You'll get AT LEAST 30% more mpgs. Its almost like cheating the system man.

I have a HOT looking counter jockey at the local parts store so I'd be telling her where the hole to accept my plug would be instead of asking her.

Also, the service adviser at the MB dealership is a hottie. I'd love to have her look for an oil leak under the car.

dang - all the counter jockies I encounter are either High school lads or stoned dudes 20s guys who have zero idea of what a car is. all they can do is read the screen.

The service writers at nearly all MB dealers in my town dont like when I show up. They are a bunch of characters anyway.

As long as she is there, I'll go shop there.

My service writer is fine. She has seen me ream out one of her colleagues' boss because he simply spouted nonsense about how long it would take to remove the gauge cluster in my car. I usually already know what needs to be done so she puts me on hold and asks a tech the book time. IIRC, he over qouted the removal of bulbs and under quoted something else. All the while I just let him go on digging the hole deeper. 1 hour to replace a bulb in my 210 cluster? I can do it in 5 with the tools which I didn't have. About a half hour to do a fuel level sender in the tank? Seriously? Think the diesel fuel will miracle itself away?


I was at a dealership a few years back and the clown got the filter I was supposed to have AFTER I GAVE HIM THE VIN. Only problem was it was for an E320. "Is there a difference between gas and diesel?" was the question when I told him it was for a diesel. I had to use EPC to show him what I needed.

"5?" Seriously? To change a bulb out on a W210?! It's a 1 minute R&R job at most.......provided your coat hangers are bent properly.......

:laughing:

I assume you would go to the tool chest, grab the tool, grab a bulb, etc, etc. I think the coat hanger is a little thicker than the grab thingy I have so not sure if I would use that.

This is a great example of why you don't go to the dealer for simple little stuff.

At the dealer you're greeted by the receptionist/cashier, who directs you to the SA. The SA writes the RO then sends it to dispatch. The dispatcher gives the RO to the tech who gets the car, punches onto the job, and goes to the parts dept. to get the bulb. The tech replaces the bulb, parks your car, and writes the repair up. He then punches off the job and gives the RO back to the dispatcher/booker. The booker bills out the RO and sends it back to the SA. The SA prints out the final bill, closes the RO, and sends it back to the receptionist/cashier. In the meantime the lot attendant pulls your car into the service drive, removes the paper floor mat, locks the car, and puts the key with the paperwork at the front counter. The cashier smiles, takes your money, and thanks you for coming in.

So now your cluster lights are working and you're out of there at last. You may have even gotten a comp' wash n' vac. End of story, right? Not exactly. The closed RO now goes to the the guys/gals in the back office who will scan, save, and archive the complete RO (about six pages!).

FWIW, it takes the same amount of people to do an M272 balance shaft or rebuild a transmission. ;)

Used to love going in to get parts for my '51 Willys...
As soon as the counter jockey would sidle over to the computer...I would tell him to step away from the computer and get the book... it's right there under that part of the counter...;)
Occasionally I would allow them to try, always to no avail...

When the BS starts, I like to ask for some thing that is not obtainable. They normally ask for my number & say they will ring me back. I just give them some random number & say that I look forward to their call. I have thought of looking up the number of some escort service & giving them that one.

Nah, the number to give them is, "867-5309", tell them to leave a message, receptionist's name is, "Jenny". They NEVER catch on!:P


(Google "Tommy Two tone")

I went there to buy parts soon after I moved and haven't unpacked the tools. Thought I could get it done faster than to find the tool box under some boxes.

When I go to the dealership, I tell the SA what I want done. Generally, I see the customers see the SA and they take care of it. If you pay with plastic, the SA can ring it up in their office too. Most customers I see simply tell the SA what is wrong or they think is wrong and leave the keys. I tell them what is wrong and how long it takes and which tech I want. Most often, I bring the parts. When it is done, I go to the tech and discuss what happened, go pay for it and be done.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I wish we had a local number in Australia for it.:D:D:P

I seldom go to dealers, but the bull**** they spew in service is unreal. I drive the guys at the parts stores crazy with odd requests for outlier vehicles and bits I need to fab to fit other cars than the intended use. I have found one or two O'Reilly's and a NAPA that have counter guys who get it. Some are older & a few are engineering types that work for the FAA or Tinker AFB and are moonlighting for spare cash. They enjoy my odd projects (62 Dodge Powerwago, 78 Porsche weber carb conversion, 55 MB 180, etc)

If I get bs from other stores, I just put on the mean guy scowl & make them show me on the computer. I usually end up corecting their f ups......

A real "counterman" at a real auto parts store?

Must be living 40 years ago...............:mad:

I usually just buy all my parts online. I gave up going to the autoparts store for items on these cars, unless its a specific thing that i know they would carry.

I usually just buy fluids, tools, etc from the auto parts stores.

I really haven't had much bad experience with our local MB dealer. They haven't tried to upsell me on anything.