Dealer frustration......

[zeke]

I took my new-to-me 240D in to M-B of San Antonio to get the front end aligned because the wheel tilted right at about 30* when tracking straight.

Also picked up a nail over the weekend so I asked them to patch it.

$129 for the alignment and $35 for the patch. What ever, it was there and convenient so I gave the go-ahead.

I had a 9:45 appt. At 2:45 the tech leaves a message saying he has two oldtimers who he assigns to the older cars but they hadn't gotten it into the garage yet.

I returned his call about an hour later. He told me he had it in the garage and the wheel was tracking straight, but he asked the mechanic if there were any other suspension problems. Let me say that of the 3 w123s I have owned, the suspension on this car is in by far the best shape. I had an alignment done on our other 240D with some wanky suspension parts and it has held for 3 years now.

Anyway, he says the mechanic texted him from the floor? and said I had some cracks in the (guide rod?) bushings. I have not heard any clunking creaking, or thumping from this car. From the cockpit, the suspension is mint and tight.

Anyway he said he would call me back with an estimate. At 5 I was leaving my office for the day so I called to follow up and give him my cell #. I got his VM, so I left him a message.

I called again at 6 and got his VM. It is now 7 and the service dept is closed, and I never got a call back.

I also never authorized anything more than the alignment and the tire repair. BUT, I assume he has ordered the bushings and is holding the car overnight waiting for delivery in the morning. But I don't really want to replace them considering both the expense (not budgeted for this month) and the poor customer service.

I guess it is possible he is having trouble with an 'unusual' car and is avoiding me until he has it right....I did have to go back to the other M-B dealership in town to get the alignment in the other 240D corrected before it 'took'

How do I deal with this in the morning?

I know this group will have plenty of advice for me on the topic...

[Diesel911]

I cannot speak for the Tech. However, while you can see the Guide Rod Rubber Boot you cannot see the inside of the Guide Rod.

This means that just like a split Boot on a Ball Joint the Ball Joint can still be OK even with a Split Boot.

It also might be that you can buy the Boot separately.

[sixto]

They shouldn't perform work you didn't approve so it's unlikely they've done anything more than inspect the steering and suspension systems. The downside is they probably performed those inspections at their hourly shop rate.

I've found other places to get MB wheel alignments. Three visits to the dealer resulted in at least an hour's worth of service to be told hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs are needed before they can perform an alignment. I wish they'd just laugh at me and send me on my way.

Sixto
87 300D

[MTUpower]

With older MB's the results are often exactly what the the last post says. You need to find a good indie, and a good alignment shop. No reason to blow money at the dealer if you can avoid doing so.

[Jeremy5848]

I agree. I've got a great local guy (not local if you're in Long Beach, sorry) who adjusted my 87's toe-in this morning while I waited. Cost: $55.

Jeremy

[Diesel911]

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

I agree. I've got a great local guy (not local if you're in Long Beach, sorry) who adjusted my 87's toe-in this morning while I waited. Cost: $55.

Jeremy

I am in Long Beach, CA. But, when I did my alignment I opted to buy the turntables and do the best I could with consideration that I have no level spot to do so.

[gatorblue92]

Personally I wont take my car anywhere near the MB dealer in Gulfport. The one time I did go in to get a state inspection sticker they refused service because I wasn't driving a newer Mercedes and I didn't buy the car from them. I know not all dealers are like this but still... I have found a great indy who i have brought the car to for alignments and he is going to fix my a/c whenever I decide to have it done.

[Diesel911]

None of the inards can be seen from the outside.
Cracks in the Rubber Boot could be seen and Cracks in the Metal in the rear portion could be seen. ((guide rod?) bushings?)

You need to take a look for yourself to be sure what the Tech is speaking of.

[Zacharias]

Originally Posted by zeke

Anyway, he says the mechanic texted him from the floor? and said I had some cracks in the (guide rod?) bushings. I have not heard any clunking creaking, or thumping from this car. From the cockpit, the suspension is mint and tight.

The guide rod bushing can seem fine for regular driving, but show up as worn on an alignment hoist. This is an unfortunate fact (it happened to me).

A very picky alignment tech (like one who is usually working on newer cars at a dealer can/may/will refuse to align a car when he spots such wear (ditto).

Another shop, with less lofty standards, may happily take your $110 or whatever and give you an alignment, nonetheless (which I did).

There are probably lots of people who would tell me I was wrong. But the car drove fine and my excessive tire wear stopped.

[zeke]

Originally Posted by Diesel911

None of the inards can be seen from the outside.
Cracks in the Rubber Boot could be seen and Cracks in the Metal in the rear portion could be seen. ((guide rod?) bushings?)

You need to take a look for yourself to be sure what the Tech is speaking of.

Thanks everyone, and thanks Diesel911....Good advice to get a visual on the issue.
I have never done any suspension work more involved than a shock absorber replacement, so I am a little unarmed.

Yak or others in the SA area, got a good recommendation for alignments?

I am still a little steamed that they have my car in the pokey and wouldn't return my calls

[compu_85]

It probably affects the car's handling under hard braking most I'd think.

-J

[Volvo Diesel]

Originally Posted by zeke

Yak or others in the SA area, got a good recommendation for alignments?

You might try calling David Kehl at Kehl Motor Service on Nacogdoches Rd. (210-655-6140). Tell him what type of car you have and see if he'll recommend someone (i.e., tell you where he sends out his jobs). I've had my car (the '85 300D) aligned by whomever he contracts alignments out to on a couple of occasions after having front end work done by David. Both times it has been spot on.

[compress ignite]

How can ANY of us have frustration with an MB Dealer?
Generally,The Whores charge so much for Service,they should be Honored we
would even consider rolling our Aged Mercedes Chassis into their Shop.

Problems with a Dealer (Or Tech)?
1.Drive YOUR Mercedes Out.
2.Call the Franchisee (in Person, not some "Fuctionary") and Chew Her/His a**
out!
3.Call MBUSA and demand a face to face with the Area Mercedes Rep.

[sjh]

I've only found one dealership, Mercedes of Traverse City, Michigan (and this was 10+ years ago) that was both competent and interested in servicing older Benz's.

Every other dealer (FL, VA, CO, TX, CA) I've tried was more expensive and provided worse service than a quality indy.

YMMV.

[zeke]

Update:

Well, all appears to have ended well. I got a call at my office after I had left last night so I didn't get it untill this morning.....Bushings were 'more expensive' than the tech had thought 'due to them being scarce'??

So mechanic felt comfortable sending me on my way with only the alignment and tire repair.

So they did what I asked and didn't push the upsell on me. So I can say that despite the frustration of last night, MBofSA did me OK.

Still, will use Yak's advice next time! Got real suspension issues on the other 240D that will eventually need to be addressed and then re-aligned.