Washington D.C. - Page 6 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Foleydb · #76 10-31-2004, 08:22 AM

Just wanted to answer the fair question about why I posted the same comments in multiple places: I wanted to make sure that someone who was looking for help didn't miss it. My main point is still that the person should talk to DP and make their own decision, but with the understanding that they shouldn't overrule their internal alarm bell because they read so many good things about DP.

As to the age of my car, it is a 1997 S-500, only about five years old at that point.

All the best.

raffsy96 · #77 12-07-2004, 06:57 PM

Looking for an honest, affordable MB mechanic near Washington DC for a 240DL. She needs attention to her vacuum systems and more !
Any frank advice would be SO appreciated. I've had some sticker-shock experiences with dealerships !

rockhopper · #78 04-14-2005, 08:44 PM

Give Rick Ellinger a call at RC Imports in Rockville. He's very honest, does great work and his prices are very reasonable. His shop is just a block from the Rockville Metro Station (Red Line).

Cr260e88 · #79 05-09-2005, 12:24 AM

Don't overlook Mitch's Mercedes over in Kensington, MD. I have a 1983 240D and a 1988 260E and Mitch has been my guy since these car were babies. He's a great guy and knows as much about Mercedes as the guys who made/designed them. Very honest and quick service. Check him out if you're still looking for someone to help you out.

phatryd · #80 05-09-2005, 03:04 AM

I second Mitch's. Do a search here for either "Ellinger" or "Mitch Carr" There have been a few long-ish DC shop threads.

John

kgear · #81 05-11-2005, 09:43 AM

You may try JCP Motorpsorts in Alexandria. It's a small shop which specializes in MB. They are expensive but seem to know their stuff.

kgear · #82 05-11-2005, 09:51 AM

I took my SL to Don Poole and wasn't very satisfied with his workmanship. I believe my work was done by one of Don Poole's mechanics not by Don Poole himself. I have heard that when he does the work himself -- especially on older cars like my 1971, he's excellent, but that his staff may not be as good.

A few weeks after having my car in I decided to check the oil only to find out that when they did the oil change, the overfilled it by more than a quart. They also used three washers on the drain plug instead on one, the drain plug was also chewed up pretty good -- not sure what happened but apparently used the wrong tool was used to remove it. Also two the the rockers which they adjusted were never seted properly and needed to be adjusted again.

Needless to say there attention to detail leaves a lot to be desired.

Michael K · #83 05-11-2005, 11:03 AM

I know I'm biased but I can't help chiming in. Don Pool's operation is great. In this day and age, we're lucky he's in business. He and his people do old-world, by-the-book work period. Where else can you take a thirty or forty year old car and know the work will be done precisely the way the manufacture intended? For the modern, just off warranty cars, where else can you go and know they'll take the time to diagnose the electrical mystery and replace only the necessary part? If that's not what you want, then don't go there. It's the kind of shop where a well educated customer will have a better experience than the typical person. Go in with a list of exactly what you want done and, quickly and efficiently, that's what you'll get. Go in with a vague problem like my thirty-five year old car "does not drive well" and, unless you're requesting a thorough (read expensive) consultation/rebuild, you're in for a big disappointment. Asking their professional opinion and then saying "no, that's too expensive" should be read as "I can't afford to have my vehicle serviced as Mercedes intended." What Mr. Pool and his staff are too polite to say when you walk in the door is, "it will be expensive, but we can make your car run as Mercedes intended." "If that's not what you want, you're better off doing the work yourself or going elsewhere."

Alan Hamm · #84 05-11-2005, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgear

I took my SL to Don Poole and wasn't very satisfied with his workmanship.

Needless to say there attention to detail leaves a lot to be desired.

Try Mitch Carr's in Kensington. Sometimes I feel like a saleperson for them but I am just very pleased with them every time I take a car to them. Calling them for my next appt right now.

kgear · #85 05-11-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Kerley

I know I'm biased but I can't help chiming in. Don Pool's operation is great. In this day and age, we're lucky he's in business. He and his people do old-world, by-the-book work period. Where else can you take a thirty or forty year old car and know the work will be done precisely the way the manufacture intended? For the modern, just off warranty cars, where else can you go and know they'll take the time to diagnose the electrical mystery and replace only the necessary part? If that's not what you want, then don't go there. It's the kind of shop where a well educated customer will have a better experience than the typical person. Go in with a list of exactly what you want done and, quickly and efficiently, that's what you'll get. Go in with a vague problem like my thirty-five year old car "does not drive well" and, unless you're requesting a thorough (read expensive) consultation/rebuild, you're in for a big disappointment. Asking their professional opinion and then saying "no, that's too expensive" should be read as "I can't afford to have my vehicle serviced as Mercedes intended." What Mr. Pool and his staff are too polite to say when you walk in the door is, "it will be expensive, but we can make your car run as Mercedes intended." "If that's not what you want, you're better off doing the work yourself or going elsewhere."

I guess I caught them on a bad day, clearly my experience was different from your's. I brought my car in for an oil change and tune up, paid a lot for it, which I was prepared to do, for high quality work. I was just disappointed with the results and quality I received from someone with his reputation.

bluestripe67 · #86 05-11-2005, 09:38 PM

I have been taking my '89 300TE and '93 300E to ASC for about 5 years, until last Jan. It seems they are not what they used to be. Never had problems with anything. Three attempts to fix gas guage, not fixed. Asked for all throttle linkage to be cleaned/lubed, not done. Asked for tire rotation, not done. Asked for reason why brake pad sensor comes on immediatly at start up without touching brakes, they said pads were worn, just replace pads and rotors 4 months earlier, not fixed...all on the 300TE.
Asked to have sunroof exterior seal fixed, (binding under lip of sunroof when closing) OK for 3 months, problem returned. Asked to dismount snow tires and rotate...not done...all on the 300E.
Every time I ever left the car I would provide a very detailed list of requested service so no question of what I asked for and they would never charge me for a loaner, now they charge for the loaner if you didn't but the car there, but my 300E was sold to the previous owner from ASC.
I have recently taken my cars back to Mitch Carr, (3-4 miles up the road) and am very satisfied as in the past. We just have to work out the transportation isssue between myself and wife, metro doesn't work for us.

dcmovin · #87 05-17-2005, 10:42 AM

FYI - they're not taking any new customers. Must be nice.

Alan Hamm · #88 05-17-2005, 10:51 AM

Sorry about that. I just spoke to them, thinking that was unusual. He explained to me that they are not taking new customers with vehicles older than 1980 or so. Diesels they will go back to '78. But they are phasing out work on the 116 body cars and only working on those for existing customers.

Yes, it would be nice to be selective.

adiaw83 · #89 05-17-2005, 06:44 PM

I'm in the DC area and my mom's 300SL's transmission is giving out. She had been taking it to euromotorcars where she bought it for the other service but this will be too costly with them. Does anyone know anyone shops in the area that are good with MB transmissions. Also someone told her that mercedes does not make there own transmissions and that they were made some some company with an american sounding name. The guy was german so I guess she assumed he would know what he was talking about. Thanks for any help.

teliks · #90 06-09-2005, 10:00 PM

Hi. New to the forum and new to benz's. I just acquired a 77' 450 SEL that i'm going to be fixing up. It's a good solid car so it won't be a ground up thing, but i wanted to find out if any of the shops mentioned in this thread could be recommended for models that old. I'm sure i'm going to be needing a qualified mechanic to do some of the repairs on this car. Any more info would be a great help.

Thanks