INDY labor cost for R129 brake job?

[speace]

Lynns,

Being in Atlanta I can't offer assistance with your DIY project, but I do ask that you report back to this thread with your initial and long term satisfaction with your choice in pads and rotors.

In my quest to rid myself of the dust on my R129 I have tried many things including Kevlar pads and have not found anything that is dust free that doesn't squeak or glaze/warp the rotors in a few thousand miles. I have not tried the Akebono Ceramic. My last attempt at a ceramic was PBR. They squeaked so badly I took them off before they wore out.

I have settled on PBR Deluxe as a compromise. They are organic, work much like the OEM pads and the dust is considerably reduced, but not eliminated...


By the way, what are "SA" Rotors?

[lynns]

Originally Posted by tecqboy

I was also curious about cost so I checked on-line price of new rotors. $60 each for Brembo fronts and $35 each for ATE rears. (300SL) It costs very little more for new vs turning. I realize that a shop needs to mark-up because they have "overhead" which isn't covered strickly by the per hour labor rate. I've never had good luck with turned rotors: tried it a couple times on several vehicles and always ended up buying new anyhow.

If they aren't warped or grooved and aren't below minimum safe thickness, I'd leave them alone. I agree. If you are concerned about residue, clean with very fine steel wool then wash with brake cleaner spray. Good idea.

You don't mention the MY that you are referring to but I'm sure the price that you quoted is correct for a 300SL but I have a 2000 SL500. In MY99 they changed the size of the rotors to a much larger size. FWIW, starting in MY99 the front OE calipers are Brembo. In 2002 M-B built a limited quantity (1550) of the SA=Silver Arrow special edition in the US. Most don't know that if you have a >MY99 SL500 and want to replace the rotors you can upgrade to the sporty crossed drilled SA rotors which are the same price as the OE smooth surface rotors. The prices that I'm quoting are discounted from $412.00, and not marked up by the INDY, but can be bought for $337.84 plus ship at OEM Parts

Front Silver Arrow Rotors p/n 1294212312 for $85.28
Rear Silver Arrow Rotors p/n 1294230512 for $83.64

Please see the pictures below that compare the older rotor to the new bigger rotor that is about 1 3/8" larger

[lynns]

Originally Posted by speace

I do ask that you report back to this thread with your initial and long term satisfaction with your choice in pads and rotors.

MY99-02 R129 Akebono ceramic feedback may be of interest.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/1295457-ceramic-brake-rotor-questions-3.html#post2973868
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2973740-post15.html
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2978480-post18.html
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2973537-post13.html
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2546864-post22.html
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2320607-post28.html
Finnally brake dust free
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2610667-post27.html

[RickM]

If purchasing rotors I will recommend Balo brand. They are very high quality and made in Germany, in there own foundry, to exacting standards. I believe they are OEM as well.

I've used them on my BMW 740, Mercedes Sl and any other car they're made for. They're also relatively inexpensive.

Add:

http://www.washdcmail.com/02_page/rotors.html

"With regard to brands of rotors (I've been selling BMW rotors since 1978),
my own preference is as follows: (1) Balo (the finest German made
rotors-rarely any problems) (2) Factory BMW (now made in Italy) (3)
Zimmermann (mainly Porsche-available for older BMW models) (4)
Textar/Lemforder (less expensive German rotors-decent quality) (5) ATE (they
make great hydraulics-brake rotors & drums subcontacted out of Italy-I've
had about a 10% problem with these out of the box) (6) Brembo (factory for
Ferrari...I haven't had very good luck with these for BMW) (7) Sebro (worst
German rotors I've encountered; not too bad for drums).

The only time I'd recommend cutting a rotor is if it had slight run-out new
out of the box (or with very few miles)...but then you could always return
them to your parts supplier as "new defective" and get another set.
A word of caution...if you own an e28,e32, or e34 with thrust rod bushings,
these may be worn and giving you the impression (pulsing through the pedal)
that you need new rotors. Check these first before buying new front rotors.
SD"

[aam]

Originally Posted by speace

Lynns,

Being in Atlanta I can't offer assistance with your DIY project, but I do ask that you report back to this thread with your initial and long term satisfaction with your choice in pads and rotors.

In my quest to rid myself of the dust on my R129 I have tried many things including Kevlar pads and have not found anything that is dust free that doesn't squeak or glaze/warp the rotors in a few thousand miles. I have not tried the Akebono Ceramic. My last attempt at a ceramic was PBR. They squeaked so badly I took them off before they wore out.

I have settled on PBR Deluxe as a compromise. They are organic, work much like the OEM pads and the dust is considerably reduced, but not eliminated...


By the way, what are "SA" Rotors?

I run on PBR ceramic.
No squeaks.
Little dust.
May be your rotors?

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by lynns

Yesterday I was having some work done by a very qualified INDY so I asked him to quote me the labor to install the Akebono Ceramics. He told me $170.00 and $40.00 each for turning the rotors. So the total INDY package will be $330.00 plus turning all four rotors for $160.00 vs. new rotors at $350.00.

At this point the rotors probably don't need a turn but I thought it might be a good idea to start with a fresh surface that doesn't have the OE particles embedded into it. Another alternative is to turn just the fronts.

He also quoted me $340.00 labor to R&R all four springs with either H&R or Eibachs. Have not decided which vendor yet.

Did your Indy qoute you $350.00 for new rotors. If so thats a good deal for the price of the rotors. I just looked them up on Fastlane and thats what they cost here. Usually an indy will mark these up to about $450.00.

John Roncallo

[lynns]

Originally Posted by Roncallo

Did your Indy qoute you $350.00 for new rotors. If so thats a good deal for the price of the rotors. I just looked them up on Fastlane and thats what they cost here. Usually an indy will mark these up to about $450.00.

John Roncallo

Please read $337.84 INDY labor cost for R129 brake job? post #17 for the answer to your question.