Hi guys, long time since ive posted. Just giving info, since my last login ive opened my own fully functioning and fully legal auto repair business. Licensed and insured. My home, and shop, are located 2 miles south of Halstead, ks, or about a 35 minute drive north from wichita. I have since sold my old 83 240d. I got that old car in sad, sad shape. I spent alot of time on it and learned alot of invaluable mercedes specific repair information. Anyone in the wichita, ks area needing repair on their mercedes, or any car for that matter, might give me a ring, message me for number or email address. I own a snap on solus pro diagnostic computer for any diagnostic work.
I can do water pumps, alternators,radiators, fans, power steering, suspension, clutches, starters, shocks, struts, bearings, emissions, fuel pumps, brakes, interior component repair, electrical, diesel, and much much more. Any forum member will recieve 20% off of labor. Kind of my way to say thanks for the help ive gotten off of here in the past from you guys. Im an honest mechanic that does good work. Shop rate is $45/hr for repairs, $45 for a computer diagnostic. Thanks guys.

Congratulations and the best of luck. Hopefully some members in your general vicinity will show up.

Thanks, I hope I get a chance to help someone out. I plan to get another mercedes in the future. I have yet to drive a car that was as well built as my old 240d. Until then, anyone needing work done, im here for ya.

Like medicine or fast food the money today is in specialty shops in my opinion. Thats if the local population is adaquate.

I source a lot of brake parts for guys and myself. Never the chinese aftermarket ones. If I were to open a garage there is little doubt that I would drive towards eventually specialising in brakes.

I am both too old and not interested in opening anything else at this point in life. Exception is intending to do some vacuum metalizing as time allows.

Of course you would have to build and keep an in depth inventory. But the resultant high markup still staying well below market averages is there.

Brakes are not usually an unexpected breakage item but instead a periodic wear item. Buying the parts from napa or simular outlet with a small discount etc is a joke compared to what they can really be sourced for.

The much heavier than normal return on parts not only floats the required inventory but allows an additional sound return on investment. You make a good return and the customers think they all get a deal. Business explodes as word gets around.

Of course you can do the general run of work until that profitable specialty area builds up. Money is really made with your head and not your hands.Of course this all depends if the same spread in parts costs is in the usa as well as Canada.

I agree that specialising would be a good idea. I live in a farming community and I think that being able to fix anything from a chainsaw, to a peterbilt, can be beneficial to the farmers around here. But I could see myself over the years, after I have become well established, swaying to, maybe not a specific service, but a specific group of cars. I.e. European, and maybe even more specific, jaguars, air cooled vw's, and mercedes. But I live in a rural agrigultural county, and being too specific during my first few years, might not allow any growth initially. Time will tell, and any business owner who has been around awhile can tell you that a business will shape shift and change into something that works, and is profitable. But maybe not what you had originally planned. A friend of mine owns a lawn care company called Countryside Lawncare here in wichita. He told me that what he had in mind in the beginning, is not what his business is today. He says he rolled with the punches, made changes where they were needed, adapted to changes, and when the dust settled, had a strong company.

Holy poo man, $45 an hour! I wish Kansas was alot closer. The norm around me is $80/hr for any shop.

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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

congrats for new shop and happy day

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Audi Custom Parts

I have my shop on the same property that my house is on, and the house and land are paid for. So no rent/lease/mortgage payments. I am the only employee, and I opened the business with very little debt, so my overhead cost is very low. Therefore I can offer a better hourly rate and still make decent money.

I'm set up the same way 83240D. Shop is within walking distance to the house.

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Jim

Its kind of funny. I recently quit my day job as a cnc machinist in order to pursue my passion, working on cars. I used to drive 40 miles to work, and 40 miles back home.... Everyday. Now I "walk" about 100 feet to work....lol.

I'm going to give David a shot with a 2001 Discovery II I purchased last week for pennies. Its really a nice truck, just needs odds and ends. I thought of selling it as is, but with the reasonable labor rate I can get it top notch and get more out of it.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Looks great. I look forward to working on it.

$45/hr sounds cheap, most of the shops around here are atleast $75/hr.

When I was working at the diesel shop a few years ago I was living in the house attached to the shop. The commute was nice. But I also always felt like I was at work which I didn't really like.

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I currently use a high overhead larger staff independent shop and they give me a labor rate of $60 an hour. Dealer fast turnaround on most of the cars too.

David had very good timing with this Land Rover; should give him a nice first month boost.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I am just happy to be able to work for myself and not have a boss. I think where other shops have to have a higher rate, is where there is rent or lease of a building, or purchase of a building, payroll, and many other bills.
I love repairing cars and trucks, I find peace under a hood of a car. I am very happy to be able to do it for a living.