Thanks. I'm shopping around right now with the different independent shops to get a price on the 90,000 mile service for my 1983 SL. It's pretty much a change out of every fluid and filter in the car, with a major tuneup. Best bid I got so far was for $550 from a shop called German Car Works at the corner of Holman and San Jac in mid town. I don't know the shop, but he's loaded up with cars all the time, so I was either going to take a chance on him or go ahead and pay my ellington field guy tghe extra 150 he wants. I'll give your guy a call and see what he would bid, he sure would be a lot more convenient.

I worked in the car business in Ft. Worth for 15 yrs, its been a while but I can give you some good tips. Is downtown Ft. Worth to far away, specifically University at White Settlement Rd area? There is a whole bunch of MB independent shops right in that general area that cater to the cattle/oil baron set that live in the Crestline/Westover hills area nearby. The competition among them tends to keep prices down and the clientelle they have demands excellance.

If you call Autobahn Motor Group , which is a BMW/Jag/Mercedes dealer located in the same area, (817 336-0885), ask to speak to either the parts or service manager, tell him you have an older Mercedes and ask him to recommend the best one of the independent shops in that area or perhaps if he knows of one in the Grapevine area. They are really good guys over there and I would trust them to point you to someone honest whose been in business for a long time.

Be very careful doing business in the Dallas Northwest highway area or the Irving Airport freeway area. Lots of converted gas station jockies pretending to be German car mechanics in those areas.

I don't want to tell you what to do, I'll share my philosphy: I don't shop for the cheapest price on a particular job. I try and find a good shop where I can establish a relationship. I found that with MPH. I trust those guys 100%. I think in the long run its cheaper. They get to know your car and you and everybody benefits.

I don't know about the 380, but the 560Sl recommends a timing chain replacement at 100k miles. If yours is the same way you might try and find a way to roll all that work together. Hate to see you do something at 90k and then something else at 100k where if you did them both at the same time, it would be cheaper overall.

P.S. MPH supports the local MBCA section too.

Its actually a 280 Euro. The timing chain is supposed to be replaced at 100k. There is also a head removal that is done around then but I don't know exactly what for, I imagine valve adjustments of some sort. I will definately give your man a call, you recommend him well. The car is in spectacular condition for an 83 model, and I credit that to the former owner, a retired airline pilot who kept to the maintenance schedules, which I intend to do as well. I will heed your advice and get an estimate to do it all - I doubt if doing the 100k maintenace a little early would hurt!

Thanks
Kirk Vining
83 280 SL
84 Porsche 944
and a bunch of misc oriental cars

Who does your work on your Porsche? There are a few good shops around for that. I discovered MPH because the guy I was using for my Porsche and MB work moved to MPH and I went with him.

I used Texas German ******** once. They do good work but they are always SWAMPED and they just missed doing a few things they were supposed to do on my car.

Fred

I pretty much do all the work on it myself. In the five years I've owned it, I've only put about 2000 miles on it, so I haven't need much in the way of mechanical work.

Hello, just moved back to Houston from San Francisco and am looking for a good hsop to work on my Fintail. I searched the forum and it seems that everyone has newer cars, so anyone out there have a 60's car a ndhave a great shop they take it to? How about ******** K & G (?) on San Jacinto?

Thanks

Marc
1962 220sb

If that's the one at the corner of San Jac and Holman, he always seems loaded up with vintage stuff. I met the owner, seems like a really good guy. I have not done business with him, however.

Anyone know about these guys? Good, bad, or indifferent? None of the above? All of the above? TIA.

http://www.accentbimmerbenz.com

__________________
I'm wanted in four states, but it's all good. Got me a new driver's license and a sweet new pickup. V-8, Baby, five-hundred horsepower. Oh, and four of them mudflaps with the naked ladies on them. GRRRRRRRR, MAMASITA!!! And the best part is, it's all free!!! Yeah, well, for me at least!!!! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!

Hey, I finally got my car and actually am going to bring it to K&H. I went by Midtown Motors on Wroxton near West U but they seemed pricey. They did have a 190SL That they are in the process of restoring and its nice! Almost a 100 point car. They also are working on a 280SL and a 600 for a customer. Nice enough guys, they even put hubcap clips on my hubcaps as they were loose.

I also checked out Helmuts on Memorial, nice guy but he seems short handed.

I need to find a good shop that can work on older cars, in particular being familiar with a 1970 6.3. Most shops here can only handle newer cars. Any personal recommendations?

thanks
Fred

Fred -

In North Dallas I like Rodney Herson on Davenport Ln. In fact, his shop is the only one I'll let work on my cars (well, other than myself...). I don't know about his 6.3 experience, but he's been working on Mercedes for about 30 years. Worth a look.

- JimY

Rodney won't work on a car that old. I had heard from a coworker he was good so I called him up.

Try Michael Tafacory at Auto Care European. He can probably help. Tell him Tim Lyons from LeTip sent you.

Tim

Does anyone know of an independent shop in Houston Texas that can work on the complex soft top / hard top / roll bar mechanism??? I am trying to avoid the high dealer costs but would still like somewhat of an expert working on it. Thanks.. Mike