Things shop owners say: your opinions! - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aklim · #46 08-09-2013, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

I seldom go to dealers, but the bull**** they spew in service is unreal.

What do you expect from a service writer? Only ones I know that knows what he was talking about without consulting was because he was a tech himself. They have a few classes in automotive stuff but they aren't really techs. Hence I always talk to a tech first then tell them what I want done.

aklim · #47 08-09-2013, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesDean

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.

It is cheaper so unless there is a convenience factor, I'm online.

I wouldn't. I get them from Wal*Mart if I can. They are usually cheaper or a push.

My SA is a hottie and checks with the tech first so we don't have a problem.

Txjake · #48 08-09-2013, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

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

Must be living 40 years ago...............

yeah, old enough to remember going to a NAPA back home working on some POS I owned and the counter guys correcting you if you didn't know your ****. they actually took pride in knowing what worked....

JamesDean · #49 08-09-2013, 10:50 AM

I wonder how much a counterman made 40 years ago compared today?

Brian Carlton · #50 08-09-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

yeah, old enough to remember going to a NAPA back home working on some POS I owned and the counter guys correcting you if you didn't know your ****. they actually took pride in knowing what worked....

old as dirt...............

HuskyMan · #51 08-09-2013, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

It is cheaper so unless there is a convenience factor, I'm online.

I wouldn't. I get them from Wal*Mart if I can. They are usually cheaper or a push.

My SA is a hottie and checks with the tech first so we don't have a problem.

Over here it is Lubromoly, Amsoil or NOTHING. My German ride is going to drink from the fountain of youth.

Simpler=Better · #52 08-09-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

3? I have more than 3 machines. I need no less than a dozen. What a coincidence. Autozone tried to sell me fuel system cleaner yesterday. Even if I didn't need it, I could keep it and it doesn't go bad, so I am told.

Cheapskate. Everyone knows that you buy in bulk for economy. A packet of bulb grease only goes so far. I need a large tube. Supersize is the name of the game.

They tried to sell me spark plugs for my diesel too. Do you happen to know if it works and what brand to buy? Is NGK better?

Don't hate on dielectric grease, that stuff is awesome. Just don't get it on your hands, it seems to stick like...well, dielectric grease :p

aklim · #53 08-09-2013, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

Over here it is Lubromoly, Amsoil or NOTHING. My German ride is going to drink from the fountain of youth.

Don't know much about Lubromoly oil. Amsoil is a decent oil. Seems like Schaeffer's stuff is harder to obtain but a little better, at least in the Powerstroke than Mobil 1 according to Blackstone's analysis of the oil. I know my Powerstroke is harder on the oil than most cars since I have 2 HPOP that have been known to stress oil more from other's analysis with 1 and then 2 HPOP.

HuskyMan · #54 08-09-2013, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Don't know much about Lubromoly oil. Amsoil is a decent oil. Seems like Schaeffer's stuff is harder to obtain but a little better, at least in the Powerstroke than Mobil 1 according to Blackstone's analysis of the oil. I know my Powerstroke is harder on the oil than most cars since I have 2 HPOP that have been known to stress oil more from other's analysis with 1 and then 2 HPOP.

I like Amsoil, but I know some German car people who insist on Lubromoly. I use the Lubromoly diesel purge and it works well. Lubromoly is a very interesting company, they put out a very good product.

aklim · #55 08-09-2013, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

I like Amsoil, but I know some German car people who insist on Lubromoly. I use the Lubromoly diesel purge and it works well. Lubromoly is a very interesting company, they put out a very good product.

I haven't done an analysis on the oil so IDK. As to purges, injector cleaners, etc, etc, I haven't any faith in "cleaner in a can". To me, it is like cleaning a room in the dark. Yes, you have a bucket of dirty water and some dust and dirt and you think you got it all but you never really know without testing. On my 210 and Powerstroke, injectors get yanked every 100K for testing and glow plugs get removed and the tips cleaned. Schedule was set based on how dirty the injectors get based on testing. Cleaner in a can is basically something you see as being done because you got some crud out. It cannot tell if the spray pattern or volume is right. That you need the injectors out on a flow bench to see.

At 100K, I replaced the nozzles with Bosio. By 200K, they were worn out. Replaced them with OEM and cleaned it at 300 and now 400K, they seem a little dirty but not worn. My gas injectors get tested and cleaned every 3 years since I don't use it that much. ATVs, Jetskis, Bikes too. Keeps track of how good the gas is.

martureo · #56 08-09-2013, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

I haven't done an analysis on the oil so IDK. As to purges, injector cleaners, etc, etc, I haven't any faith in "cleaner in a can". To me, it is like cleaning a room in the dark. Yes, you have a bucket of dirty water and some dust and dirt and you think you got it all but you never really know without testing. On my 210 and Powerstroke, injectors get yanked every 100K for testing and glow plugs get removed and the tips cleaned. Schedule was set based on how dirty the injectors get based on testing. Cleaner in a can is basically something you see as being done because you got some crud out. It cannot tell if the spray pattern or volume is right. That you need the injectors out on a flow bench to see.

At 100K, I replaced the nozzles with Bosio. By 200K, they were worn out. Replaced them with OEM and cleaned it at 300 and now 400K, they seem a little dirty but not worn. My gas injectors get tested and cleaned every 3 years since I don't use it that much. ATVs, Jetskis, Bikes too. Keeps track of how good the gas is.

The diesel purge is pretty much just naptha.

And yes, it does work quite well. I recently started a non running engine on the stuff.

aklim · #57 08-09-2013, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martureo

The diesel purge is pretty much just naptha. And yes, it does work quite well. I recently started a non running engine on the stuff.

Maybe but how do you verify it works to clean injectors without taking them out and testing them?

I have never felt any difference in the car after cleaning the injectors but the test results show there is something cleaned.

If an injector fails badly, you can probably tell but slight clogging, I'm not confident.

Pooka · #58 08-09-2013, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

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.

I was in Houston in business once with my wife. One of the cars needed something so I told her we would go to the dealer to pick it up. I don't remember now what it was but it was something small.

She thought that was extreme. I told to wait and see.

So we dropped in at the Sugarland dealer, ordered up the tiny part, and then were told to wait while they went to get it. So I took her to the customer waiting room which is quite nice with free soft drinks and coffee and snacks.

She felt weird thinking that we wee slamming back $5 worth of snack items and only buying a $2 part, but for me that was all a part of the fun. They also have a replica of the Patent Motorwagen and I thought I would never get her out of the place since she insisted on looking at every part of it.

I like the service department at Park Place in Dallas, too. The Techs there will take all the time you need to understand what is going on, and the Service Writers don't try to act like they built the car and know everything about it.