I am so glad I read this forum. I just brought my car back from the dealer, where they told me my 1994 E320 had the following problems:
Engine wiring harness replacement $1400
Front loer control arm seized 959
Suspension center drag 250
Tie Rod ends are torn 243
Front end alingment 180
Muffler/resonator replacement 990
Left front door (and I can't really tell
you what this one was, cause I was
on the floor and not really paying
close attention 260

for a total of $3600! My car only has 81,000 miles on it, and I take it in for every maintenance, etc. I am ready to just get another car, rahter than sink $3600 into this one! Two questions: 1) Will MB honor the wiring harness bulletin if my car was pre-owned (i.e., used)? and 2) I was surprised to find SO MUCH wrong with my car since I do take it in for all the required maintenance, etc. Does this seem reasonable -- should I just chalk it up to experience and never buy another pre-owned MB?

Your thoughts please.

I Thank you Tim, for uncounted numbers of disrespected auto techs.

Poyznivy: you hae just witnessed what auto service would look like if it were medicine, no worry bout cost, and cover your a with un necessary testing and repair.

The capabilities and training of service technicians is a direct result of the value society places on them. I'm a goofball, who has always done as he pleases. It pleased me to be real good at fixin cars, I like it. Money would be cool but if I had set resonable expectations I would have been an engineer as I was trained.

I am also slightly socially retarded, if I had cared for (or paid attention to) the disrespect heaped on my trade and myself uncaringly by greedy customers, I would have done something else. A lot of me just doesn't give a dang what others think, as long as I satisfy my own extreme standards.

It takes the above characteristics to be real capable in this field. The real problem is that auto repair ought to cost the same as medical care, if difficulty is accounted and complete success is demanded.

There won't be auto techs in 20 years just as there are no TV techs now. There just is no percentage in repairing TVs and most of society has figured the same about autos. There is only one appliance we value enough to pay a living to those workers involved and that appliance is the human body.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

This is interesting. Exactly which models and years are you talking about jimSF? Does this apply to the wiring harness in a 1995 S600 as well?

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1995 S600, 1 of 618 (sold)

"Speed is just a question of money...how fast you wanna go?"

LONG LIVE THE W140!
Visit my Web Page at www.v12uberalles.com

Your car has an M103 engine, so it doesn't have a throttle actuator.

Changing parts is an expensive proposition if you don't know exactly what's wrong.

The cheapest things to replace, though, when there is a complaint about a rough idle or hesitation, are the plugs and plug wire boots.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I don't think thats quite the way it works...if you have been a regular patron on a MB dealer...you might get it done for goodwill...or complained about the issue when the car was still under warranty and have the paperwork tp prove it..otherwise I think you are out of luck
A buddy of mine bought a 95 E320 with 78K on it...6 months later he had to replace the harness(and a few other things) on his dime


Warren
1992 300SD 177K
Columbus Ohio

My car had 60K and MB did not replace the wiring harness under goodwill. I must add that I did not call the MB rep myself, just had the service manager check it. His responce after contacting MB "It is the age of the car".

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Zafar
94 E320 58000 Miles

Zaf,

I think that is the way it works...I have had some goodwill done (about 400-500) over the course of 4 years I have been going to the same dealer...but I think the only reasons are 1) he got $18,000 worth of warranty worth business when the car was in warranty and 2) I complained about a couple of things when the car was under warranty thay they didn't fix or discover correctly

be very aware that MB dealer shop is a profit center and unless MB has an open recall on an item you better have been a good customer of theirs if you want them to go to bat for you

..and there is also that carrot of future business that I guess the dealer service department can perhaps bank on if they help you out

Warren
1992 300SD 177K
Columbus Ohio

hello,, i would like to know how to fix this code 19 that i can,t seem to get cleared out than mel dwyer 1994 s420

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meldwyer