Poll - Which is cheaper, DIY or Mechanic. - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mr.Kenny · #16 03-18-2013, 10:45 AM

Honestly; I really don't know how middle class families afford to own cars with payments, fuel, insurance and car repairs together. I know some people who work, to support their car, so they can drive to work; an endless cycle.
If they sold the car; they wouldn't need to work.
I am also baffled on how little knowledge people have about the transportation device they rely on everyday and how badly they neglect that devise.

Okay;...Most of the time I can repair my car in less time it would take to drive it to a mechanic. Researching how to do a repair is a pleasant activity for me.
My spare time is free; it is my time; & thankfully, I usually like tinkering on my cars.......so it is no problem. (but I detest pulling trannies)

alabbasi · #17 03-18-2013, 11:26 AM

If you own an old car like me. DIY is cheaper as old MB's will nickel and dime you to death if you farm the work out. Otherwise, buy a new car and send it to the dealer for it's scheduled service intervals.

JamesDean · #18 03-18-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Always cheaper for me to DIY.
I cannot see a situation where paying a mechanic $80/hr and a premium price on all the parts could ever even come close.
Maybe if I HAD to rebuild an automatic transmission....
Certainly an alignment, as I do not have a $100k alignment rack...

What kind of jobs do you guys save money by going to a shop for?

Always cheaper from a money stand point certainly. You do your own work, buy your own parts cheaper. However it does cost you time, which right now, is what i don't have a lot of at the moment. So I send the cars up to the shop for certain pain-in-the-ass type things.

Like my 190E brake booster/master and bleeding. I loath all of the above. i dont really want to crawl under the dash or jack up each individual wheel and bleed it and stuff.. Meh let them do it. My shop is only $60-65/hour.

Or jobs that tools that I dont have. I've gotta replace this control arm on my dad's 300Sd. I've got a replacement control arm but I'm not sure if the bearing is good and I want new bushings on the arm ends.. So up to the shop.

But for the most part i'll diy stuff. My 300D's transmission work, most suspension work..just as long as I have the time for it.

Stretch · #19 03-18-2013, 02:59 PM

I reckon for about 95% of the jobs on a W123 you are better off doing it yourself - so long as you don't charge yourself the same rate that a mechanic would you will always be ahead.

Some of the more tricky jobs require professional help - machining work for example - very few members already own that kind of machinery (and even if they do you might think it is fairer to factor in that cost to the repair being made).

Diesel911 · #20 03-19-2013, 11:03 PM

I took the question to be if the DIY Jobs you did cost less then a Professional Mechanic so I said less to the DIY.

Other DIY advantages are that you can Pick your own Parts and get the quality of Part you want to install.

Also if Mechanics purchase the Parts for you they most often mark up the price.

Then there is you paying for the Mechanics Mistakes due to Poor Troubleshooting or incompetence or having the Mechanic pile on un-needed work.

I short I would rather take a chance that I might have to pay for My own Mistakes (and learn something in the process) than have to pay a High Price for someone elses Mistakes.
It also keeps Me from being a Victimized by some unscrupulous Mechanic.

hill · #21 03-20-2013, 01:57 PM

For my 67 its DIY. For my 05 Kompressor I couldn’t change the air filters.

Can't Know · #22 03-20-2013, 06:56 PM

The poll can't be that simple, unfortunately.

All other things being equal, DIY is always cheaper.

However, the uninformed goober who thinks he can fix anything because he bought some craftsman tools is always going to be the most expensive repair. There's a thread on one of the forums about a guy that went to do his own oil change on an M112 engine. He only got about 3-4 quarts out so he thought it must have been really low on oil...and when he restarted it, it wouldn't move.

I think we can all agree: that kind of a person is the most expensive, period. (And yes, there are shops that have done that sort of thing, too.)

But if you have some mechanical aptitude and are willing to learn and proceed slowly, you can gain a wealth of knowledge and keep more of your money.

I'm a decent mechanic with a useful assortment of tools and ability. I sometimes lack the motivation to do something, but I loathe taking my car to the shop, in part because when I work on it, I know what I did and what I didn't do. If there is an issue later, I'm in a better position to consider whether it's related to what I did.

I'm sort of like Rocky Raccoon. I wouldn't own my car if I didn't do most of the maintenance and repairs. I think I could probably afford not to DIY, but I sure wouldn't want to.

JimFreeh · #23 03-21-2013, 07:09 AM

I view the time spent as both hobby and therapy.

There's no question that playing with the cars is cheaper than therapy.
And there are precious few hobbies that have any return on investment.

I derive great satisfaction when I am able to puzzle out a solution to a baffling problem, and when finishing up a restoration (or refurb) to one of my cars. These feelings of satisfaction and self worth beat any kind of therapy I could be getting from a professional.

As with many of us on this list, I have multiple cars, so having one down for service is no big deal, I'll just drive another until I sort it out.

There is no question in my mind that being an advanced do it yourselfer has saved me a significant amount of money, even when I take into account the investment in tools and a shop building.

