Buy My own Parts for Service? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lindajane · #1 05-05-2014, 08:44 PM

Hi,

I posted below regarding buying brake pads for a service I'm getting on
my Mercedes 300D. It seems from looking around that I can save a bit
of money buying the front brake pads myself.
The car is also getting full service, valves adjusted, oil change, And
whatever else is involved in that.
Are there any other parts that might save me enough money to
consider buying them myself?

Thanks
lindajane

mach4 · #2 05-05-2014, 08:57 PM

Make sure your Indy will install user-supplied parts....many won't. There's a liability issue as well as impacting the profit model for the company.

If you can do it, more power to you.

When you get parts be very, very careful which brands you get. There is a massive difference in quality with many of the brands with the poor quality ones being horrible.

Skippy · #3 05-05-2014, 09:03 PM

You'll save even more money if you do the work yourself. The special wrenches for the valve adjustment are a little expensive, but they'll pay for themselves the first time you use them.

Suped. · #4 05-05-2014, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

You'll save even more money if you do the work yourself. The special wrenches for the valve adjustment are a little expensive, but they'll pay for themselves the first time you use them.

+1.

lindajane · #5 05-05-2014, 10:31 PM

Thanks for the advice, i don't plan on working on the car,
I just meant buying some parts. The mechanic said he
would not guarantee his work if i buy the parts, but I would only
be charged labor...

sleepstar · #6 05-05-2014, 11:20 PM

although it looks like some would disagree, if i had a quality mechanic that let me do that i'd be elated. i can save so much money buying quality parts on discount sites rather than letting the mechanic order them at full retail through worldpac.

Zacharias · #7 05-06-2014, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindajane

Thanks for the advice, i don't plan on working on the car, I just meant buying some parts. The mechanic said he
would not guarantee his work if i buy the parts, but I would only
be charged labor...

If you are not familiar with the reputation of various parts brands, it is possible that what you see now as shopping as an informed consumer could not look quite as good a year from now.

There are increasing numbers of poor quality parts, some being sold under labels that were formerly considered reputable, but now being produced in China and India. We are talking about parts that ought to last 2-5 years that may wear out or fail within 6 mos. to 1 year.

If the parts are being sold under any of the following brand names (and this list is not exhaustive), your 'saving' will only exist in the short term:

- URO
- AC Delco
- Dorman
- Standard
- Febi
- Meyle
- Hamburg Technik

If you are seeing a huge difference between what you can buy the pads for, and what your mechanic proposed to charge, then there is a decent chance you are buying "economy" parts such as the ones listed above.

Also if you are getting new rotors from the mechanic, he will not be obliged to guarantee the rotors if you supply your own choice of pads.

All this is just FYI, to ensure you understand what you are getting into.

strelnik · #8 05-06-2014, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

If you are not familiar with the reputation of various parts brands, it is possible that what you see now as shopping as an informed consumer could not look quite as good a year from now.

There are increasing numbers of poor quality parts, some being sold under labels that were formerly considered reputable, but now being produced in China and India. We are talking about parts that ought to last 2-5 years that may wear out or fail within 6 mos. to 1 year.

If the parts are being sold under any of the following brand names (and this list is not exhaustive), your 'saving' will only exist in the short term:

- URO
- AC Delco
- Dorman
- Standard
- Febi
- Meyle
- Hamburg Technik

If you are seeing a huge difference between what you can buy the pads for, and what your mechanic proposed to charge, then there is a decent chance you are buying "economy" parts such as the ones listed above.

Also if you are getting new rotors from the mechanic, he will not be obliged to guarantee the rotors if you supply your own choice of pads.

All this is just FYI, to ensure you understand what you are getting into.

I agree with most of your judgments here but not Dorman or Febi. It also depends on whether the parts are made by the company or outsources.

Dorman is actually better than most companies. I buy their specialty studs and lug nuts and they have survived my independent testing.

Febi does outsorce, so some parts are not made in house. Those may be doubtful.

I know Uro buys their parts from a shoe-making factory in Lower Slobbovia, so the assessment there is appropriate.

crazy4diesel · #9 05-06-2014, 09:23 AM

Most shops here don't guarantee their work for any more than a year, even URO crap will probably last that long. I ask what they are going to use, if I can get a better brand for comparable pricing (like the windshield installer, wanted to use and APA seal, I said, no I'll supply the seal, and they dropped the price $55). So, I find most will work with you, but all depends on how you approach it. Sometimes, I've bought the part, a while ago, or someone even has given me something...I explain that, and they are happy to just install it for me.

Zacharias · #10 05-06-2014, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

Dorman is actually better than most companies. I buy their specialty studs and lug nuts and they have survived my independent testing.

Febi does outsorce, so some parts are not made in house. Those may be doubtful.

Interesting. I have never ordered a Dorman item for a Mercedes. My assessment was based on feedback from my friend who owns a shop. He now considers Dorman added to his list of suspect suppliers (he will order a part but inspects it carefully on arrival and rejects if he has doubts). He used to recommend Dorman parts to customers. He mostly does domestic nameplates.

Febi is based on what I have read on this list, as well as comments by my local euro parts dealer. She generally considers Febi one step above URO.

GregMN · #11 05-06-2014, 10:37 AM

Lindajane,

Bringing your own parts to your mechanic is like bringing your own food to a restaurant and asking them to cook it for you.

If you are going to need a mechanic to do all of the work on your vehicles, then you want to find one that you can build a relationship with. When you find one that you are comfortable with, bring them all your work so they get to know your vehicle and you. If you feel the need to "shop around" each time you need service, then you have not found the right mechanic yet.

One morning on the way to work your car sounds or feels different, wrong.
You stop in a random shop and they tell you to leave it and they can look at it at 2pm.
You stop at your mechanic's shop and they come out, assess the problem and let you know if it is safe to drive today or not. If not, you leave it and they will make sure you find a way to work that morning.

That is worth the "extra" you pay above the lowest price you can find for each job.

crazy4diesel · #12 05-06-2014, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregMN

Bringing your own parts to your mechanic is like bringing your own food to a restaurant and asking them to cook it for you.

I agree 100% having a good relationship with a mechanic you can count on and trust is paramount.

But, I don't agree with your analogy at all with the restaurant. No one would bring food to a restaurant and ask them to cook if for you (though there are places that do exactly that with hunting/fishing resorts).

I see it more as bringing your own bottle of wine to a restaurant, while they sell wine, a good restaurant understands you may have something special you want to have...and has no problem with serving it (usually for a fee). I see a good mechanic as the same. If you have access to an OEM part, that maybe he doesn't or if he does, it's more of a pain for him than it's worth...why not? It is about the relationship, and for me part of a relationship I'd have with a mechanic would be that on those occasions he's fine with me bringing my own parts.

When I restored my 74 Karmann Ghia mechanics were actually glad I brought my own parts (ball joints, tie rods, steering damper) because they weren't easy for them to get.

Junkman · #13 05-06-2014, 12:13 PM

I had a mechanic tell me that he considers margin on parts to be his compensation. We work the deal on what he needs to make vs what I am willing to pay. He installs whatever part I want. I pay what he wants. I get out the wrenches if he wants more than I'll pay and we look forward to the next deal.

shertex · #14 05-06-2014, 12:49 PM

The mechanic who does most of my work is glad to let me supply my own parts....with the understanding (obviously) that he can't guarantee the part. He's well compensated for his labor, I get a great deal on parts, everyone is happy.

GregMN · #15 05-06-2014, 12:49 PM

Ya, build a relationship....

.... Then cement the deal with baked goods, you know, donuts, danish, pastries.... fresh baked cookies, brownies...