I've read all the posts and have noted many good points. I can see both sides of the fence. My career spans many decades. I was an electronic technician for 10 years. I was a California licensed real estate agent for a couple of years. I went back into the Navy on special assignment for two years as a recruiter. I then went to work at a Mercedes dealership as an apprentice. I have been a Mercedes mechanic for 30 years having run my own shop for most of that time. During my stint as a recruiter I worked with high school counselors and was apalled at the fact that they directed anyone with an academic ability away from the automotive field if they were interested. The students were told that they should go to college, because they were too smart to be dumb old mechanics. What they were telling these kids is that they only wanted stupid people working on their personal cars. Todays cars are very complex with multiplexed wiring systems, and require sophisticated equipment and people to diagnose the problems. There are not enough skilled people to perform these tasks because of attitudes of the past. The end result is incompettance, and the consumer pays for misdiagnosis. There are alot of shops out there that just change parts and don't have a clue about proper diagnosis.

Now on the other side there are many good shops out there, but many of you are cheap bastards or really can't afford quality professional work. Many of you will spend thousands on stereos and wheels, but don't want to spend the money for top quality work. You take your car to the cheapest place in town and ***** about the work. Many of you should be driving Toyotas, because you are out of your league driving a Mercedes. I'm not casting aspersions on Toyota, because I think they are fine automobiles. It is just that they seldom need repair. If you are fortunate enough to find a good MB repair facility that is honest and reasonable, cherish the relationship and remember you need them more than they need you. If you are working or retired, you count on that income to pay the bills and so does that shop.

I've said my piece so fire away with dual salvos if you must.


Peter

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