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  #1  
Old 01-19-2001, 04:35 PM
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I was wondering how many people here are MBCA members and if it's worth the $45 a year. I called the 2 local MB dealers to see if they give a discount to members. They both said they do and it's 10%. I recently applied for membership and I am waiting on the new member packet. I know that they have a "Tech" forum, but it's apparently not as good as this one, of course.

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  #2  
Old 01-19-2001, 04:40 PM
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I used to be one. I did not like the politics. That is all I am going to say about it.
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  #3  
Old 01-19-2001, 05:59 PM
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I still belong because my wife likes the yearly raffle instead of the lottery, and I like the "Star" magazine. Otherwise, too much politics, and I didn't ever get any answers from their forum the month I used it before I found this site. After coming to MercedesShop, I unsubscribed from the other forum.
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  #4  
Old 01-19-2001, 06:51 PM
someguyfromMaryland
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MBCA Members

If you're new to MB's, MBCA can be a good way to learn about the cars. If you know you're way around them already, the politics can be depressing. Don't join for the 10% discount, you can beat that by buying ANYWHERE on the web, here, Rusty in Atlanta, Randy Steele at EPS, etc... The only times I go to a dealer for parts are for the body specific parts that no body will carry except the dealer. For example, I just put a water pump, serp belt tensioner and shock in my 1991 300TE. The list on the tensioner was $235. I found it on sale at Rusty's for $95!! I'm not talking alternate brands, I'm talking OEM. Same thing for the water pump, a Graf new pump for $110. The 10% discount at the dealers isn't close to what you can get by looking around.


Disregard this if you bought a new Benz, have lots of money, and like the peace of mind of having the dealer perform all of the maintenance. You didn't buy an inexpensive car if you're in this group. I put $720 in parts into my TE, and I figure it would have been over $3K for parts and labor at the dealer. That's alot of difference in my book.

Back to the MBCA, it's either the best gig the Star publisher ever dreamed of or it's an egalitarian group of upper class car enthusiasts who appreciate rules of order and the tri-star marque. It all depends on who in the club you ask and how the last board meeting went. It was very entertaining while I was a member for 4 years, but I ultimately decided I was not getting $45 of value per year out of my investment. YMMV.

http://www.mbz.org has a leadership list where they love to vent and ramble about the club's politics. Very entertaining if you have the time.
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  #5  
Old 01-19-2001, 06:52 PM
Stevegman
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Can't get enough Benz action...

I think it's worth it because I like the magazine, the Star. Photos and featured cars are often excellent. Not every issue is what interests me but I love it all the same. I don't participate in the events but intend to do so in the future.

The value is highly subjective. This tech forum is light years ahead of the MBCA one so if it's for technical advice, you are better off right here. They do have archives of the magazine and technical articles and reprints that are good. The value depends on what you want to get out of it.

If you want a social outlet and go to rallies, autocross, drag race and show your car, it would be super because these events exist. There are local tune up clinics and meetings. If you want to get involved there is a place to do it.

My late father had over 20 years in a private motorcycle club and they traveled the world by motorcycle. These people became some of his best friends. You may find a benefit there as well. Again, it depends on you and your goals of joining.

