The attitude of all dealers is to just sell you a new car. I have seen so much ripping off and incompetence that I have gone to doing the work myself. Parts that we not installed but paid on the bill and such. Some fix something and ignore the cause. I have found some good local independents and use them when I have to but have gone to doing my own work rather than being ripped off by the parts changers and thieves. I heard 3rd hand that the Big 3 train their techs that their job is to sell new cars. They are designed to be most difficult to repair without changing major part assemblies. The cost and lack of serviceability is designed to cause you to trade up. They want to control the customer from cradle to grave, destroying your choices and the independent service technicians as well. They may be doing it.

Regarding getting some help form MBUSA, I had a problem getting a response. I am a member of the Mercedes club (http://www.mbnz.org/) and I posted a nasty remark on the general discussion forum. I said I had called 1-800-for-Mercedes numerous times and no one ever returned my call. Funny thing, I got a call in less than 40 minutes. I thought it was odd because at that time it was after hours in NJ on a Friday evening. I asked, and the gentleman told me he knew nothing of my post, but the coincidence was too unusual. Someone monitors that site. I sent to the Webmaster and he retracted my post after I got the call back. I had felt kind of bad about it. If you try this route, make the subject line strong. Good luck.

Steve
'85 500SL Euro
No one wants to work on this one.