Originally Posted by Peter Guenther

I have discussed this before, mechanics are paid by the job, as long as they have the job,there is the oppurtunity load it up. I have a friend who owns a "foreign auto shop" in Chicago. We were visiting the local MB dealer and he questioned one of the mechanics them on their compensation package.
As it turns out everything is billed by the job, if you are quick,and have done it before you can "bill" 40 hours in four days. The opposite of course is true, but you wont last long, because the dealership also has a profit center in the parts department. Warranty work is not billed by the flat rate manual.
You can refuse, filters I can change, brake flush, trans and things, I would let them do if is reasonable.
The most recent ocurrence, I had my "E" in for trans and oil, they said it needed a bulb in the instrument panel,1.1 hr labor and a fuel system cleaning 1.0 hr labor plus parts, $6 for bulb $54 for cleaning solutiom. The bulb must have gone bad while there (I guess)