Was I ripped or what?
 

Could anyone tell me if the following was a fair deal for replacing a thermostat, spark plugs, fan clutch, valve cover gasket, ignition wires and a compression test :

Parts $490
Labor$420 (6 @ $70/hr)

Just checking opinions to see whether I should be using this independent shop again in the future.


BTW - spark plug was $4 a piece.

Too much labor. Otherwise, about what I would expect. Fan clutch is $175, plug wires $100 or so, plugs are probably Bosch +4 Platimuns (better be, at that price!). Gasket and thermostar are cheap.

The only real savings you might get are in labor time and rate, but $70 isn't bad!

Peter

valve cover gasket =1/2 hr.
fan clutch =1/2 hr
thermostat =20 min
compression test with my son helping= 45 min and thats with replacing the plugs.
and I'm not a pro
I wonder what your guy did with the almost 4 hrs he had left.
Find a new shop that doesn't think because you have a MB that you have money to burn.

Beginning to see some "strangeness" with Silver Star Motors in Vienna, VA here. I initially went in with symptoms of a blown head gasket, to which I suggested to the shop. After various tests, I was told the problem was with the above parts. After all this, I am still losing water and being told I have to fork out $1200 again to have that repaired.

Now that all are in agreement it's the head gasket, I recommended providing the head gasket set on my own to reduce costs, while they take into consideration I got "shafted" the first time. The response was, they take off 1 hour labor for the head gasket job, but if I suppied my own gasket kit, they cannot warranty the job.

Usually, I work do all work on my own (brakes, oil, etc) but don't have the confidence and tools for the head gasket job.

there has to be any number of good independit shops in DC area that actually care more about cars and return costemers than the dollar flow.........
william Rogers.........

Consider RC Imports in Rockville, highly recommended by many people in that regional MBCA section. I use them

www.rc-imports.com

There was a Silver Star Motors in Dallas, TX (George Bush Freeway/190 & Preston Road). I'm not sure if these two companies are affiliated, but the one in Dallas sold cars and had a small service center in the back. Again, I don't know if the is the same company as your shop, but they didn't have a good reputation in Dallas. Finding another shop might be your best alternative.

Actually, had some work done by Rick before with no problems. Rick is presently moving his shop over the next week, and wasn't sure if continuous driving, with the head gasket in this condition, would cause more damage (??).