MB Dealership - Will Not Service Older Cars

[hs_300e]

Went to Parkplace Mercedes in Grapevine, TX to get an alignment for my '86 300E. The service adviser told me that their company policy is to not service cars that are older than 15 years. The only exception is that if had your older car serviced by them regularly.

Have any other MB dealers instituted such a policy? What gives?

[Diseasel300]

I'd interpret that as their parts-changers (who like to call themselves "technicians") don't have the knowledge or skills to work on your car.

Clearly they don't want your business. I'd take it elsewhere to someone who does.

[Ferdman]

hs_300e, our local MB dealers have no problem servicing our 1991, 1995 and 1998 MB vehicles. It's odd that Parkplace Mercedes would take that position on older MB vehicles. Suggest you contact MBUSA about the situation because I cannot imagine that is a business practice they endorse or encourage.

[JamesDean]

I've never had that issue either. Both dealers near me had no problems servicing my older cars. Quite odd.

[ps2cho]

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

I'd interpret that as their parts-changers (who like to call themselves "technicians") don't have the knowledge or skills to work on your car.

Clearly they don't want your business. I'd take it elsewhere to someone who does.

They can't get past step one you see:
1) Plug in STAR system.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by JamesDean

I've never had that issue either. Both dealers near me had no problems servicing my older cars. Quite odd.

My local MB dealer which I occasionally use, MB of St Clair Shores, worked on my W 123 cars on several occasions and have helped me order parts on older ones.

They have told me that the sometimes the Classic Center complains when Benz dealers order from them instead of telling the customer to contact them directly, getting the order directly from the customer, because they make a smaller percentage when they go through the dealer.

But this one deazler is really great and has older cars there regularly.

[Elektri]

The technician would need to READ the service instructions - something young people do not know how to do!

[Zulfiqar]

one dealer in houston said that to me for my W210 alignment. Saying they dont have an alignment rack for an older model and i should probably be browsing the sales floor.

I contacted MBUSA - got a nice gift voucher out of it too. But I didnt use it as Im sure most dealers wont have smart enough mechanics who can align any car after the BS I just heard. I just waited out for my regular shop to do it for me.

[Mike Murrell]

I drove my '91 300-SEL to a local MB dealer for parts a few years ago. It's a clean car.

As I walked to the parts dept. I passed a number of employees who looked at me like I was dragging the ebola virus into the dealership.

A year or so later I called the dealerships service dept. and inquired into having them do some trouble-shooting. I ended up talking to the shop foreman who had the same attitude I had already been exposed to the year before.

This problem doesn't exist with just Mercedes-Benz dealers. It extends to dealerships for many other car mfgs. as well. Kids coming out of auto tech schools today have no clue what a carburetor or OBD-I are. Techs who work in the indy shops are becoming far and few in between - getting old - retiring.

If you own one of these relics and plan to keep it, you had best brush up on or develop whatever skills are needed to keep it running.

[Diseasel300]

Stories like these are why I've always serviced my own cars. I'll add a couple of my own stories to the mix:

Back in the mid 90s my dad drove an '83 Ford Ranger that was heavily customized for work in the oilfield. At this point he'd already retired from running service, but the truck had >450K miles on it. He took the truck in and had the whole front end rebuilt. New ball joints, new rubber bushings, tie rod ends, the works. Spent a pretty penny on it. Flash forward a year or so and he needed some engine work done - specifically the rear main seal - so he took it back. Got a call that afternoon giving him grim news that the front end was totally out and needed to be replaced. Without saying a word he got a ride down to the stealership and presented copies of the repair forms to the VERY EMBARASSED service manager showing the work done, date, and mileage. He'd done just 400 miles since the work was done. Never visited that stealership again! Dishonest B*#(@*&s.

I've had nothing but extreme fun dealing with the MB dealers with the 500SL. Tried to get an alignment done locally after replacing the shocks and tie rod ends and the local shop didn't have the tools or expertise to do the 4-wheel alignment. He rightly suggested to visit the dealer. Call the dealer to make the appointment. "You have to book an appointment on our website!" Ok, so I make an appointment. For a Saturday morning 3 weeks later. The afternoon before the appointment I receive a phone call - "Oh we're sorry, we don't do shop work on weekends!" Oh really? So why could I make the appointment, and why did it take you THREE WEEKS to call and tell me it wouldn't be kept? They apologized and arranged to have the car picked up and taken to the dealership (about an hour away). I figured they were going to truck it in on a flatbed. Nooooooo. Sent out a car with a driver - specifically looking for a 2008 C300. *FACEPALM* Guy took the car (with that look that he'd catch Ebola from touching the car) and disappeared to the dealership. Got a call the next day from a "very experienced" technician saying they couldn't do the alignment because the bushings in the drop arms were bad and they were only available as part of a replacement drop arm - for $7500! He also suggested a diesel engine service "Because these older V8 diesels require special care". When I picked the car up, I asked to see the guy, took him out to the car, and pointed to the distributor under the hood and asked - was the hood even up? I kept my $7500 and ordered a bushing kit which I still haven't installed.

[Zulfiqar]

Originally Posted by Mike Murrell

I drove my '91 300-SEL to a local MB dealer for parts a few years ago. It's a clean car.

As I walked to the parts dept. I passed a number of employees who looked at me like I was dragging the ebola virus into the dealership.

A year or so later I called the dealerships service dept. and inquired into having them do some trouble-shooting. I ended up talking to the shop foreman who had the same attitude I had already been exposed to the year before.

This problem doesn't exist with just Mercedes-Benz dealers. It extends to dealerships for many other car mfgs. as well. Kids coming out of auto tech schools today have no clue what a carburetor or OBD-I are. Techs who work in the indy shops are becoming far and few in between - getting old - retiring.

If you own one of these relics and plan to keep it, you had best brush up on or develop whatever skills are needed to keep it running.

you should try that with wearing a DIY mechanic attire - the looks you get are nothing short of antichrist.

Usual repairs I can handle, upto pulling out the power unit and rebuilding it or pulling out the axle carrier and rebuilding it or wiring or HVAC. For this specific alignment job I dont own an alignment rack and expected that benz would be able to align this car. Wrong assumption I think.

speaking of other brands - I have asked a mazda parts counter for a part which they said didnt exist for my car - then I pulled up the part number from the web and got them to look it up - welllll

not only the existance was proven but they had it in stock too

[Mike Murrell]

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

you should try that with wearing a DIY mechanic attire - the looks you get are nothing short of antichrist.

That is how I was dressed the day I visited the MB dealer and is the way I'm dressed anytime I visit any dealer for parts.

[wolf_walker]

I haven't set foot in a car dealership in fifteen years I bet. There are too many good online vendors, including dealer parts guys, to bother with the attitude locally that is so common.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[lorainfurniture]

I've always been treated with the upmost respect at my dealership ( MB of north Olmsted,Ohio) , loaner without even asking, pick up and drop off. Even when I used to pull up in my rusty 89 300e.

I probably only go there once or twice a year, usually for an oil change (when I'm lazy), or alignment.

I literally will never own anything other than a Mercedes because of the high level of service I receive from them.

I'm sure if you called mbusa corporate they will be mortified of your comments and act swiftly to correct the issue.

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

I've also never heard of a dealer turning down a car to service - like a lot have already mentioned, it's a combination of laziness and lack of knowledge. Perhaps we need to start providing service centers with our DIY articles to help


-Dmitry