I picked up my car last night from Enrique and I am very pleased with his work.

My head gasket was leaking so bad that I had the gasket replaced and did the complete head job, including honing the head, new guides, valve seals. the head gasket set included the valve cover gasket and resealing the cover for the timing chain.

I also had him install the new throttle actuator that I purchased in March and couldn't return.

In addition, I had him put in new plugs and wires, and had him suck out the old 'green' coolant from the reserviors / overflow tanks and pour in fresh MB coolant that is sort of yellowish in color.

The estimate I got just for the head job was $1,700, and with the extras (throttle actuator install, sucking out and replacing coolant, new plugs and wires) - the total bill came out to $1,900 and change.

His work was perfect, clean, and immaculate. The whole engine bay and underside of the car is so clean now that you could eat off of it.

I recommend him to anyone.

Also, Alon, he had the flooring in his waiting room redone. The whole floor has been removed and redone in tile.

__________________
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 just got a call from Enrique this afternoon.

It has been about a week since the head job, and he was calling to make sure everything is o.k.

I am so impressed. I have never had a mechanic call me before to check up on me.

After driving the car for a week, I've noticed that the car idles soooooo smooooth now. You can't hear or feel it. Amazing.

__________________
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".

that's enrique for you. Always looking out for his customers.

he called me the other day as a customer wanted a chrome shift surround ring.

I steered him int he right direction.

He also calls me every now and again just to see how things are going.

I think he Truly cares more about our cars than we do ourselves.

Alon

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

following your recommendation,
i had my w126 serviced from enrique of mr mb motors.
valve seal replacement, new plugs etc.
the car runs much tighter and smooth in general, but it still had that bothersome miss-in-engine, feel.

i hope he can fix this problem monday.

V

Alon,

I live in Orange County and after reading about your testimonials about Enrique, I decided to drive out there since I work in LA. I have to say that he is very knowledgeble and very professional. It truly shows in his work environment and his demeanor.

I took my 1986 300 SL (Euro) there and he knew right away it was a Euro version - that was the first thing that put me at ease. I asked him to give my car a full diagnostic and he asked me some of my concerns. He will write up his findings and give me a call before performing any work. About 20 minutes later, I was out of there with a peace of mind.

I hope you don't mind, I mentioned your name from this board. he certainly knows who you were!

Thanks again for the recommendation and I will post what Enrique came up with regarding my car.

my experience with enrique is proven to be positive.
he was able to finally fix a small miss in the engine that was driving me insane.

he replaced valve seals, plugs, wires.

car runs like new.

as I was concerned about the timing chain, enrique told me that it didnt need a change, in fact, he said it looked very new.

some shister could have said, i needed the chain, but he didnt.

his work is precise and fast with reasonable rate.

thumbs up alon baby!!

Glad everyone is happy. Hmm I think I ned to hit up Enrique for some kind of kickback for all the business I have been sending him. heheheh

Alon

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

Without getting into the details suffice it to say another ringing endoesement for Enrique at MRMB motors in Tarzana! Thanks Alon!

My father told me it is working fine! Really strange, but he took it on a 500 mile trip and said it as well as the car performed great. On another note about mileage, my dad said he found a repair receipt from couple of years ago with 150k, and car now shows 16x thousand miles, so I am feeling a lot better about the car's mileage. He took it up to 95 mph and had no problems with it. He called Enrique and said everything is running great. Enrique told him to make sure I call him when I get the car over here to Hawaii, and he'll answer any questions I have. Car was dropped off for shipment yesterday. I should have her in 2-4 weeks. Personalized plate says 4 hdez, so I'm thinking her name is going to be Heidi.

Reading about Enrique makes me feel like driving to the west coast just to service my 1986 300E. Anyone this good in the East Coast?. A had a very well recommended mechanic in this forum quote $1100 just to do the valve seals. To get the kind of work listed above for $1900 (head completely done+the rest) makes me feel I was about to be ripped off.

__________________
1999 Porsche 996 Carrera Convertible
1994 420E - SOLD
1986 300E - SOLD, what a car
609 Certified

A little background on writer:

I'm an old '60s So.Cal. (S.F. Valley) former build-it-yourself street racer, not much I haven't done. Presently living in the San Bernardino mountains.

Needed service on my '84 300SD, 227k miles - decent shape.

After 3 much-less than satisfying experiences with "mercedes" mechanics in the Inland Empire, and after reading different posts about Mr. MB Motors in Tarzana, I thought I'd try him out (its a 2 1/2 hour drive to the valley from my home -- better be good). Booked an appointment a week in-advance. Arrived at 8am and was greeted by a guy I immediatly liked - the owner Enrique.

To make a long story short, I had the oil filter changed, trans. fluid and filter changed, fuel filters changed, and following Enrique's suggestion the coolant and t-stat changed, and various nickle-dime vacuum hoses changed etc.

Never once did he push! Always asked questions and suggested this or that and let me make up my mind what I wanted to do. Seems he was more interested in the automobile than I was, and am very glad he was! -- and when he was done, the engine and trans were steam cleaned and the winshield wiped! Never experienced that before---all that for a VERY REASONABLE PRICE!

