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  #1  
Old 09-22-2009, 10:13 AM
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I don't think they want my business...

This was a quote from a MB dealer to replace both lower ball joints and do an alignment.

"The cost to replace the lower ball joints will be right at $450.00 per side ($900.00 for both sides) If you need an alignment it will run $119.95 additional. We will have to order the ball joints and the repair will probably take about 1.5 to 2 days to complete. If this is something you want to do give us a call at 807-XXX-XXXX and we can schedule an appointment. Thanks"

I know they are called stealerships for a reason but I just think they don't want the business on this one.

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  #2  
Old 09-22-2009, 11:27 AM
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Yikes....I think I paid about $300ish for a ball joint replacement....3 hours.
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  #3  
Old 09-22-2009, 11:38 AM
Craig
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No, they probably don't want to be bothered working on older cars. Most dealers do the majority of their work under warrentee.
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  #4  
Old 09-22-2009, 11:50 AM
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Every time I go buy parts from the stealership near me they have a few older cars getting worked on. A saw a pristine 300CD last time I was there. I wanted to put a note in it for the owner making him an offer on it! Most people with older Mercedes either work on them themselves or have the big bucks to pay the stealership. So they can charge what ever they want. I think the labor rate at the local is $120/hour. At that rate, I have saved about $10,000 doing all the work on my car myself!
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  #5  
Old 09-22-2009, 11:53 AM
Craig
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I have found that good independent shops are better at working on older cars. A good shop may cost the same as the dealer, but they probably have more experience working on these cars.
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  #6  
Old 09-22-2009, 11:57 AM
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jeez...i have an under the table indy mechanic. my lower ball joint replacement cost me about $45 bucks plus parts, and he had to heat it up and beat the damn thing out with a hammer. i didn't realize how much this work really costs, everything has been so cheap with him. i guess i'm spoiled!
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  #7  
Old 09-22-2009, 12:10 PM
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If u r a bit handy and can remove the spindles (the part where the BJ is attached to), just bring the spindles to any machine shop that has a press and they will press out and press in the BJs for much, much less than you can ever spend by having any mechanic do it.

I brought mine to our local NAPA that had a machine shop and paid around $30 for both sides. Alignment may not be necessary after but there again, find a shop with laser alignment and they should be able to do a W123/126. My Ford dealer charges $55.

By the time you spend anyweres close to $200-$300 for work like this, you would have equipped yourself with the proper tools to do the job (BJ separators, wrenches, etc).
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  #8  
Old 09-22-2009, 12:50 PM
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On your '93, check to see if they are the replaceable ball-joints. If so, they can be replaced without the control arms.

If not, you'll need new control arms, and definately an alignment. The ball-joint replacement is a ***** IMO, but the control-arm replacement is fairly simple, I've done both without a spring compressor on my '87 (probably not recommended) in an afternoon, they you have new bushings and ball-joints, and the parts are not that bad.

Search or ask for brand recommendation on the control-arms, IIRC there is at least one aftermarket that is recommended and one that is not.
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  #9  
Old 09-22-2009, 01:02 PM
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Any dealer ls like this. The local ford is 120 per hour also.
got to find a good indy shop or do it yourself.
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  #10  
Old 09-22-2009, 01:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tobybul View Post
If u r a bit handy and can remove the spindles (the part where the BJ is attached to), just bring the spindles to any machine shop that has a press and they will press out and press in the BJs for much, much less than you can ever spend by having any mechanic do it.
That's great advice for a W123 300D. Not so great for a W124.
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  #11  
Old 09-22-2009, 03:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Graplr View Post
Most people with older Mercedes either work on them themselves or have the big bucks to pay the stealership.
I disagree - I think most folks with older cars take them to independent shops, precisely because the dealers don't want to work on them. Most dealer mechanics are 20 year old kids fresh out of mechanic school. The way it works, is that a manufacturer will pay to put you through their entire training course for like 2 years, and in exchange, you are required to then work at one of their dealerships for 2 years (making low wages). Most then leave to go work elsewhere for better money. Consequently, most dealer mechanics are only trained and experienced on *current* models. They know nothing about the older cars and that's why they don't want to work on them.

Those of us who DIY are a very very small minority.

There are at least 10 different independent shops here in the DC area that work exclusively on older German cars. And they are all busy.
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  #12  
Old 09-22-2009, 03:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lupin..the..3rd View Post
There are at least 10 different independent shops here in the DC area that work exclusively on older German cars. And they are all busy.
Yeah, my indy always has piles of Mercedes outside his shop (and inside). I think most people around here who have an older MB they want to take care of at some point hear that this guy's the guy to take it to ... not the dealer. The dealer told my dad to "retire" my 300D in 2002, which was and is a really nice, healthy car, when it needed new ball joints and couple other things. They didn't even want his business. My indy did the whole front end for a fraction of what the dealer would have charged. I do go into the dealer all the time for parts, and really like the parts dept., but I don't get the feeling they see a lot of older MBs in there. I don't think the service department would be all that thrilled to work on my 300D, let alone my 240D. My indy helped me when my 240D was missing a throttle spring, and didn't question my interest in repairing the car even though it's a junker. He sees everything from old beaters to creampuffs and he knows how to deal with all of them. Without requiring you to take out a second mortgage to pay for it.
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  #13  
Old 09-22-2009, 03:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Squabble View Post
jeez...i have an under the table indy mechanic. my lower ball joint replacement cost me about $45 bucks plus parts, and he had to heat it up and beat the damn thing out with a hammer. i didn't realize how much this work really costs, everything has been so cheap with him. i guess i'm spoiled!

I have one of those as well. Sunroof lifting arm repair....$300 + $50 because he did a great job. When I bring it to him it comes back fixed as opposed to the dealer which misdiagnose problems and loose hood braces on me....
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  #14  
Old 09-22-2009, 07:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fulcrum525 View Post
I have one of those as well. Sunroof lifting arm repair....$300 + $50 because he did a great job. When I bring it to him it comes back fixed as opposed to the dealer which misdiagnose problems and loose hood braces on me....
I think they stole your hood brace as part of their diabolic plot to make everyone give up on their old cars and buy one of those magical no-maintenance new ones. Seriously, how do you misplace something that unwieldy? LOL.
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  #15  
Old 09-22-2009, 08:48 PM
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I'm on one of the popular boxster boards, and a GM of a dealership regularly contributes.

I'm para-phrasing... so pardon me if it's off by a little bit, but...

1. they don't like being called stealership's..... they provide reasonable service.. if you don't like it.. don't complain.... just go somewhere else.

2. if you're stuck... they will try to help you at their going rate.

3. if you don't like point 2... see point 1.

bottom line... in warranty... goto a dealer.. give them your money.
out of warranty, the choices are... 1: diy. (don't know what that means.. then...) 2:find an indy.. (not sure what that means) 3. go whereever....

bottom line.. they sure are wonderfull cars... and someone fix's them.

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