I have lately had the chance to pick up some Snap-On tools and tool boxes, as well as Hazet, Easco, Craftsman and Armstrong tools.

As I sort this stuff and get ready to sell, I've been asking myself: Are the Hazet tools recommended by MB really any better than Snap-On?

I think that in the case of special tools made specifically for an application-- like the diesel valve train adjustment wrenches-- the answer is probably YES.

But what about the others?

Is it worth spending money to have a genuine set of Heyco/Gedore/Matador wrenches that say "Mercedes-Benz" on them, or is it better to have a set of Snap-Ons, in the trunk?

Your experiences and comments, please.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

If it does not have a moving part save yourself the money and get it at sears. For everything else i would say matco over snap on. my .02

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

I've bought "Made in Germany" tools while in Germany and had them fail since they were cheap tools, so simply going on country of origin is not a great discriminator. My older US-made Craftsman are quality tools.

If you're looking for maximizing re-sale value, you'll probably get a better price by selling the brand name Snap-On since there's a larger market. That might leave you the Hazet's by default.

If there are similar tools, I'd recommend sticking with the ones that fit your hands and working style best. Some people like more heft, some like a polished chrome finish...

I think you're on the right track for the special purpose stuff like the valve wrenches. I'd also check for brake-line wrenches.

Given my druthers I'd prefer a matched set; but would I pay extra for it, used? I'm not so sure.

There are good stuffs made in every countries. There are bad stuffs made in every countries. I never discriminate a product from anywhere. So Chinese bashing is not in my vocabulary. If my life depend on it then I buy the best tools I can 'afford'. Otherwise run of the mill stuffs is good enough for me. You can pick up good quality tools from CL dirt cheap.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

I like German tools, though I have a blend of craftsman, cheapo harbor freight (for the unimportant throw away stuff), snapon....etc.

I do have a newly acquired German made toothbrush, does that count as a German tool? The thing is amazing!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I mostly agree with the above. I was in German for 2-1/2 years and I bought the cheapie made in Germany Tools. None failed on me but the clearly were not up to even Craftsman quality.

Todays cheap Tools are of a better quaity than the cheap tools 30 years ago. In fact I find myself buying more cheapie tools mainly becaues they are adequate.

Most of my Tools when I worked as a Mechanic were Craftsman. I also still have the Craftsman Tools that my Father bought me when I was 11 years old.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I am still using ratchet sets made by Craftsman that I got when I was 14 (40 years ago). I am still adding Craftsman tools to my collection. Recently picket up a great used 3/4" drive set...what a monster! Need a set of offset box wrenches to change the hubs out on my Explorer. Plan to by Craftsman.

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1993 W124 300D 2.5L Turbo, OM602.962
2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, 2.4L DOHC
2002 Ford Explorer, 4.0L SOHC
2005 Toyota Prius, 1.5L

http://www.fuelly.com/sig-us/40601.png

hard to beat hazet tools with any other brand. nothing wrong with snap-on at all, very good. craftsman are decent and good value.

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punkinfair

I have seen the Box Eend of Snap-on Combination Wrenches as well as some of their Sockets fit in tight places were other makers Tools would not fit because the other makers Tools had more metal around them; the Snap-ons were thinner but still strong.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Being over here in Europe it often ends up cheaper to buy German - I've been buying and using quite a bit of Gedore recently that has been good for the money I've paid.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I have been buying snap on tools lately, even box end combo wrenches. I had a set of craftsman wrenches, ETC industrial, powerfist, mastercraft, and a few other brands I could care enough to remember.... I checked all the wrenches through with calipers, and the jaws were parallel. I bit of heavy pulling while working on one of the plows (not using a snipe, btw., just by hand), and the jaws were stretched in such a way that the wrench was rounding new nuts that weren't even being pulled on hard....
I got snap on, and haven't had that problem...
I snapped 27 1/2 drive extensions last year. Bought snap on ones, no more problems... The extra money is worth is for me not to have to drive 2 hours because something a needed and the spare broke. Especially if I"m crunched for time, and I"m trying to fix something after hours...
Also, it's not like I'm abusing tools, or using the non impact ones on an impact wrench. The wrenches were being stretched by my own 2 hands without a snipe, and extensions breaking with just a 24 inch breaker bar....
Doesn't take too many 2 hours trips for the fuel cost to easily cover the extra cost of the snap on tool. I have only had the rachet gears have problems on them, and usually I have enough to cover till I"m making a trip anyways to see the guy...

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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic

If you wanted to work on MB's professionally, you would own 90%+ snap-on tools.

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I did notice the plating is already flaking off my hazet valve wrenches. Lame. Ive used them a handful of times. Snap on is just overpriced thats all. Get used proto stuff on ebay. Or used Sk

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

That tends to be the case for most professional mechanics....as they need a tool that is going to last and stand up to abuse daily. My father in law has a full set of spiffy snap on tools. I only have a couple....most of mine are craftsman "professional" or "Allan" brand....which *seem* to be slightly better than craftsman in my opinion....and are made in USA. They make nicer socket wrenches.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Danaher Corp. turns out a lot of the "made in USA" wrenches available at mainstream hardware/home improvement stores. Their brands include Matco, Fluke, Armstrong, KD and Allen. They also manufacture Craftsman wrenches for Sears and, I believe, some Kobalt tools for Lowe's.

Obviously they're made to different standards depending on the demands of the consumer. I know Matco is professional quality as wrenches go. Armstrong also seems to be priced at the professional level, and I know WW Grainger has sold them, but nobody seems to talk them up very much.

Allen and KD look pretty close, a Craftsman alternative, and I'd agree, maybe a little better. I've got a 1/4-drive KD ratchet that's a much better tool than the Craftsman ratchet I own, which I got from Sears after the first one I bought broke.

On the German front, I've got a set of deep offset box-end wrenches from Stahlwille that I like quite a bit.