I live in Charleston, SC and Star services both of my '95 E320's.
Last week I was on my way to Florida for a business meeting, going down I-95 about 80, when all hell broke loose. In an instant, the temp gage pegged, and steam started pouring from under the hood.

Fortunately, this happened right by the exit ramp to Brinswick, GA, and I wrestled the car off the Interstate into a nearby gas station. Turns out the fan clutch had self destructed with a result you would expect...a bunch of stuff torn up.

So, I'm 170 miles from Charleston in a car that's not going anywhere unless it's on a trailor. After calling my business associates to tell them I wasn't going to make the meeting I called Mercedes to find out where the nearest dealer was, which turned out to be Savannah, about 70 miles.

Before calling the Savannah dealer to haul my car in, I called Axel Reinert who owns Star Motor Sevice in Charleston which is, I think, the largest Mercedes independent in the area. I thought that maybe Axel would know of a shop closer than Savannah.

To my surprise, Axel said "find something to do for 4 hours, I'll come and get you and the car". Which he did. Delivered me to my house and took the car to his shop.

Two days later I get a call...my car is ready. When I looked at the bill it didn't seem high enough. I had an idea what needed to be replaced and about what the labor was going to be, and all that was on the invoice.

But no reference to the 8 hours it had taken Axel to haul me and the car in to Charleston. When I asked his admin about it she said "Axel thought the bill was so high that he wasn't going to charge for coming to get me!"

Isn't that just incredible? And, by the way, I'm perfectly capable of paying any repair bill that might come along, and Axel knows that. So why did he take 8 hours out his day and not charge me?

I guess because when they say they care about their customers and their cars, they really mean it!

Allan Hobgood

Always nice to hear a good experience. I'll bet he has a very succesfull business.
Wish there was a guy like him in my town......

Does he take tips?

Not only is Axel a great guy & ownes a great company, but he built & owns the "fastest" 280SE-C (1970-71) in the country. It has a 6.3 engine(Mercedes) with GMC blower & is nitrous-oxide injected.

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