Hi,

Does anyone know how German Auto Group in Springfield, VA is in regards to servicing a car like a 1974 280C with an M110 engine?
http://www.germanautogroupva.com/

They seem to do great work on short hood 911s, I know from the Porsche guys I talk with. Just wanted to know how their shop is with older Mercedes.

Any other suggestions for pre-galvanized Mercedes service/repair would be great as well.

Thanks,

__________________
Nathan
'74 280C - gone to a new home for the finishing it deserves.
'64 356SC
'74 914 2.0

Where are they, Nathan?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Does this mean you're going to get that 280C all fixed up and keep it after all?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

They are in Springfield.

Yeah, we may keep the 280C, no interest in anyone buying it...and while we were doing rust treatment in the trunk I could really tell me mom didn't want to get rid of it.

Looks like I'll be buying a lift so they can store it in my garage until they have a place for it.

__________________
Nathan
'74 280C - gone to a new home for the finishing it deserves.
'64 356SC
'74 914 2.0

I originally went to GAG for Taylor Chapman, one of the most respected Porsche indies, who moved to GAG some time ago and takes care of my C4S; he recommended Ray when I asked who could help with a high idle in an '88 420SEL.

I had an excellent experience with Ray (the senior M-B guy) at GAG -- he found a loose wire causing the M-B idle problem instead of throwing parts at it (idle control valve, voltage regulator, etc.).

German Auto Group is at 7520 Backlick Road in Springfield; 703-440-6777. Easy to get to off I-395 -- from DC, take the Backlick Road exit just south of the 495 interchange and as soon as you come down the ramp to merge into Backlick Road, the turn into GAG is immediately on your right -- be looking for it.

You can drop the car off there and they will take you to the subway at Franconia/Springfield (Blue line); when you come to pick it up, they will also pick you up at the subway (you're there).

__________________
'98 C43 AMG
'88 420SEL
'93 190E Limited Edition (including factory Sportline package)

Cool, I'll contact them and see if Ray works on the old gas models.

__________________
Nathan
'74 280C - gone to a new home for the finishing it deserves.
'64 356SC
'74 914 2.0

Yes, Ray does indeed work on older gas models (he is the guy for the older cars and is a real diagnostician of problems instead of just throwing parts at it) -- he is working on my former '88 420 SEL as we speak -- I sold it to one of my clients and the new owner is going to be taking it down to the South and is doing a full checkover before the long trip.

Be sure to ask that Ray do the substantive work on your car -- you might ask to meet him and talk with him directly about what you want done.

If Ray cannot do your car for any reason, Don Pool in Falls Church (http://www.donpoolmercedes.com/) has a good reputation with older models, though there has been some dissent on the various boards (including this one) as to the costliness and for some instances where Don has not done the work himself. I have not used Don Pool, so I can't add to the discussion about him.

Finally, another well-regarded indie shop is Silver Star in Vienna, who I have used for the 420 SEL in the past [340 Mill St, Vienna, VA 22180; tel (703) 281-5606; no website]; Peter Fuchs is the owner. My experience there was good and I did not have any negative experiences, but they were much more inconvenient to get to.

If you are in Springfield, Ray and GAG will be far more convenient and he is excellent. Since I have my Porsche done there and Ray did a great job for me, I would use them for M-B as well.

See also Washington D.C.

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'98 C43 AMG
'88 420SEL
'93 190E Limited Edition (including factory Sportline package)

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has been here lately. I am needing a valve adjustment. Hoping that there is someone there that still works on the old diesels and won't consider my car not worthy to work on. Thank-you!

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1985 Mercedes Benz 300SD, TMU
2015 Chrysler 200S

Call (703-440-6777) and ask to speak to Ray -- he is the senior tech who is experienced in old benzers; just give him your model number and tell him what you need done.

If he is not comfortable working on it (which should not be the case), see my note above re Don Pool in Falls Church (who has a good reputation with older models and diesels, but I have not personally used him nor do I have a diesel) and Peter Fuchs at Silver Star in Vienna (I had satisfactory experiences with him with my 420SEL, but Vienna was significantly less convenient for me).

__________________
'98 C43 AMG
'88 420SEL
'93 190E Limited Edition (including factory Sportline package)

Thank you for the quick response and even the phone number. I will give him a call and post what my results are. Thanks again!

__________________
1985 Mercedes Benz 300SD, TMU
2015 Chrysler 200S

We have had bad luck with GAG working on our 99 E300D. They are OK doing scheduled service, and about half the price of the dealer. However, they seem to know little about that series of car. They spent a couple thousand (of my) dollars trying to fix a hard starting problem that was finally diagnosed by the dealer. Recently they diagnosed a bad glowplug (correctly) but couldn't get it out and couldn't themselves deal with a broken one so for half a grand we have the car back in the same condition as when we brought it to them. Nice guys, but it's a crap shoot whether they can fix the car.

In all fairness, no one seems to understand the 606 engine, there just aren't enough of them over here. The dealer is no better, and seems to lack even basic expertise with older diesels.

I had a few small things done to my E39 M5 there, and with my 2004 W211 E-class wagon I worked with either Ray or the other MB guy with 10 years dealer experience (I think it was Ray). He was very cool with me about my trying to DIY things - he discussed the issues at length with me under the car and on the computer. I had an airbag light that would not go out (turned out to be a broken wire behind the airbag from when I replaced the clockspring) and he tried to reset it for me for free several times.