Going to the MB Dealer, what to expect? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hughet · #16 09-26-2006, 12:26 PM

The cost structure at most dealers is such that they have to squeeze everything they can out of each and every customer. An estimate of at least $1,000 on each car that comes in is probably a condition of employment. They get away with it because most of their work is warranty work and the average Mercedes-Benz owner that has a car out of warranty has plenty of money and very little interest in the mechanical workings of their car

For example we have a dealer in town who sponsored an event for the local Mercedes-Benz club. As a part of that event the dealer offered a complimentary "complete diagnosis" of each member's car. It looked like a good opportunity to me to get a diagnosis of the electronic diesel system on my 92 300D to find out what component is causing it to have no boost.

As it turned out, their "diesel expert" wasn't there so they put the car on a lift and made up a list of all of the things that "needed to be done" to it. Would you guess that the total on the list was over $1,500?

One of the things that they told me that needed fixing was the serpentine belt which had some cracks in it. For that job, they quoted $180 labor and $45 for the belt.

I thanked them for their diagnosis and told them that I didn't have $1,500 that I could get my hands on anytime soon.

Of course, I already knew about the belt and had one in the trunk that I had bought for $16 and was planning to put on the car the next day. As a sanity check, I timed the belt replacement job and it took me 15 minutes (which is probably 5 minutes longer than it would have taken one of their guys).

When I took my 300SDL to another dealer in town for a safety inspection I got a $1,400 estimate for work that I did for $300 in parts. Again, they were just taking a shot. The funny part of the whole thing is that I questioned the "service writer" about the things that needed to be done and found out that she had very minimal knowledge about the car.

So the bottom line as I see it is that going to a dealer is like going to a very expensive restaurant where the food may or may not be good but the prices will certainly be high.

Hatterasguy · #17 09-26-2006, 01:03 PM

$199 to replace tie rods, or tie rod ends? Alighnment in there anywhere?

Thats why I do stuff myself, $10 each for the tie rod ends. I wouldn't mess with owning an old car if I couldn't do the work myself.

GradyService · #18 09-28-2006, 11:25 AM

Well for the 199 they replaced both tie rod assemblys (not just ends) and they did the alignment. Considering that alignment runs about 50 bucks these days, it seemed like a pretty good deal. Also, I was in wilmington, about 65 miles from home, without my tools. The car probably could have made it home, but I think I got a pretty good deal on the job, anyway.
Thanks, Dave.

Hatterasguy · #19 09-28-2006, 12:10 PM

Oh thats not bad then. I thought they charged you $200 for a couple tie rod ends!

GradyService · #20 09-28-2006, 02:09 PM

Well, when the MB dealer (Bob King ********) was telling me about it, they quoted me 550.00

for just ENDS. Unbelievable. And, when I went out to the sales floor, they didn't have a single S-Class. New or Used. Even on the service side, my S was the newest one there (the only other was a 1981
380SEL). Strange.
Thanks, Dave.

Hatterasguy · #21 09-28-2006, 02:12 PM

Wow! The local MB dealer has dozens of S's lined up on the lot. Impressive site!