Mbca

[lee polowczuk]

don't want to start a war or anything....

but do you think joining MBCA is worth 45 dollars a year? What do get out of it?

This forum is so good, however I an strongly considering joining if I think there will be 45 dollars worth of benefits.

[benzboy87]

I enjoy the STAR magazine - there are some good technical articles in each issue. If you just want the magazine you can call and order copies of back issues.
They will also send you a complimentary issue - the current one. The STAR comes with the membership.
If you like to attend club functions, talk with other MB owners, attend club rallys, and occasional tech and mechanical workshops - it is well worth the $45 a year. You can also receive a discount at most dealerships and other MB parts places by providing them with your membership number (I think).

[MTI]

Before joining, check what your local section's activities are, since that's where the biggest benefit is . . . meeting with other Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts in your locale.

[bwheitman]

Yes, I agree it has a lot to do with the section, some sections are not as active as others. Our section is very dynamic. You also have free tech support from a lot of great experts and the backing of the club when you need to fight a battle they are there. I think a lot of the recent recalls were the result of the interview with MBUSA and MBCA that was published in the star. MB realized how much they were losing especially when a lot of members were selling their cars and not renewing. I have been afraid to buy a new car, but with the recent changes and direction I see MB standing behind their product I am now considering it more than ever. We also get lots of discounts at the dealers, and independant shops, people like the Brand, and usually want us around because the club attracts good people with good will and good intentions. I have made a lot of great friends in our club! Happy Benzing!
Brian

[deanyel]

Membership allows you to run one free ad per issue - 30 characters I believe. It's not such a great place to sell cars but much better for parts and such. I've advertised perhaps a half dozen sets of wheels and never failed to get several calls, and to sell the wheels.

PS - what I meant was 30 words

[w116.org]

I joined my local MB club in New South Wales, Australia http://www.mbcnsw.org.au and found that I can get better help from members than from these forums. This is not because these forums aren't good (they are fantastic!) but because not everyone is online. Some of the clubs best technical experts are not computer literate, especially the older members with plenty of experience with Mercedes-Benz cars.

I should also add that everyone I have met in the club has been great and all the events the club has organised have been a success. Join the club and enjoy meeting even more people. You will not regret it!

[d2bernhard]

My dealer give 10% P&L to club members. That alone is worth the $45 per year or only $42.33 if you do the 3 year.

[fj bertrand]

Just went to the Star Tech down in NC. Very informative to learn about detailing, new and old MB;s, repairs, etc. worth the membership...

[hughet]

The local club is worth a whole lot more to me than 45 bucks a year. To cite a recent example, I just rebuilt the suspension on my 84 300SD, replaced the chain and tensioner and re did my seats. I was able to round up a spring compressor, a ball joint press and a chain crimper from the gearheads in my local section. One of the guys in my section has a shop press so I went over to his house on a Saturday morning and he helped me press out the ball joints, track rod mounts and bearing bracket bushings. In that one job I saved at least $300 in tool rental and machine shop charges. The guys in the club hooked me up with a place that does seat repair and saved me the cost of a new back seat cover. It seems like every year I get into some kind of job where I save money and time just from my acquaintances in the local section of MBCA.
In the last few months we have had a picnic with lots of beer and brats, a private tour of the Kemp Mercedes Museum and tomorrow we have a detailing clinic at the local dealer (who is going to provide lunch)
The bottom line is that it would cost me around a couple hundred dollars not to be in the club and I am not a very active member. On top of that I have made friends with folks I would never run into otherwise.
Oh yeah, and the magazine is pretty good too!

[lee polowczuk]

thanks, Tom and the rest...you are all pretty convincing.

[whunter]

It is worth the money.

www.mbca.org

http://www.mbca.org/southflorida/home.html

[Sev]

guys, i seriously doubt there's a mercedes club on jupiter

where would they meet? gas cloud 9?

[TheDon]

its worth it, I've already saved more than $45 by using my MBCA discount on parts through the dealership and the magazine is top notch

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by lee polowczuk

thanks, Tom and the rest...you are all pretty convincing.

Go to a couple meetings before you decide.

I subscribed one year but only found two enthusiastic members in the club, and both of them were officers! I did a tech presentation as an enthusiastic participant and found some interest, but the two officers who are the glow plugs of the group are the only reason it is still alive.

So obviously, it varies.

[davidmash]

The club here in north TX rocks out loud.

We get parts at 10% over whole sale. I needed a MAF and O2 sensor for my 16v and the MAF is $850 I pay $620. the O2 sensor is over $300 and I pay $200. Club membership paid for in spades.

We have 6 tech sessions a year. 3 at the local dealerships and 3 at large independents. The last one was at a independent and was 7 hours. I changed the lower control arm bushings (rear) on my 16v. They let me used the bushing tool and made it sooooo much easier. They had 2 techs walking around helping everyone. Most the tech sessions are 4 hours.

We also get 10% off labor if you have the dealer do any labor. They cap it at $300 here.

I figure in parts I have saved $2000 at least over the years that I have been a member. As far as I am concerned it is worth every penny here in north TX.