I am looking for an honest competent mechanic in the Las Vegas area.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve if you run a search on Las Vegas you will find a comment about a shop that I put in.

-Scott

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1979 240d 177k Sold
1976 300d ~220k daily driver For Sale
1977 450slc Sold

Not to complain..............

but wouldn't it have been easier to just post the name of the shop?

Steve

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Steve A

'87 300SDL 97K Mi
'87 300TD 115k Mi

Well Steve I figured I would let you look for the thread... don't know if anyone else added comments to it since I posted to it. Someone may have had a different experience with them than I did.

If you use Frank's Mercedes (good experience but pricey) also or someone else, I would be interested to see your comments.

Recently I also used Myers Western Imports Service on Boulder Highway and found them to be fairly incompetent. After a week (I was told there was a three day back log) I called and was told that my car was lost in the queue somehow and they would get to my car first thing in the morning and would receive a call before 10 am. Two days later I gave them a call again (after never having received a call) and was apologized to and told again that they would get to it first thing in the morning and that I would receive a call. Of course I didn't receive a call again and this continued for a total of four times.

All I was getting was a compression check, a tune up, and asked them to take a good look at the rest of the car and write up an estimate of anything else that would need to be done.

When I did get my car looked at I was told that the mechanic (their Mercedes guy) said that the radiator and/or thermostat must need to be replaced and that they couldn't do any thing to the car until then (was told it was pinging due to overheating and that the temp gauge in the car wasn't showing the right temp).

I replaced the thermostat (the one in the car looked brand new) and had the radiator reconditioned (the guys at the radiator shop said they didn't find anything wrong with it aside from the corrosion I knew about, Myers said it must be clogged).

Now here's the kicker... When I started looking at the car (I recently picked the '77 450slc up for a couple hundred bucks) I found the emission control vacuum system completely screwed up. Pieces were visibly broken, disconnected or missing. Any competent mechanic should have seen this as problem for the car running rough. Also the idle adjustment screw could be completely tightened down... an obvious sign of a vacuum leak.

So I will leave the judgment up to you. In their defense my buddy had a good experience with his Mazda there, which was why I figured I would try them.

Maybe they were trying to take me for a bath or maybe I got the gomer since it was supposed to be a tuneup. All in all ~$400 later and it ran worse thatn when I brought it in... I am going to give them a call today.

-Scott

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1979 240d 177k Sold
1976 300d ~220k daily driver For Sale
1977 450slc Sold

Scott, I am sorry to say that your experience at We/stern is very typical of what I have found in Las Vegas.

Several supposed MB expert shops seem to only exist to prey upon the carcass of any unlucky soul that walks through the door.

The best local shop I have found to date is Sig's ********. He is located in the old industrial section just north of Spring Mountain. The shop does not look like much, but he seems to know the cars and is honest.... the last part being quite a significant difference to the other shops I have had contact with.

I have a friend who has several older Benz's and he takes his to German Auto Service in Murray, Utah, just south of Salt Lake City. He speaks very highly of them. I loaned my 300TD to my newphew for his honeymoon to Park City and the A/C quite on them on the way up. I had him take the car in and they replaced the compressor, the dryer, expansion valve, and sent the manifold hose out for repair. It turned into a rather expensive repair and after discussing it with Sig I could have had it done several hundered dollars cheaper in Vegas at Sig's shop. He would not have replaced the expansion valve unless it needed it, where the SLC shop does it automatically any time they replace the compressor.

Oh well, you know no good deed goes unpunished.

Ny nephew just graduated in Information Technology as did his new bride. Now they both need to find a job and then a car so I can get mine back.


Steve

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Steve A

'87 300SDL 97K Mi
'87 300TD 115k Mi

What type of labor rates does Sig's charge? While I found that Frank's really stands behind their work and have people that know what they are doing, I am in school at UNLV and have a hard time forking out the cash for their labor rate. But in this case I am wishing I spent the extra money. Does Sig's only do Diesels?

-Scott

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1979 240d 177k Sold
1976 300d ~220k daily driver For Sale
1977 450slc Sold

I think is labor rate is about $65, but I am not positive.

The honesty is more of an issue ... for me, but he is much lower than the dealer.

Steve

No, he does more than just diesels, he works on all the MB's.

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Steve A

'87 300SDL 97K Mi
'87 300TD 115k Mi

I'm fairly new at Benz ownership. I've been to two mechanics and had positive experiences from both. Desrt Oasis Foreign Motors on Rainbow and Freds ******** on Pecos Road. Freds is good, don't let their crankiness put you off. Desert Oasis is run by a Hungarian who was very attentive.

I found a great new MB independent shop in Las Vegas. Their name is G&G ********. They have a very clean shop and have only been open about 4 months. They only do MB repair. The shop is owned by 2 very good MB certified technicians, Austin and Iram . Iram has been around quite a long time in Vegas doing only MB repair and Austin previously worked at the local MB dealer. I have been to them several times now and am quite happy with their service. Their number is 364-BENZ or 364-2369. They are very close to the corner of Decatur and Meadows. By the Meadows mall. Their address is 325 South Decatur Las Vegas, NV 89107. Being a new first time MB owner, I found out these guys will inspect your car (while you watch) and take you under the car and show you what they found. If you elect to do the work they offer free valet service and wash your car when the repairs are done. My experience is that they are quite honest and very resonable on their prices. Much better then dealer pricing. I have pretty high standards and I am quite picky with who I allow to touch my car. I do alot of my own work on my own vehicles, but when I can't I will be doing all my service with them. Try them out. Feel free to mention my name. Vinnie