380SL Repair Estimate - Too High?

[Wide Right]

New member here. I bought an '83 380SL recently. It is my first Mercedes. I took it to the local independent Mercedes mechanic recently to have it checked out. The mechanic thought it was in very good shape overall, but he found a few things it needed, including the following (along with the price he quoted me for repair):

Tie rods + steering damper: $745
Rear muffler: $725 + $50 for new hangers
Wiper blades: $195?! (yes, just for the blades)
Cruise Control: $600-$720 (if it is the amplifier)

These prices sound way too high to me. I was ready for a little sticker shock, but this really seems way up there. What does everyone else think?

I was thinking about doing some of the repairs myself. I'm reasonably handy around cars. The tie rod + steering damper job looks like it's about $100 in parts plus $100 for an alignment. I've seen mufflers for $150 - $350, plus installation. I can get wiper blades for $10. I found rebuilt cruise control amplifiers online for about $200.

As much as I'd like to keep this car all original, it is going to be a daily driver, not a museum piece. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[tan man]

1. get the CD repair manual
2. go on line and read up on these jobs - people who have done them point out key issues to look out for and helpful hints are offered.
3. take on one job at a time - start with the wipers to make yourself feel good.
4. there is absolutely no reason no to do these repairs yourself.
5. write back here on this forum, congratulating yourself with your results.

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by Wide Right

Tie rods + steering damper: $745
Rear muffler: $725 + $50 for new hangers
Wiper blades: $195?! (yes, just for the blades)

How much! What the hell?

All of the above work can be done by yourself for a lot less. Especially the wiper blades which should not cost more then $20.

Tie Rod ends and steering damper are also simple jobs. Take the muffler to a good muffler shop and get them to do the work.

Finally, find another indie. This fella obviously is too proud of his work.

[mbboy]

[quote=Wide Right;1998334
Tie rods + steering damper: $745
Rear muffler: $725 + $50 for new hangers
Wiper blades: $195?! (yes, just for the blades)
Cruise Control: $600-$720 (if it is the amplifier)[/quote]

This guy's definitely trying to rip you off: wiper blades for $195. Yikes! Do what you can yourself, but I wouldn't underestimate the potential difficulty of getting some of those tie rods out with a pickle fork and/or gear puller, especially if you plan on using jack stands or Rhino ramps. After struggling with one of them for the better part of a day, I ended up having the alignment guy get it out with an air gun, and even he had trouble.

As for the muffler, I went with an Ansa and other people have gone with a Bosal. But if I had it to do over again, I spend the extra money for the Eberspacher, as your car will sound much better.

The cruise controls in these cars are highly problematic. So there's loads of posts here on trouble-shooting and repairing them. IF you can use a soldering iron and have patience, you might want to try resoldering the connections in the amp, as some people have managed to fix their's that way.

Finally, if you haven't already done so, pull all your carpets, check for rust caused by blockages and leaks in the drainage system, and repair them. You'll be glad you did.

Good luck!

[Strife]

At those prices, I'd do it, and even let you watch (and I would provide the earplugs). If it took more than a day, you could stay over at my house - and I'd give you a $100 rebate to get the car aligned.

[Mistress]

I changed my blades for 25.00.

[DanielG]

I did mine for about $20 (with shipping) and 1/2 hour of time --

http://www.***************/search/product.aspx?sid=pwh5lu55rzl5hu55ogqvq045&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1195310@560SL&year=1987&cid=35@Wipers%20%26%20Wiper%20System&gid=8868@Wiper%20Blade%20Refill/Insert

they now work great.

[Werner W]

Ditto on the ******** AZ. Got wipers and steering components from there and did it myself for a hell of a lot less than what you are being quoted.

Werner

[380mark]

I agree with what the other members are telling you. My indy wanted $669 to do tie rods, drag link, idler arm bushings, and steering shock including alignment.

I ordered the parts last night for less than $150 from AHAZ.

Going to do the shocks myself too since indy wanted $600. I ordered the Bilsteins from Adsit for $49 each.

To be honest though I will probably have to make visit Harbor Freight to buy a tie rod puller and I'll probably splurge and buy a creeper too.

I bought my 380SL back in May with no intent on doing any of the work myself. Now I try to do as many of the repairs I can. Not because I can't afford it, even though I am a cheap bastard, but because I enjoy doing the work. I only use the indy for stuff I don't think I'm capable of doing.

Mark

[RadioTek]

Those prices seem to be "wildly out of line". The manual on CD would be invaluable: I consider it money well spent, somewhat better than a Haynes manual.

I can recommend ******** and Harbor Freight highly. However, if you are planning to do regular repairs, I would try to find a good set of tools (Sockets, wrenches, nutdrivers, screwdrivers, ...etc.) The Harbor freight tools tend to be of lower quality, a little less durable, possibly not quite the right size (instead of 10 mm: 10.25 mm e.g.).

There are places where you will need to have the more durable tool, like if you have a severely rusted nnut / bolt and break a socket, with HF; you just have to buy another, while a higher quality one would not break, or if it does, replacement is usually free under warranty.

However, with specialized "one time use" tools, it may be much more economical to buy at HF, such as a pickle fork, tie rod puller. However I would suggest getting a couple of those magnetic parts dishes and a box of Nitrile gloves there, due to price.

[alabbasi]

I have quite a few HF tools, they work quite well. If you go for the cheapest tools out of the bunch they will be rubbish but they do have quality tools that cost just a little more.

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Wide Right

New member here. I bought an '83 380SL recently. It is my first Mercedes. I took it to the local independent Mercedes mechanic recently to have it checked out. The mechanic thought it was in very good shape overall, but he found a few things it needed, including the following (along with the price he quoted me for repair):

Tie rods + steering damper: $745
Rear muffler: $725 + $50 for new hangers
Wiper blades: $195?! (yes, just for the blades)
Cruise Control: $600-$720 (if it is the amplifier)

These prices sound way too high to me. I was ready for a little sticker shock, but this really seems way up there. What does everyone else think?

I was thinking about doing some of the repairs myself. I'm reasonably handy around cars. The tie rod + steering damper job looks like it's about $100 in parts plus $100 for an alignment. I've seen mufflers for $150 - $350, plus installation. I can get wiper blades for $10. I found rebuilt cruise control amplifiers online for about $200.

As much as I'd like to keep this car all original, it is going to be a daily driver, not a museum piece. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Get a Genuine MB muffler. The rest like you said

[Strife]

If you need original wiper blade ASSEMBLIES, they are really expensive from MB. They are made of brushed/frosted stainless steel. I have had good luck "refurbing" old ones from cars being scrapped with a little 3M scouring pad (no steel wool) and elbow grease. IMO, cheap black painted metal or (even worse) plastic wiper assemblies don't belong on this car, even if you have a beater.

[Wide Right]

Thanks everyone for all your help. I picked up the car from the shop the other day. I'm going to do most of the work myself. I ordered the CD repair manual. I also ordered tie rods, steering damper, drag link, wiper blades, and a few other small parts. My plan is to do one small project a month.

I figure I'll order the muffler online and take it to a muffler shop to have it installed. It's not that bad - just one small hole in the can itself and a crack in the tailpipe. On the replacement, I'm going back and forth between the Ebersbacher and the Ansa.

The cruise control can wait for now. It's not a high priority.

The good news is that the car runs better than ever. The indy did a great job on the work he did. He's just ridiculously expensive.

Thanks again for all your help. I'll post here with my progress on the car.

[Werner W]

Where did you order the CD and how much was it (if you don't mind my asking). I have had one on order (back order) with Performance Products since December and it has yet to ship. They won't give me an answer as to when the order will be filled.