Steve
'85 SL500 Euro
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  #6  
Old 01-19-2001, 06:56 PM
patsy
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Maybe you could explain what you mean by too much politics.
I adore "The Star" also, and wouldn't it be great to win one of the three cars they raffle off twice a year!
I think you have a cheap dealer Rick, because my dealer gives me 20% off on parts.
I think some local sections are more active and a lot better than others. I never see any activities for my section, but the Minneapolis section seems like a lot of fun! I'm glad I joined, and will keep my membership for as many years as possible.
I think the tech articles in "The Star", are incredible. I always see an article that relates to me. I have enjoyed reading about the short block rebuild, and I learned many things I would not have known. They don't just focus on new Mercedes either, which is nice.
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  #7  
Old 01-19-2001, 07:03 PM
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We are members only for the STAR Magazine. There is NO comparison of the forums....this one is simply THE BEST. The politics are horrible in MBCA...Even in my local region newsletter, the name calling continued in print. I don't even read the newsletter. I simply trash it. The STAR does have interesting articles and does offer a classified section that is worth reviewing.
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  #8  
Old 01-19-2001, 07:15 PM
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Thanks for the replies. I have heard this politics issue before. Is the MBCA just full off well heeled snobs who didn't buy a car, but the "life style"? I knew that the 10% discount off dealer prices still couldn't beat what's available on the net. Where I live is basicly right in the middle of 2 MB dealerships. Unfortunately it's about 40 mins. one way to the one in south NJ and 30 mins. north to the one in Princeton, NJ. So the time and distance to these 2 would eat up any savings, unless I bought something "big"($$$$). I basicly joined for the "Star" magaizne, and their online store. I don't get wrapped up in politics, that's for egomaniacs. That is one of the things I like and was pleasantly surprised, about this forum. Everyone on this site comes from different backrounds, levels of income, education, and automotive experience. Yet nobody snubs anyone for having an old Benz that didn't cost very much to get. If it is this kind of "snobbery" that is seen at the MBCA events, then I'll just not attend. I didn't buy a Benz because of the star on the hood. I bought it because of what's underneath the star and the paint.
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  #9  
Old 01-19-2001, 07:16 PM
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Patsy:
The politics I referred to were that during the month I was on the mbca forum, it was mostly flame wars about national mbca leaders, who supported whom, what should be done about this or that person running for office, and what direction should mbca take in the future. I submitted 2 or 3 questions, none were answered (one was about what issues needed to be checked out by an MB mechanic on a newly purchased car, and the others were ???). Basically, the questions were ignored so that 4 or 5 people could call each other names. Who needs it.
BTW, my question about what to check out was answered on this forum - several suggestions arrived within MINUTES!!! I don't want to start a "here vs. there" war, and readily admit I haven't been on that forum since my earlier experience, so it could be different. However, I tend to stop searching for solutions once I find a good answer, and since everything I have looked for about MBs can be found here, I stopped searching.
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  #10  
Old 01-19-2001, 07:29 PM
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I think the politics thing is blown way out of proportion. I have been a member over two years and I love it. The Star magazine is great, but I really enjoy the meetings and events in local and regional sections. My car won third place at clean car show at Niagara on the Lake last October. I enjoy being able to meet other Mercedes Enthusiasts, and seeing thier cars. Alot of them have great classic cars that you would never see on the street, or in showrooms. I think that is the best part of the club. The politics people are talking about is at the very top level and involves the way the club business is run. This is a great site, but you're still just just looking at a computer. At local events you get to meet with people and talk about the cars while looking at them. I think it is worth it.
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  #11  
Old 01-19-2001, 07:35 PM
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I'm an MBCA member. The Star has some interesting articles and occasionally I attend local events here in the Peachtree Region.

I owned a beautiful Guards Red on Black Porsche 944 Turbo for 9 blissful years. I must say that I enjoyed the Porsche Club, events and Panorama better but, to each his own. (sure do miss that car)
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  #12  
Old 01-19-2001, 08:02 PM
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Jason, you are right about actually meeting other MB enthusiasts and their cars. Versus an online club. I 'd love to make the trip down to the opening of the MB Autowerks, and meet the people behind all these replies. Has a code word been established yet?, like "gumball"? Anyways, the great thing about this site and sites like it is that it's up and running 24/7. Whereas club events only happen every so often. Are dependant on good weather, and the alike. Like I may of mentioned I only signed up for 1 year to give it a try. I don't want to start any "flamming" here over the good and bad of MBCA. I just wanted to see how wide spread the membership was for the people on this site. I didn't know whether or not people became members just to add to the "lifestyle" they bought into when they bought a star.
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2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
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  #13  
Old 01-19-2001, 08:19 PM
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Rickjordan:
I think 420sel has a good point about meeting people (However, the only MB enthusiasts I have met and socialized with so far have been through this site!). I think a lot depends on the local chapter. Some of the local events at other chapters I read about in the Star look like a lot of fun, but the events in the closest chapter to my location just haven't seemed that interesting. Maybe in the future I will change to another chapter and see if that becomes more fun.
Lookin forward to Atlanta.
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  #14  
Old 01-19-2001, 10:22 PM
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We joined MBCA when we got our Benz from a family member. Thought that it would be a good way to get familar with the car and it's history. I would agree that the tech end of the club doesn't even compare with this site but really did not join it for that. We joined to meet other Benz owners. We don't really give a rats patoot about the politics. The local section has some nice activities of which we have participated in several. We even won a 3rd place trophy on our first rally. The other owners are not snooty and the STAR is a great source of information on the marque. Whether or not it is worth the $45 is in the eye of the beholder. We think that it is.
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  #15  
Old 01-19-2001, 10:57 PM
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MBCA Membership

As a first year member and first time MBZ owner, I have enjoyed the Star magazine and the new car raffle. I would recommend membership to every MBZ car owner. It should be even more valuable if you can attend a local chapter (Section) of the MBCA. When you join MBCA you also are enrolled in a local Section. In my case that is the Peachtree Section. They hold local events throughout the year and publish a newsletter. Later this month I am planning to attend my first event at the local level. MercedesShop is an excellent source of information, but MBCA can be of benefit to the car enthusiast in a different way.

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