Dealer Parts Cost: Seems Ridiculous to Me
 

Went to my local dealer to get some plastic fender liner nuts and happen to ask the price of the rear strut assemblies for my 99 ML 320. I had just purchased and installed a pair of Mercedes strut assemblies made by Sachs complete with Mercedes part# and MB star on shock body. I paid $107 for the pair. The dealers price is $418 each, that means $836 a pair. I think that equates to 750% more than I paid.

They charged $480 a pair for the front shocks. I paid $204 for a pair of Bilsteins that are of much higher quality than the ones the dealer sells.

If I purchased the front shocks and rear struts from the dealer it would have cost me $1316. I paid $311. for better quality front shocks and the identical rear struts. I saved $1005. on the parts alone.

I have no idea what they would charge for labor. The front and rear took me about 5 ½ hours but I’m not a professional and this is the first time I did shocks on an ML. I do used air tools for everything and that speeds things up. I would think someone with experience with an ML could do the whole job in 4 hours or less. However, it seems that the amount of time the dealer charges for a lot of jobs has nothing to do with the real time involved in doing that particular job.

I agree. Their all crooks! They go by the BS estimated time to fix the part. 3 Hours labor to change a $2 part is pure BS in my book!

I will give the dealer some sympathy - it's the pricing agreement they have with MB. I am sure a lot of dealers would like to be more competitive and shop outside the company store if they had the option but they don't :(

I sure can not disagree with that. But I'll tell you this; my dealer in Charleston, SC marks up the prices on parts above the MSRP.

I would not think my dealer is required to charge more than MSRP by any pricing agreement. It also seems odd that I can purchase parts from the MB dealer in Virginia Beach, Virginia for approximately 30-45% less than from my local dealer here in Charleston, SC.

Well I just bought a Mass Air Meter from this web site for $219.52 and my local dealer was $236.99 + tax. Not a super high markup. I saved about $31. and had the parts quickly.

problem is is that dealers have to buy the parts from mercedes and you
ought to see what mb charges the dealers.

george