Thanks for all the helpful replies...

This all came up because the check engine light and the car was running rough. Dealer diagnosed 6 coils misfiring even though only 70K miles the car is 8 years old I guess.

The estimate from the dealer was $3400 - yikes. Their labor was only about $600 and the coils were $216/ea, wires $56/ea (need 16), plugs $15/ea (need 16). After pricing out the off-brand parts online I can save about $1629 on parts alone...

After dwelling on it for the night I decided to grind the dealer a little bit (ended up getting 20% off with competing dealer coupon) and just let them do it. Don't get me wrong because this actually would be a fun thing to do compared to my day to day work life but not sure if it makes sense at the end of the day. I would rather have the dealer do it because in the mean time they look at those cars everyday and may notice something else wrong that I would miss, not to mention you can't complain when they give you a 08 loaner for free (I dont have a 2nd car). Also the work is fully guaranteed and it looks better at the end of the day to have the paper trail when/if I sell.

Overall this car has been amazing to own and extremely trouble free so i am happy

Thanks again guys!

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05 E55
03 E500

I admire someone who can hand over $3400 and STILL be happy!

That's a transmission replaecment bill from the dealer for me!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

I wish you had asked us where to get the parts. You overpaid by $1k on the coils.

http://www.***************/search/product.aspx?sid=e54qqg45r0jzqh45awnghx45&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1363823@CL500&year=2000&cid=25@Ignition%20Parts&gid=7060@Ignition%20Coil

FWIW, I always find my best price online, then print out a copy and bring it to my dealer's parts counter and ask them to match it. Sometimes they can't, but I'd say 7 or 8 times out of 10 they are able to. I can't believe you paid $250 apiece for those coils. LIST PRICE is only $230, and the *real* price about $120ish. You paid $20 over list! I would go back in there and at least ask for the $160 over list that you paid back.

Absurd.

BTW the coils are sold as pairs (only 8 on a V8 two plugs per cyl, one coil pair). list is $185. I hope the problem is gone as I've never seen six coils bad but I have seen 6 or more misfire codes on one V8. Such multiple misfires have never been from multiple coils being bad.

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

You really shouldn't patronize people who start with an outrageous quote - even if they come off of it later. You need to find a good shop.