"Stealership" - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

240Demon · #16 10-27-2004, 07:32 PM

I have a nice situation...I am friends with a Mercedes Dealer tech and he gets me the parts at his cost, and usually the same day, as long as he gets it in his order by noon.

Thats the way to go

MonsieurBon · #17 10-28-2004, 12:00 AM

The dealer in downtown Portland, OR wanted something like $29 for a large piece of the vacuum locking linkage, plus a $9 fee to order it, I think.

I got the little spring, which was all I needed for under a dollar at MBI Motors, an indy shop.

Forget the stealership...

Richard Eldridge · #18 10-28-2004, 12:54 AM

The closest dealership to me, MB of Miami, is very nice to out MBNA group, but my personal experiences have been less than joyful when I call or go there for parts. They say they will give us a 10% discount on parts and labor, but the guys in the Parts Dept say they have never heard such a thing and make no effort to ask the head office.

\Recently I wanted some fittings for my new Euro headlights, about $9.00 plus shipping at a more distant parts house, and they quoted me a price of $15, but said that they would have to special order them and I would have to go there and pay in advance.

So if I have to drive the extra 15 miles to buy them for $6.00 less, but make just onew trip, or pay $15 to have it UPS's to me from an internet group, that is what I'll do.

As for labor, they charge $125 per hour, and a 10% discount does not seem like such a great deal to me. They aren't all that familiar with my ancient cars anyway.

There are a couple of indy shops that I have found far more friendly and cost-effective.

The showroom guys are snobs. Once I was looking for a used Diesel and the guy said they had one in the shop. I asked to look at it and he asks me how much I want to pay per month. I tell him that I am not planning to make payments and he just wanders off.

At the time I had enough in my cash account to buy a new car for cash, but I am glad that I didn't. I think that the W123 and W124 models are far more reliable and easier to work on than the new ones.

braverichard · #19 10-28-2004, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill murrow

I saw some jackpoint plugs on Ebay advertised as" for a w123". Thought it would be a good idea.

I bid to $20 for the four and didn't get them. Back to the forum I asked about these plugs and come to find out they are for a 126 but will fit my 123.

They are $1.60 each at the dealership . Glad I wasn't the winner.

I've noticed the same seller is still putting them on Ebay, still making money but not bringing the the $22.50 they brought on the first go round.

Cheers,

Bill

I went through the exact same thing. I was bidding on an air intake hose for my Euro 500SEL since I bought it with tape covering the air intake and no hose

. Anyway, I bid $15 and was still outbid. Item ended up selling for $19. The seller still lists that same item and it always sells for something close to $19. I ended up getting mine from Fastlane for $5.00 with free shipping (since I had a large order). The same item is being sold at the dealership for $9.00. I've also seen M-B oil filters sell at stratopheric prices on eBay when they're cheaper elsewhere online and even at the "stealership."

In my city, there are two places from which one can purchase M-B parts... actually three. Two are dealerships, of which one, Jay Wolfe, just opened in July. Then the third one is Star Motors, an independent European (originally M-B) auto shop owned and operated by Emery. Emery is the true master of Mercedes-Benzes in Kansas City. No one at any autoshop has more experience on these cars than him in the KC area. He has been working on them for over 40 years! In fact, he is so good that Aristocrat Motors, the original M-B dealership here for years, sends cars they can't repair to him to complete the repairs!!

And here's the best part: he can get any M-B parts faster and cheaper than the dealers can get them (don't ask me how)and charges just $75/hour of service!!