Yes, I would agree with Brian on this. For one thing, I worked in dealerships for a number of years and I know how they operate inside and out. It's a crap shoot as to IF anybody at the dealer even knows what they are doing or have the experience, particularly on the older models.

Also depends on which tech at the dealer gets your vehicle to work on. Some don't specialize to a person(tech) anymore. A lot of them are "bumper to bumper" type shops. So you don't always get the best person for your vehicle working on it.

I appreciate the suggestion though.

On another note, not all independent shops can be trusted either. I called a few this week. Just "feeling them out". Trying to illicit some helpful information and maybe pay them a getting to know you visit in the future.

Anyway, this one independent "Mereceds" shop owner as he stated, told me, after a brief conversation the I was looking at putting a $1,000 in to the front end. Right of the bat!

When somebody starts off like that, ah, sorry, gotta go. Talk to you later. It's a shame too. The shop is walking distance from where I live.

Having said all that, I would still be interested in driving up to these shops just to start a converstion and see what they could do for me for a $0 estimate. Again, I would try to illicit any useful information. At the dealer, maybe see if I could talk to one of the facelees tech's/mech's they hide in the back from customers-and the parts counter guys can be very useful as well. Just because we go to theses places, does not mean we HAVE TO spend money there.

I will continue to do my own work. I'll do it my way - thank you very much. However I will continue to "pick a few brains" here and there.

And of course I will continue to research this forum and other internet avenues of information.

Alignment and tire balance is about the only thing I can think of right now that I will have to farm out. Again, thank you. Astute advice Brian.

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1982 MBZ 300SD Turbo Diesel- just turned 200,000- just breaking her in