I may have found the dream shop for a Benz owner in Portland Oregon.
I've got a 76 450SL. The vacuum lines had become crispy and I had several broken. I, even with the manual, wasn't sure where they all went. I was told that a genius owned a Benz repair shop. Well, I gotta tell you the story.
I went in this AM after calling saying I was going to wait, as my home is a good 30 miles away.
The owner is an older Russian gentleman-Nada( Steve) Stoyanov--"been here 30 years, all I do is mercedes Benz". Steve is in his 70's.
His yard is like a Benz museum--every year and model you can think of. Now these are not customers cars, they are all parts cars.
He raised the hood on my Benz and then call out for the lady in the office. She is also Russsian and maybe mid-60's.Steve says she is a wiz at this kind of stuff. Now she procedes to make new vac lines and install like she had compleatly memorized the manual. Now Steve comes out and puts his ear to the engine and starts tweeking the thing and that thing. Finally says( I wish I could add his accent on this keyboard) "I think the plugs are gapped wrong".
Sure enough they were gapped at .32--he wanted them at .28.
Now more tweeking--no timing light--no other tool other than a socket or two and a screwdriver or two.
All of a sudden the motor smooths out and purrs ilke a kitten.
OK, all is good. Now he says " You Neeeeed Parts". I said I would like to replace the window switches as the chrome is peeling. I would also like to replace the headrests as someone had painted them black and the looked like crap. "I don't suppose you have any in Palimino, do you?" I says. Steve now sends his dog(new man) on a fetch. Dog comes back with 2 that look like new.While this is going on another guy comes up with the window switches and installes them.
Now Steve and I never discussed a price on any parts or labor. I was just happy the car ran so good.
We go in the office and he makes out a bill. Now we had 2 1/2 hours labor plus the above parts.------$160.00----TOTAL.
Me thinks I;ll be seein him again.
Terry
BTW-The shop is Omega Motors, Portland Oregon

Thanks Terry, we all need to know about these good experiences too!

Scotz in Lincoln City