Some of the parts prices are ok but others are way to high for example:

"front calipers,($520 ouch!)front hoses. ($75)"

Front calipers are $87 each plus $10 each for the brake hoses.

$200 sounds a lot better then $600!

Plus maybe an hour lof abor to change them.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I would pay the indy to do all the stuff (ball joints etc) that require compressing the springs. This job is more dangerous than difficult, esp if you don't know what yr doing (I have seen someone lose a spring taking it off...not pretty). The rest can be done very easily if you're not afraid to ask questions and if you have someone who can patch up bloody knuckles.

-M-

__________________
Currently:
1972 350SL Euro 4spd
1973 BMW R75/5
1981 BMW R80GS
1995 FZJ80 with OM606 Conversion In Progress

Just got back in town. Thanks to everyone. You guys have really made see this thing from a different perspective. I have sent Jake 1222 a private message and hopefully we will be able to get together this weekend. I drove my 300cd to my indy today, and he wants to just do the ball joints, front pads, rotor, tie rods etc. for right now to the tune of $1450w/labor He says it's a 2 day job. Hopefully I can get up with Jake. Thank you all so much. This forum really is worth my entire internet service monthly fee. In fact, most of my spare time is spent right here. I am really getting an invaluable education.

Well now, isn't that interesting. Once the mechanic saw that he could not convince you to part with $3K, he then decides that you only need to do half the things on the list. Maybe if you balk at that, he will get down to 1/4 of the things on the list.

The real question in my mind, and one that needs and answer before you do anything, is what is truly required on this vehicle? Does every component on the front end need to be replaced, or are some components functioning just fine? Brake calipers do not need replacement, typically, unless the vehicle is pulling to one side or the caliper is leaking past a seal. Front wheel bearings almost NEVER need replacement unless they were run for 250K without any repacking. If so, the mechanic cannot tell this until he pulls the rotors off.
The rear brake "shoes" are for the parking brake. He cannot know that these are bad unless he pulls off the rear rotors. I think about five forum members have ever changed their parking brake shoes.

I truly sense that this mechanic sees a "mark". Don't let him achieve it.

BTW, I changed the front calipers on the SDL two weeks ago. Got replacements on e-bay for $100. plus shipping. It takes about 30 minutes to unbolt the caliper, remove the brake hose, install a new brake hose, and reinstall the new caliper. And, I am very slow. There are fellows on this forum who could do it in 15 minutes. Total cost for the brake calipers, rotors, brake hoses and pads was $275.

Ask Hattersguy what he has in his car. Something like $9000.

Look at it this way--if you shell out the bucks for the intial fix you'll have a super car. Look how much the new cars are. A new car loses, on the average, $2500/year.


Find a way to DIY and get your own parts. These cars are generally easy to fix. German engineers obviously thought of the guy thats gonna fix it . I'm no mechanic but nuts and bolts are easy to figure out.


Cheers,

Bill

Just talked to Phil at fastlane and told him about my indy. prices and dilema. He told me "don't do it." The prices are waaay too high. We came up with this: Total price of parts= $923.22 shipped. Indy wanted $1889.26. Indy quoted 22hrs. labor@ 70hr w/parts = $3523. Phil quoted 8-12hrs. labor@ 70hr w/parts= approx. $1625 total. Looks like my indy was getting some of his parts from Phil and charging me retail. I just ordered all of the previously mentioned parts from Phil and they are due to arrive on Friday Oct.22. I have still yet to find the right indy. to do the work though. I will be saving almost 2 grand by using this site. I want to personally thank all who have helped me. (too many to name you all. It gives me such a pleasure to know that there are still some good honest people out here. I will keep you all informed. Phil did give me some shops from this site that I need to call today. Special thanks to Jake 1222. He knows a indy. that is about 2 hrs. from me. I will be calling him today. Thanks to all and I will keep you all posted.