Coupled with the fact that most of my vehicles are at least flat on the depreciation curve, and some of my non-MB antiques are seeing noticable appreciation, my transportation costs are minimal. Compared to either buying new, which eschews most high maintenance costs, or buying used, and factoring in the much higher potential for repair, the path I've chosen is without a doubt the least expensive.

It's impossible to put a price on the positive mental health benefits and the satisfaction when I overcome a significant obstacle or finish a project. Having been burdened with ADHD long before it was diagnosed, these rewards have done a lot to help me overcome the issues and focus on goals and completion.

Not everyone can take the same path, it requires time+tools+talent and a nice shop to fully realize the benefits of doing it yourself. If I lived in an apartment with only a $39.99 Harbor Fright tool kit, I'd have to rethink my position....

Jim

Simpler=Better · #24 03-21-2013, 01:38 PM

Recent example: The Jeep has a bent rear axle tube. Going to need a new rear assembly, rotors, pads, and e brake gear.

Quoted 500 labor by the book at a local shop, and 1700 for a new axle (sans brakes) from the dealer. Local pre-pulled yards with warranty (only other source a shop will consider) are 600 for the axle. Brakes estimated at 200 in parts. So:

New dealer parts and my trusted mechanic-$2,400
Warrantied parts and my trusted mechanic-$1,300
CL axle, new brakes, incidentals, I swap it all-$500

However, if it takes a coil spring compressor to do the job I'm paying a professional to do it.

JamesDean · #25 03-21-2013, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

Recent example: The Jeep has a bent rear axle tube. Going to need a new rear assembly, rotors, pads, and e brake gear.

Quoted 500 labor by the book at a local shop, and 1700 for a new axle (sans brakes) from the dealer. Local pre-pulled yards with warranty (only other source a shop will consider) are 600 for the axle. Brakes estimated at 200 in parts. So:

New dealer parts and my trusted mechanic-$2,400
Warrantied parts and my trusted mechanic-$1,300
CL axle, new brakes, incidentals, I swap it all-$500

However, if it takes a coil spring compressor to do the job I'm paying a professional to do it.

Don't forget to factor in your time for all investigating and running around,etc. Most people forget that aspect, myself included.

Simpler=Better · #26 03-21-2013, 01:50 PM

I'm not forgetting that. I'll spend around 6 hours on the road (parts and axle run) so 6x50mph=300ish miles @~$0.25/mile so $75 for runaround. I also forgot to factor in the $50 for beer

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Not everyone can take the same path, it requires time+tools+talent and a nice shop to fully realize the benefits of doing it yourself. If I lived in an apartment with only a $39.99 Harbor Fright tool kit, I'd have to rethink my position....

Jim

Don't knock the parking lot mechanic! My VNT went on in a parking lot

Hatterasguy · #27 03-21-2013, 10:32 PM

I sub out jobs I don't really like doing, ie oil change and tire rotation, and do jobs I can save a bundle on, ie brakes.

That's changing though, I'm pretty close to just subbing everything out. I'm tired of working on vehicles, I don't enjoy it anymore.

iwrock · #28 03-21-2013, 10:36 PM

Mechanic.

My time is very valuable to me - and I don't have alot of it to spare.

Jim B. · #29 03-21-2013, 11:20 PM

I asked the Service Advisor whe I was at the dealer today how much it would cost for a LOF, today and they said $239 for the '11 e350. It takes about 8-9 quarts of Synthetic, (as opposed to my old v8 Mercedes Benzes, and the old '67 Cougar, vehicles which to which I give 3,000 mile interval dino oil changes..)

They told me the big one, the biggest service and most costly one in the entire maintenance guide, was the one that comes at 40,000 miles, it involves the LOF, an automatic transmission fluid change, a brake fluid change, and - I think a complete wallet flush too = bcause it is over $1,100 !!

I was assured that also, for my peace of mind that this includes a FULL and complete inspection - which means I guess - good eyes looking at everything!

The independent Mercedes Benz shop that gets my regular service/repair business (recommended to me by iwrock about 6 years ago) and for my '91 560SEC - that I had in there last week and who maintains my '95 e420 said he could work on the new cars too, likemine, and is qualified to stamp the maintainenance booklet, so perhaps getting a quote on these w212 services from him, is a good idea too!

He lets me into the shop area for the inspections, that he makes, too, and explains what he is inspecting, but the dealer does not - ALL information about what was done, and inspecterd, comes through the mouth of the Service Advisor; and if it's a scheduled visit, and a long or a big one, they hand you the keys to a "free-of-charge" new C class loaner...(that part is nice)

The w212 car has a LOT of miles/time left in its factory warranties though - up to 135k/August 2017. I've used this dealer from time to time since 2000, so I am known as a long time customer, there, for ALL my Mercedes Benzes, but they are know for "upselling" service, so every remark they make about the car needs to be evaluated carefully...

I WILL at least try to get the Indy to give me quotes for these two basic maintenance jobs. He will get one or both if the work is the same, the savings are substantial and the work is warranty compliant - which it likely is.