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Well, since leaving the dealership world in 05, I started out on my own, providing mobile service, maintenance and repairs. I have performed many full services: B+, coolant flush, trans service, spark plugs, all pads and rotors w/sensors, including airmatic strut reseals on a 220 (2001), all mobile at the clients home.
I agree, having the car done right is paramount, and by me being a mobile service, THAT IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN DO BUSINESS! There is no room for error, but you cannot stop a bad part, or a faulty set of brake pads, or that ever present "fault-that-occured-on-something-else" that is nowhere near involved with the repairs you performed.
I mean, a GOOD/TOP FLIGHT tech, spends a lot of time perfecting his/her craft, and quite frankly a good amout of money (the tool fairy does not exist!).
Ok, your a DYI kinda person, but when you look at the time you spend finding out the information to get the repair done, getting the right tools, making the mistakes before/durning and after the repair, the time spent getting help/assistance while peforming the repair, the time spent shopping parts, and or returning them if they are wrong/or do not work, You add all that up, and you come out actually more than the dealer would have charged you.
Of course, I have been reading on the success repair and maintenance stories on this site, but on their initial attempt, it was time consuming and hard. They got better as the did it over and over, but it took some time. As with the seasoned pro, they paid their dues to be able to virtually fix a car as they read the complaint on the repair order, and I stand behind this statment due to the repair advice given by some top flight technicians on this forum, FIXING CARS ONLINE!
Lets face it Mercedes owners: No one complains about price when a lawyer leaves the firm and starts out on his own, or a doctor leaves the hospital and starts his own practice. But when the guy, the guy that leaves the dealership, starts his own thing, providing the conveinence of a professional/courteous and correct moblile service, people still complain.
(did you know that the 9 bay area dealers here in the S.F bay area did a combined estimated $91,800,000 just in service for year end 2005?)
My three cents......
Happy Motoring!
Last edited by The Workshop MB; 04-11-2006 at 01:10 PM.
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