I took my 420SEL to our local indy and asked for an estimate on the following - replacement of tie rods, bracket bushings on the driver's side, steering shock, drag link, guide rod mount on the driver's side, idler arm, alignment (of course), replace both motor mounts, replace shifter bushings, and charge/top off R12 a/c. I am providing parts. They are quoting me $650 - which seems a little high to me. What is the general consensus?

BTW, I just had all 4 rotors, pads, and sensors replaced on my ML320 and had an oil/filter change for $475 - I only provided the Mobil 1.

What's his labor rate? Therein lies the answer to your question.

Jeff Pierce

__________________
Jeff Pierce

Current Vehicles:
'92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver)
'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk)
'99 Kawasaki Concours
Gravely 8120
Previous Vehicles:
'85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon
'53 Willys-Overland Pickup
'85 Honda 750F Interceptor
'93 Nissan Quest
'89 Toyota Camry Wagon
'89 Dodge Raider
'81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport
'88 Toyota Celica
'95 Toyota Tacoma
'74 Honda CB 550F

Thats a lot of work. Guide rods are a royal pita, and depending on which shifter bushings you are talking about the shifter needs to come out and apart to get to most of them.

$650 sounds good, besides you are bringing your own parts the shop needs to make money somewhere.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well...there's ya problem, right there.....Do you take your steak and potato's to IHOP ?

The shop need to make a profit.

They supply all the lifts, tools, labor.
They supply all the paper work, telephone and insurance.
They pay EPA fees.
The have utilities and workers comp' to pay.
They have rent/mortgage payments, etc, etc, etc..

And you short cut them by buying parts that they probably won't warranty.
If you bought discount parts, fit them yourself...same as my customers do.

Not beating you up about this, but sometimes the point is lost.
I run a shop...I do not fit customers parts...period !

I warranty all the work AND parts used on each job.
I have product liability insurance that will back me up in the event something goes wrong (God forbid.)

I carry an account with several parts supply houses.
They will pay me if the part fails.....

Everything that I work on here has a 90 day unconditional warranty.

I think that they are being very good to you to offer to use your parts.

What are you going to do if....one of the steeering parts fails at 75 mph one morning, and you take out a school bus on your way to the ditch.?


I still think at $650.00 they are being nice to you.




____________________________________________________________

__________________
[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

that sounds like a fair price to me. just the tie rods and alignment could easily cost $250-$350.

__________________
2005 Mercedes C230k sport sedan, 6 speed
1987 Porsche 924S - 968-engined track car

Thanks for the replies. They have been very helpful - since I am a DIYer and don't usually have to take the car someplace to have work done I was not sure if it was a fair price or not. Seems from the responses that it is.

I did not intend to offend anyone with this thread - maybe I am taking it the wrong way but.... I do feel I have been adequately chastised. I was under that assumption that the purpose of this forum was to inform, not scold.

Benzboy, I'm in the same boat as you! I have an armload of suspension parts and I've been calling around for quotes to install them. The basic difference is that the dealer charges $18/hr more than the best local indie shop.

Based on the quality of past service at the dealer, the special MB equipment they have and the exclusive MB knowledge they have, I'm going to go with the dealer.

BTW, our local MB dealer sales, parts and service are separate departments and the service manager told me he doesn't really care where I get my parts from....but the parts manager might

It was interesting sourcing out the parts on internet....saved about 30%. Some real crap for W124's on eBay, Chinese and Italian stuff I've gone with Lemfoerder all the way.

__________________
Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto

Concider yourself informed !

[QUOTE]Not beating you up about this, but sometimes the point is lost.[UNQUOTE]

You might call it "intense education."...

Regards.......dk



___________________________________________________________

__________________
[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

dkveuro, every now and then got to vent. Thanks for being a good sport and a good sounding board.

Glad to be able to...... 'drive the point home' ! !



________

__________________
[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."