79 300CD I'm glad everything is looking better for you!
That mechanic was trying to rip you off Maybe you should post a warning in the shops forums so other MB owners will be careful with him.

bill murrow not counting the purchase price $6k probably will break the $10k next year.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If you can bring the vehicle to Raleigh, I have your indy. I live in NY and the only person who has ever worked on these two, other than myself, is in Raleigh. He and I go back to the days before he opened the shop.

If you schedule the appointment, he can probably do all the work in a single day, while you wait. I am quite sure he could get it done in one day for about $600. labor. Since he sends the alignment out, getting that done, with all the other front end work, in the same day, might be a bit dicey.

Let me know if Raleigh is within range.

Brian. Raleigh is definitely within range. In fact, I travel there all the time. It's only 2 hrs away. Raleigh is where I bought the car. I even have family in Raleigh that can give me a loaner car while mine is getting repaired. The $600 labor is outstanding!! $990 parts + $600 labor= $1590 total. I will save almost 2 grand. WOW!!! Please turn me on to this guy asap. I will send you a private message and we can exchange phone #'s. I really appreciate your help Brian. By the way, is the name of this shop called the Car Place on Capitol Blvd.

When I was down in Raleigh this [now past-ugh] summer, I saw the place you're referring to.

Let me know if they're any good. I go down there every year to visit my aunt [off of Six Forks Rd. I think] and it would be comforting to know if I did break down there is a reasonable /good place where I can get it fixed.

Thanks..

Cheers,

Bill

That's the place. I'll call him first and get a number for all of the aforementioned work, with an option on the upper control arms, which may or may not be required. I'll let you know after I speak with him.

Your indy was DEFINITELY trying to rip you off, unless he's actually so incompetent that the job would really take him that long (bad either way!).

Even Phil's estimate sounds a little conservative to me. Brian's estimate sounds about right if his guy knows what he's doing. My dad and I did nearly the same job (minus calipers) on my car six months ago. It took about 4.5 hours, and that includes about 40 minutes cursing at a seized bolt that was unreachable by a dremel or drill (can't even remember how we got that one out).

Did you already buy new calipers? I've heard they rarely have problems and you can rebuild them pretty cheap if necessary. Since the indy you went to hasn't shown you any reason to trust him you may not want to believe everything he says about what needs to be replaced...

__________________
'81 300TD Wagon 355k (Miss Diesel)
'83 300SD 180k
'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)

Bill,

The place is owned by two partners. I know one of them very well. His name is Ronnie King and he is the M/B man. His partner works on BMW's. I knew him ten years ago when he worked for General Electric.

The shop had labor rates as low as $40. per hour about five years ago. Now it is up to $68. IIRC. But, the best part about them is that they are honest and never look to take you for a ride. I recommend him unconditionally, and, if you ever get down there, mention my name. It won't get you any discount (I can't get one myself) but, it is always better to start out with a common acquanitance.

Well, I did not remember correctly. The labor rate is now up to $79. Sure has climbed fast and furiously.

How do I start. Well, I called the previous owner on Tuesday and told him about the dilema with the car that I bought from him. He was stunned. He said there was no way his car needed all these parts. He really thought that I was insinuating that he knew that the car was bad when I bought it. I explained to him that I just wanted the car to be right so I had it checked out by my indy. Well, long story short. He said that he would call someone that could do the job for a lot less than $1889 labor. He called his indy and told him the situation. His indy called me this morning and we have set up to do the work next Thursday. Come to find out the indy is the same one that Brian Carlton (on this board)knows. Can you believe that!! The shop is called the Car Place in Raleigh NC. Brian and the previous owner are directing me to the same shop. There is definitely some sort of cosmic energy going on here. Still, it looks like I'll be forking over $998 parts and $1200 labor= $2198 total. Lot better than the original $3523. With the repairs and the price of the car I'll be at about $4500. Still less than 1 year of car payments at $400 a month. I will keep you guys posted. Thanks to all. You guys are the best.

I spoke with Ronnie tonight about the 240. He seemed to indicate that the labor would be about 10 hours. His labor rate is now $79. which should put the labor at $790. Where did the $1200. come from?