Good vintage mercedes mechanic in Toronto?

[1975300D]

Hi, does anybody know of a good place in the GTA where I can take my 75 300D for all the stuff I am not able to get working?

Mark

[Benz Dr.]

I know a couple of guys in New Market. I'm probably too far away for you to consider being near Sarnia.

I think one place is called LNER or something like that. Maybe on Mulock St.?

[1975300D]

Thanks for the tip. Would this LNER firm be cheaper/better than taking it to a Mercedes dealership?

[Graham]

Originally Posted by 1975300D

Thanks for the tip. Would this LNER firm be cheaper/better than taking it to a Mercedes dealership?

It depends on just what you are needing done. MB has fixed hours for certain jobs. Same job from indy could take less hours or more. Indy rate will no doubt be less (about 20% around here)

I used a guy in Etibocoke for major work on my 85 300D. Arthur at Eurocars, 192 North Queen St. I have also read of a shop in North side.

This forum has a section on recommended shops - just scan down when you open the forum. Oh, well, make it easy on you:

Canada - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

No matter where you go, try and learn to do as much your self as you can. Otherwise you will end up in poor house

[Benz Dr.]

I'm not sure what MB charges but I'm $70.00 per hour. If you're looking for cheap help you can find that almost anywhere but you might not like the results - if you follow me.........

[1975300D]

Well let me put it this way, why should I NOT take it to Mercedes, since they would be the default experts? The only reason would be price. So if the independent shop is not cheaper, then there would be no point.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by 1975300D

Well let me put it this way, why should I NOT take it to Mercedes, since they would be the default experts? The only reason would be price. So if the independent shop is not cheaper, then there would be no point.

One reason is that most dealer mechanics are trained to work on modern cars and have little or no experience with older cars. They should have the proper shop manuals and technical data and be used to reading them. Something that the Indy's don't often do.

[1975300D]

Graham, I figure that the MB dealer mechanics wouldn't be experienced with the vintage cars, but on the other hand, like you say, they have access to all the technical information and parts required, which the indys may not. For example, if I can't get my vacuum system working, who is most likely to be most capable of tackling that job - the indy mechanic that works on a many different brands, many which may not use a vacuum system, or a MB mechanic with access to the manuals and knowledge of procedures for my car?

Tough call.

[JMela]

My experience has been that dealerships are the most expensive option, in terms of both labor and parts costs. Rest assured, they do not want to see our old cars come in the front door for service. Their techs (most of whom were not working or even born when these cars were sold) trained on late-model cars and their systems, which are more computer-based than mechanical.

Your best bet is to find an indy suited to your needs - they're out there.

Here's a 12pg Toronto mechanic discussion from a different site:

ON, Toronto - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

[Benz Dr.]

I have a customer who took his 1970 280SL to MB for some work. They told him it needed a new cylinder head. He contacted me and I had the head straighened and rebuilt because it was otherwise in perfect condition - just warped fromm over heating. He gave the head back to them and then he let me finish working on the car.
Well........ MB made a complete mess of it. The engine was still overheating because it had the wrong thermostat, the fuel pump was pissing fuel out everywhere, they forgot to to tighten things properly and it was at best, a rather poorly done job. He never told me how much he paid them but I suspect it was a lot.

In short, they only did one job, which was to R&R the cylinder head and replace the temp gauge, and they couldn't even get that right. They had the capilary tube wrapped around the wiring harness and rubbing on the wiper linkage. Imagine what would of happened when it finally wore through and shorted out.

Your call.