PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

waybomb · #2 01-17-2006, 08:42 PM

I've changed flex disks on my 126 cars and my SL. I would do them all day long at $400 a pop. This is an hour (on the 126 cars) to a two hour (on the SL - had to drop the exhaust) job max, including jacking the car up. $340 times 10 hours per day times 6 days per week? I am retiring real soon at $20,000 per week gross! I don't want to hear about overhead costs from the shop owners here - this is a rip off.

I've changed valve cover gaskets on my SD and C280. Half hour on the SD, I think if I remember correctly, less than 2 on the C280.

I've changed the lower oil pan gasket on the SD. 25 minutes. If it was the upper, that may be a big job.

I or my kid (15 at the time) completely rebuilt the front ends of both 126 cars and changed the springs and SLS shocks on the 201. I'd do front end work all day long at $1100 a crack too. I think if I added up all the time to do either 126, which included new upper arms complete, new trailing links and bushings, along with the attaching bushings, idler arm bolt and bushings, tie rod ends, links, and center links, bilsteins, lower ball joints, and steering dampener, I might have 4 hours in it max. And maybe $500 in parts, including the Bilstiens and alignment labor. And it looks like all they are doing is bushings?

The flex disc is done. Fogedabodit. Its over. Next time don't let yourself get pressured.

Valve cover gaskets and oil pan gasket can wait a long time before you actually HAVE TO do the work, The engine may get oily and ugly, but how bad is it now? If you didn't notice massive oil puddles on the ground, fogedabodit. When you have a chance someday, do it yourself.

Front end - I'd get a second opinion on what it needs, if anything, buy the parts, buy the tools, and do it yourself. Or bring it to somebody that doesn't expect $200/hour for their work. But do the whole thing if it needs any of it. Get it over with. You'll be glad you did. But surely you can do better than $1100.00 for bushings.

Or you can drive it over to my place and we'll do it together over a few beers.

Oh, the trans issue - I have absolutly no experience with this, but it certainly sounds electronic/electrical, not mechanical. Does it work ok in reverse? Did you try putting it a lower gear to see if it engages. that may tell somebody something.