PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - MB Dealership

Diseasel300 · #12 01-30-2017, 12:01 PM

Stories like these are why I've always serviced my own cars. I'll add a couple of my own stories to the mix:

Back in the mid 90s my dad drove an '83 Ford Ranger that was heavily customized for work in the oilfield. At this point he'd already retired from running service, but the truck had >450K miles on it. He took the truck in and had the whole front end rebuilt. New ball joints, new rubber bushings, tie rod ends, the works. Spent a pretty penny on it. Flash forward a year or so and he needed some engine work done - specifically the rear main seal - so he took it back. Got a call that afternoon giving him grim news that the front end was totally out and needed to be replaced. Without saying a word he got a ride down to the stealership and presented copies of the repair forms to the VERY EMBARASSED service manager showing the work done, date, and mileage. He'd done just 400 miles since the work was done. Never visited that stealership again! Dishonest B*#(@*&s.

I've had nothing but extreme fun dealing with the MB dealers with the 500SL. Tried to get an alignment done locally after replacing the shocks and tie rod ends and the local shop didn't have the tools or expertise to do the 4-wheel alignment. He rightly suggested to visit the dealer. Call the dealer to make the appointment. "You have to book an appointment on our website!" Ok, so I make an appointment. For a Saturday morning 3 weeks later. The afternoon before the appointment I receive a phone call - "Oh we're sorry, we don't do shop work on weekends!" Oh really? So why could I make the appointment, and why did it take you THREE WEEKS to call and tell me it wouldn't be kept? They apologized and arranged to have the car picked up and taken to the dealership (about an hour away). I figured they were going to truck it in on a flatbed. Nooooooo. Sent out a car with a driver - specifically looking for a 2008 C300. *FACEPALM* Guy took the car (with that look that he'd catch Ebola from touching the car) and disappeared to the dealership. Got a call the next day from a "very experienced" technician saying they couldn't do the alignment because the bushings in the drop arms were bad and they were only available as part of a replacement drop arm - for $7500! He also suggested a diesel engine service "Because these older V8 diesels require special care". When I picked the car up, I asked to see the guy, took him out to the car, and pointed to the distributor under the hood and asked - was the hood even up? I kept my $7500 and ordered a bushing kit which I still haven't installed.