New 94 C280 Wiring Harness story -- Ripped by dealer
 

Some of you may have followed my starting problem saga.

Wouldn't start ocassionaly. Dealer diagnosed crank sensor. Fine, do it.

Well, it doesn't fix my problem.

Take it back, they keep it several days and say it is the harness. Here is where it gets good. They want $3,800 to replace the harness and O2 sensor.

Gentlemen, start your calculators. I ask her, how many hours of labor is that including? "3.5", she says. I ask how much the harness is. $2,100 dollars is her answer. Now, after some research I find I have the harness 202 540 40 32 which I can get for $635.

I had already mentioned the goodwill issue. Yes, car is 12 years old -- BUT was purchased there (I am 2nd owner), religiously serviced there, and only has 57k miles. She talks to her manager and says they'll take 25% off.

Now, how should I approach this? First, they diagnosed and replaced the crank sensor when it wasn't the problem. Now, they are obviously trying to rip me a new one.

I begrudge no one getting paid for their work and expertise (diagnosis, r/r, etc.). However, this isn't anywhere even CLOSE to them being honest.

How should I proceed? (Knowing that in the end I may just replace it myself). Should I press for an honest price on the harness? Suggestions?

Thanks,

Thanks

You're unlikely to get a decent price from them on the part. For them to do so is admitting that they were after an obscene profit in the original estimate.

Get it elsewhere. You said that you were going to put it on yourself. Go one further and don't do business with them in the future, especially for a new car or warranty work on one.

Try calling Richard at Stuttgart So....615-256-2565

They're definitely trying to hose you on the part cost. I was at my Indy's shop two weeks ago, watching with interest as they did a wiring harness on a '94 C280 (just like mine). I asked what it was going to cost, since I know this repair is in my future (still have the original harness). He said three hours labour and about $1200 (Canadian) for the part, from the dealer. At current exchange rates, that works out to a little under $1100 US and presumably they all get the parts from the same source in Germany. The extra $1000 is probably for gas in the dealer principal's offshore powerboat.

I can't help thinking that they do these things because a certain percentage of their customers just throw up their hands and buy a new car. It's a shock and awe service department.

I went to dealer only to buy parts I can't find elsewhere.

Don't let them touch your car.

have you had an oppertunity to review the following thread?:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/general-information/128181-mb-wiring-harness-failure.html

it has a lot of info about harness replacement (titled "MB Engine Wiring Harness Failure")

Check the OVP...

Yes, I'd read it. The dealer doesn't deny it. Total repair would be $3,800 but due to goodwill they are going to give me 25% off.

Yeah, right.

Already done. Besides, my harness definitely shows signs of deterioration. It is the harness.

Perhaps flashing your MBCA card will get you better relations with your dealer.

http://www.mbca.org

Final bump. I'm going to the dealership at lunch.

My plan --

1. Tell them what I know.
2. Give them a final chance to make amends.
3. Confront them with why they are asking $3,800 to r/r a $650 wire harness with 3.5 hours labor. I have all records on this car. Previous (I am 2nd owner) had car religiously serviced there. A note on a ticket in 1998 recommended replacing the wire harness (21k miles and 4 years old).

let us know what they say! its interesting they noted it needed a replacement with so few miles!

So, I asked him:

-- What about this goodwill? (He says, well, mainly for folks that bought here and will buy again.)
-- I say, what about the ticket in 98 that recommended replacing it at 21k miles for this original owner who indeed did buy another MB later. (He said, :eek: Uh, let me talk to my factory rep. He'll be here tomorrow as luck would have it.)
-- I also told him I couldn't justify paying $2,100 for the part when I can buy it for $659 at multiple places. Why was the cost they quoted marked up more than 3 times by their dealership? (No answer). What gets me is they marked the part up 3x but where quoting just 3 hours labor (normal) and not trying to jack that up.
-- I guess I'll see what they say today.

<What gets me is they marked the part up 3x but where quoting just 3 hours labor (normal) and not trying to jack that up.
>

Many places use that trick..They claim the part cost is out of their hands , but they take care of you on the labor.. makes them look like the GoodGuyz....