There is no question I could have done it all myself, but I wanted an experienced mercedes mechanic's opinion on a few other things in order for the automobile to run another 100k miles trouble free.

Mr. MB Motors owner Enrique Rodriguez is a mechanics MECHANIC, and so is Carlos his help - and I should know!
I highly recommend this shop for your mercedes work.

I don't make statements like that lightly, nor am I anyones stooge.

ALON -- you're right about Enrique, a true professional that doesn't let money come first (how refreshing), and one could eat off his shop floor if one wanted too!



Jim

I have to concur with everyone's experience with Enrique. I finally found the car I wanted in an internet ad. The car was located in Palm Springs. Everyone on this forum gave me the information I needed to know to pick a good one. From the description of the advertisment for the car, and knowing what questions to ask of the owner, I only had to take a quick walkaround of the car when I first saw it before I said, "I'll take it!". Didn't even want or need to drive it before deciding. (Original owner, full service records, air conditioning replaced.)

I took delivery on December 31st with 74,500 miles on the clock. Since the 75,000 mile service was due pretty soon, I decided to give Enrique a call to find out how much he wanted. (I checked with my "regular" MBZ mechanic also.) Enrique's price was in-line, so I decided to try him, (in fact, his estimate was less). As it was New Year's week, he was pretty slow and offered to work on that car at that moment. I decided to bring it in the next morning when he opened at 7:30.

He arrived right on time to open up his shop and greet me. If you have to wait for your car, he has a good collection of up-to-date car magazines and both of the daily newspapers. He also offered coffee while you wait.

Several times during the couple of hours he worked on the car, he came in and invited me out to the floor to show me something or other. He also suggested what needed to be replaced at that time. Only the oil filler cap in the valve cover gasket needed replacing. The tires are due pretty soon.

Since he knew that I just purchased the car, he went over it to ascertain the condition. The motor mounts could be replaced, but he said to wait until the next major service. No need to do it now. Everything else on the car checked out okay. He said I got a "nice one". Now that I've had it a few weeks, I'm starting to notice the little dings here and there. Nothing major, but not "mint" as was advertised. I would call it "near mint" or "excellent".

All in all, I'm pretty happy. One thing Enrique ordered for me was a little chrome bracket that I saw in one of the MBZ accessory order books on his table. It is a bracket that bolts to the lower two screws of the rear license plate and gives a little handle for opening and closing the trunk. I don't know why, but Mercedes has never put trunk handles on its cars. I've had a '59, a '68, a '69 and '80 sedan and now a '89 coupe. None of them had a handle for raising or lowering the boot. You always had to get finger prints on the paint. This little chrome bracket is great! It is fairly thick, so won't bend. It only sticks out about 1/2 inch from the license, so isn't noticable at all. What a find! The cost was $19.00. I'm sure you could make something yourself cheaper. The edges are rounded nicely and there are not any sharp edges. Nineteen bucks was okay with me, because I always hated getting my prints on the paint all the time. There is just no convienent place to grab. If anyone is interested, I could look up the part number and post it.

But I digress . . . Enrique is now my mechanic. He doesn't like mods and likes to keep his cars stock. Not sure how he will like me putting euros or Sportline sway bars on when that time comes.

Hope everyone doesn't mind, but I printed out this thread when I had Enrique work on my "new" car last week. Told him he could keep the copy. He was suprised with the pictures and is very appreciative of everyone's comments. (He now knows that he has a reputation as a good, honest, fairly priced mechanic and that he is being recommended word-of-mouth to other Mercedes owners.)

Took my car in this morning to have the oil changed and the EHA block replaced. Called at the last minute and was told to come right in. While there, I chatted with Enrique for a few minutes and asked about some of my concerns with the car. One being the excessive oil consumption. (Never had a car that had to have oil added to it between changes.) Enrique said the rate of consumption was "within acceptable limits" (according to MBZ tech specs). Of course, it is the valve guide seals (M103 engine with 78K on clock).

I started thinking about when I could bring the car back to have the guides installed, and get this! He offered to lend me his own personal automobile to take to work for the day! He just asked where I worked, and if I wanted to take his own car.

Now, I have only had him work on my car once before and phoned him once with a question or two. What other mechanice will say, "here, take my car for the day, and we will have your car ready when you get here after work"? Especially when they really don't know me very well.

You are using MB Stars in Walnut. I have visited their shop once, and felt comfortable. One of the twins participates on this forum from time to time, I think under the same name, MB Stars.

I have just had too many bad experiences with other "Mercedes" mechanics. Enrique has had a lifetime of experience working at Mercedes dealers on three continents, and I feel lucky to have him work on my car. And he's incredibly reasonable.

For things like oil changes, I wait in the lobby.

For the major head job he did, as well as other repairs and major services, I drop my car off and pick it up when it's done.

I usually have my wife follow me and take me home.

I've been told he has a loaner car that he has available, but I've never used it.

__________________
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".