Quote:
Originally Posted by lorainfurniture
I recently had a problem with my driver's side door lock on my 88 300e. I was too lazy at the time to investigate myself, so I dropped it off at the dealer for inspection. They call me, and inform me that my lock cylinder, and the vacuum operated locking mechanism was bad. I figured I could find that lock mechanism (sorry, I forgot what it was called  ) elsewhere for less than the 350. that they wanted. I did, however, buy the lock cylinder. 375.00. Winter approached, and I decided to put the whole project off until spring. As I finally completed my repair, it turns out that NEITHER were bad, and I simply had to replace my door latch. (30. at a junkyard). I'm so pissed for wasting sooo much money on that stupid cylinder. Not to mention 125.00 for the "diagnosis"! |
You should have asked us before doing such a thing! I've had a similar experience and so has my wife with her Honda. One of the rear doors on her car could no longer be opened from the outside. The dealer charged her $90 to tell her the latch assembly needs to be replaced. At home I took it apart, made a small adjustment, and fixed it in about 15 minutes for free. Still works today after several years.
You have to remember that dealers are not interested in repairing parts. They just want to replace them, because it's obviously more profitable that way.