my baby made it to austin
 

my 1980 300 sd with the slow drip from one of the oil cooler lines made it to austin, tx from los angeles.../..

ok guys and girls....since i am going to working in the austin area, does anyone know of a reputable good shop that isnt going to kill me for an arm and a leg?

thanks for the help....

ps looking into an 87 gasser 420sel for 1700.00

looks like a good deal

opinions please.....

lyle in austin

Just give that oil line a crank with a wrench to see if it will stop the leak.Need to hold the wrench on the other side of the bolt for reinforcement while torqing.My mechanic I use for heavy jobs is in Houston ,dont no if that helps ,hes about $50 an hr and honest .I recommend him with out hesitation since the time he owned a shop next to my Business .I now a little but he has seen alot more under the hood tech and diagnoses jobs than I have.You get pretty good when your demand for performance is a 9 to 5 job.

There is a thread somewhere on this forum that has recommendations for mechanics. I've had reasonably good experiences with JP's Mercedes Repair, and Austin ********. I've also heard good things about Phoenix Motor Works, and plan to try them next time I need something done. There are a couple others I've heard mentioned favorably, but with caveats. Like Ben's Workshop, which does very good quality work, but is expensive.

For fuel injection parts and work, I've taken my Ford F250 to Austin Fuel Injection and Performance. I usually go to a Mercedes-specific mechanic for the Benz, but I mention this place because they will test your injectors for free, and have good prices on new fuel injectors and pumps.

Good luck!

Dan

Austin shops
 

I always took my 300D to Ben's Workshop. As Dan mentioned previously, they are not cheap. However, their track record with diagnosing and repairing the car was perfect. Each time you bring the car in, Ben calls you and chats with you about the repair/service, and what you need to be looking at next, etc. The last time I was there, however, I heard the receptionist telling someone over the phone that they aren't accepting any diesels older than 1990 unless you've previously been to the shop. I don't know how hard and fast this rule is. Pheonix Motor Works is very good, too; they specialize in Volvos, but always have a few older Mercedes in the bays. They are one of only two shops in Austin which will work on the Volvo diesel. I've used them since the mid-1990s and always found their service to be excellent. A friend of mine who has a Peugeot raves about a place called Revolution Motors; apparently they work on Mercedes as well.

Best of luck and welcome to Austin!

-Chris