Good news! Joe is still at his shop

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1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

Hello, brand new to this forum and I was directed here by a forum member on MBworld. Just have two questions. I just purchased an '87 300E from Ramsey motors in NJ. Any comments on them? I've driven the car for about 30 miles and I'm getting the stalling, hesistating problem. Second, has anyone dealt woth Tri Star Auto tech in Nanuet, NY? He seems to get a lot of older benz's in his shop but I searched this forum for NY shops and his did not pop up which I found weird. They estimated a $400 tune up charge on my 300e, does that sound about correct? Thanks

Not true for me.

I visited this shop on the basis of this recommendation. They are nice people, but a little sketchy. Just the facts: I went there because of my oil pressure problem. The owner replaced the sensor and cleaned the oil filter housing. When I went to pick the car up it was not ready, instead he informed me that I needed a few "other" more critical repairs. I asked how much I already owed him. He said at the time, roughly $177 and for a few hundred more he could fix the other items: the cooling fan bearing, the belt tensioner, and install a new O2 sensor that I bought and was going to do myself.

I went to pick up the car the next day and the bill was almost $1000.

The tensioner probably did not have to be replaced. I see no difference. The fan is no longer rattling, and the oil pressure seems to have been fixed. The check engine light came on and off when I put in a new battery, not sure if they put in the new sensor;

Point is, I made a mistake in taking just the word off this forum and I'd like to caution anyone else to avoid making this same error. Now I feel that I cannot trust this shop.

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1992 300E (275,000mi) (SOLD)
1999 Honda Accord EX (sold)
2005 Honda Accord V6 Hybrid

Did he move to Palm Beach by any chance? If so, gimme his shop's name.

If not, know of a good MB shop north of Ft. Lauderdale or south of Stewart?

I know of a "not-so-good" one, would really like a good alternative to the dealer on Okeechobee Blvd.

WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T TAKE IT TO YOUR DEALERSHIP!!! I bought my car which had maticulous records which was sold by and maintained by the dealership in/around Westchester and lets just say its a 1988 560SEL with less than 70,000 miles and I'm currently rebuilding the engine due to piss-poor maintainance. One of the head gaskets still had an inventory sticker on it from a gasket replacement job. They are unreliable at best and saboteurs at worst!

And they use cheap oil!



Scott

I have actually watched a woman pay for an oil change, etc. on her S420 which was not performed. I was waiting for an oxygen sensor replacement (under warranty - ML320, need I say more) and the woman dropped the car off. Two hours later she came back to pick it up - it was never moved! I may have overstepped my bounds but I did stop her on the way out and told her the car had never been moved - it was in the same space she left it. She confronted the service manager and he said, in a rather nonplused attitude I might add, it was an oversight. Never even apologized to her!! I will never take my vehicles there again - I will drive 75 miles to another dealer to have warranty work completed. I at least trust them (or more so than that one!).

WOW!
Helms Bros is where I bring my 94 E320 and my dad's 90 560SEL for service ALL THE TIME

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http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...355_6_full.jpg

Is this you or your car with the Dealer mechanic "test driving it"

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

huh ????

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http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...355_6_full.jpg

I was planning on going to Helms Bros Benz dealer to take a look at my car just now until everyone started telling me don't go to a dealer. Any good shops in NYC? Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan?

I searched this forum and i found:
718 854 8071 Mitchells Auto Repair in Brooklyn

I will give them a call any minute now ... but are there other good shops?
Thanks.

94 E320 tranny problem: watch video

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http://images.cardomain.com/member_i...355_6_full.jpg

There is a place called Ultimate Car Service in Queens that supposedly does a great job. They were recommended to me by someone at WNYC NY Public Radio who uses them for his 380SL. Their labor rate is $60 (I think) and he says that they're extremely honest. The place is run by two German guys. It's on 38th Street right near NOrthern Blvd. so it's close to Manhattan. I don't have the number in front of me but will try and get it here later. As an aside, I think they're recommended by the guys on Car Talk. Go to www.cartalk.org and maybe they have a recommended shops listing.

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Gordo, pilot dave is just jerkin' yur chain!

Yeah I hate that dealership. I'm not surprised. I only go there for parts.

These guys do this stuff all the time.

I once took my car to get new tires. When I picked out the tires I told the service manager that I would wait for my car in the waiting area. I was told that it would be only about 30 minutes til they were done. After an hour I went to see how come it was taking longer. When I went to take a look in the service bays, I couldnt see my vehicle anywhere. I went and found the service manager and asked him where my car was. When I asked him he scratched his head and said that he had no idea where it went. After walking around the place with him looking for it, I saw a mechanic pull up in it. The guy was eating Burger King and, get this, the car still had my old tires on it. I was pissed. After finally getting the tires installed, I told the service manager that he needs to make sure that he lets the service guys know when a customer will wait for their car, just so a customer doesnt see that crap again.

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Frank
84 500SEL EURO 101K ( JUST LIKE MY 1ST WIFE. GLAD TO GET RID OF HER! )
85 300D 310K (sold)
90 350SDL 184K sold
83 300D 118K (sold)
88 300E 153k (sold)
93 400E 105K (sold)

Yal, do you know any mb (300e/1988 vintage) transmission experts in ny metro area, particularly lower westchester? thanks.

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87 300e (white/black; amg body kit)
88 300ce (red/cream; amg body kit)
93 300ce cabrio (white/blue/blue top)
93 300ce cabrio (black/grey/black top)
98 ml 320 (totaled @ 137,000 miles)
99 clk320 (black/grey/black top)