car back by XXXX", he's always delivered or told me up front that he can't.

There is NO ONE i would trust more with my Mercedes than Bud.

3rd person vouching for this shop. Bud is very friendly to work with, and you don't have that sinking feeling you are about to get fleeced with things you don't need like when you go to the dealer.

I just arrived in PHX 3 weeks ago and thought i had developing trans issues. Bud took the time to go over my car with me, do some simple maintenance and housekeeping and basically told me my car is fine, just showing it's age.

He has quite a few very long term customers as well, several of which I talked to when I was there. I can see why he has such a strong positive reputation.

rjp

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03 540I (GAK!!)
81 280E (W123)
70 LeMans Sport with pissed off Poncho 462"
1989 Silverado Step Side (under the knife- complete restomod)

I highly reccomend German Car Service in Scottsdale, AZ. They are fast, they don't B.S with lowball estimates and then charge you more, they called me once a day or emailed at least to let me know how far along they we in the work, and they ended up underbudget for me. The work they do is solid and they know these cars better than anyone I have met. I have taken my car there twice now and I will be taking it there forever. I received the reccomendation from someone with a beautiful 300SD with 416,000 miles on it.

The shop owner is Kenny Hazinoff and their number is 480-970-6776

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1985 300D (CA, 173K)

Dynamite Biodiesel Co-op, Phoenix,AZ

I have no hesitation recommending MB Motors and Bud Cloninger. He managed to sort out my 190E 2.3-16, even tried to talk me out of spending so much money (head work, new exhaust valves, cooling system and a/c on a Euro model) on the project more than once. Talk about being brutally honest.

Bud and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The fixed my abs ets problem I had on my ML and it didn't cost anywhere close to what it would have at a chain or the dealership.

I feel good knowing I have a go to mechanic for my Benz.

They break more than they fix. After doing some engine work, they broke the capillary tube for the engine temperature gauge. Andy did not offer to repair it yet he knew it happened in his shop. I will never go back again.

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Dan
1981 240D
1987 300D Turbo
1973 220
Das Beste Oder Nichts

Howdy folks, new to Mercedes and new to this forum. I’m looking for a shop in the Phoenix area, it looks like German Auto Service in Scottsdale and MB Motors still exist. My car is an 83 240D, and I’m pretty sure many/most of its maladies are vacuum related. I only want to take it to a shop that is very familiar with those vacuum systems. Thanks, Doug