Good MB Shop in Scottsdale AZ

[EuroCoupe]

Just putting a plug in for my girlfriend's father's Mercedes shop in Scottsdale, AZ.
Its called German Car Service and the owner is Ken Hasanoff. The guy is a Mercedes freak. Born in Bulgaria and came over when he was 19. His staff are all from different areas of Europe and have done nothing other than work on mercedes cars. He is also low-end for labor costs and speaking from experience- he doesn't half-ass anything if you know of the German work ethic.

German Car Service- Ken Hasanoff, Owner
7520 E. McDowell
(Northeast corner of Miller and McDowell)
Scottsdale, AZ 85257
(480) 970-6776

Thanks- Mike
(500 SEC, 190E)

[rkroel]

I must strongly advise against this shop. They told me I had a seized brake caliper on the rear end of my '73 280SE 4.5, the tire wouldn't turn at all by hand and the brake pad was extremely worn. They also stated there was a leak on one of the rear axles which was "spraying" the under side of the vehicle. They recommended replacing both rear calipers, the parking brake, and resealing the axle. Quoted me somewhere around $2500 to do the work.

I decided I could do the work myself and took the car home. Once I tore into the car I found that:

The rear caliper was not stuck. I could turn both rear rotors by hand. No worn brake pads. In fact, both sides had even wear. To make matters worse, there were cob webs on the lug nuts of the offending side. There is absolutely no way to see the brake pad wear without removing the wheel.

The rear differential housing was leaking, but certainly not spraying anywhere. The car has a solid rear axle, how could one spray?

To be sure I took the car to a trusted general maintenance shop. Told them about the rear brake issues. They confirmed the rear brakes were okay, and measured both pads at 6/32". No uneven wear.

After finding all this I called them and gave them every opportunity to explain themselves. Could you have mixed the cars up? "Nope, we weren't working on any other 280's at the time". Could the mechanic have made a mistake "No, I watched him try to turn the tire". I informed the gentleman about the cobwebs, "Oh, we didn't have to remove the wheels". I asked if there could be some drive train issue I should worry about, he said he didn't think so but would ask the mechanic if there was anything else that could have caused the behavior and call me back. I never received that call. There was quite a bit of stammering, on his part, during this conversation.

I don't want to start an argument but I feel compelled to warn others about my experience with them. Avoid these guys.

[EuroCoupe]

The wheel was seized while the car was in the air in neutral. It's possible it freed itself with more driving. The fact that there are cobwebs in the wheel shows the car is not driven much. The axle is leaking from the inner seal at the differential. There was clearly fluid running down the axle and fluid was present on the inner wheel as well. The axle should be re-sealed. The parking brake shoes have fluid on them and have had for some time (from the leak) and recommended to be replaced. When putting a new set of calipers we always put a new set of pads. We don't pull out the old pads and put them in the new calipers, therefore we would quote new pads. We've been here for 18 years, we're not out for short term customers.

[rkroel]

I had no problem with replacing the pads if new calipers were needed, and never said I did. That wasn't my complaint. I was told the pads on the "stuck" caliper were severely worn. Lie 1.

If the caliper had been frozen at any time the pad would be completely shot. You guys did not remove the wheel so you could not have measured the pad wear. Lie 2.

The pad wear from side to side was identical. Lie 3.

Sorry, but too many lies. Maybe you guys had the parking brake on. Who knows. Either way I expect more.

I never said there wasn't a differential leak, I only disagreed with the "spraying" term you used.

I'm not out to ruin your business or argue with you. I gave you the opportunity to explain yourselves before I ever posted anything. I had the car inspected by another shop before I ever posted anything. I feel what I have posted is fair and will leave it as such.

Ryan.

[EuroCoupe]

You seem hung up on the brake pad wear. I appologize if it was conveyed to you that the pads were worn. The diagnosis was a frozen caliper that would need to be replaced (pair) with new pads ($37 + labor for the set of rear pads). I don't believe the parking brake was on, as we'd noted the shoes were soaked in axle fluid so parking brake was checked at the same time. Anyway, I'm glad the wheel has freed itself, as was mentioned may be possible when the car was picked up with more driving. Thank you for having us diagnose and repair the leaky power steering hose, doorlock vacuum element, and master valve prior to this estimate. Best of luck with the car.

[frankengrant]

I too will vouch for this shop, click the link in my sig and you will see my car and some reveiws of the work they do there.

By far the best shop in the valley, lucky to have them here.