MB dealership guys that is. I know that Gilly is a dealership veteran, and I think Johnhef is a dealership guy, but I haven't seen him here in a few months. Even the Tech's Only Forum doesn't seem to have any. Did all the sworn dealer-haters scare them away???

I have a realistic attitude towards dealers - sometimes you need them and sometimes you don't. I am continually amazed that I can still get parts for a 30 year old car at a dealer. You can't say that about most 10 year old French cars...

Question:-

How do you know when you've spent too much money at the dealer?

Answer:-

They GIVE you one of these:-

http://link.marktplaats.nl/403397025

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I used to be a dealer guy, before I went back into the funeral biz.

MB,BMW,Range Rover, Porsche, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, Smart dealership to be precise.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

What about M.B. Doc?

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Ditto, mbdoc is still here...Dr.Diesel as well...

And hey, I have respect for dealers/techs! I have my cars serviced at the dealer per the MB service schedule until they are out of warranty. Then I decide on a per case basis. My local dealer has been fantastic thus far - very professional, courteous, and they've gone to bat for me a few times with goodwill cases. The head tech is a great guy, always takes time to answer my (usually many) questions...

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Doc' is an MB corporate guy.

People are intelligent enough to separate the mechanics from the management of dealers I suspect. We know the mechanics are not usually getting a true share of the hourly labour charge. Nor do they set it.

An auto mechanic is kind of a thankless job in society in my opinion. I have not noticed any bias towards any of the dealer mechanics on site during my time here. Actually instead they try to be helpful where possible.

That has been my experience. The pricing seems to be set by "management" but the customer service I have had from the parts department and the few mechanics I have met has been great - they have been very helpful and straightforward with their dealings with me. A refreshing change to most "customer service" I have had to deal with!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I've been searching for job postings to be a "dealer guy" but none have come up yet...I have retail auto parts experience and obviously worked on MBs....

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth