I read the EPC which indicated a total of 1.165M of return hose was needed to replace the 6 lines on the OM606 plus a little extra for the plug end piece, for a total of about 1.2M.

I went to my dealer who said they only charge by the meter, so if I want 1.2M I would have to pay for 2(!), but the parts guy said I would not need more than 1. Anyway, I believed the EPC not the parts guy and told him if I was going to be paying for 2, then I would take 2 not 1.2 (after all it lists for $15/M) so why should I pay for 2 and take 1.2?

Sure enough it takes 1.2M to complete the job. Maybe in the 4 and 5 cylinder engines you can get away with 1M, but for the 6 you definitely need 1.2M...so for anyone looking to do this job keep that in mind.

Also, it seems so petty to me that the dealer would not simply cut 1.2M and charge for that since they are cutting it off a big roll anyway...they are just used to charging the service customers for 2M so they don't want to change the system I guess. Still, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

And, another example of a parts salesperson who didn't know what they were talking about...the only thing more irritating than the experience I had would have been having to go back to buy more to finish the job if I had listened to them and only bought 1M.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

The power steering return hose presents a similar situation. You need about .6 meters, but you have to buy a full meter. Then the excess is totally useless. (My figures are approximate.)

It seems that a lot of the dealer parts departments operate in accordance with the same motto: "The customer is never right."

If a gas station can sell gas by the thousandth of a gallon, you would think that bulk hose could be sold by the centimeter!!!

The gas station has it's tanks topped off every so often. How often can the dealer top off that spool of hose? You sell fractions of a piece of hose and what do you do with the last 3/4 of a meter? You cannot top it off like a gas tank.

I'd rather buy 2M just in case I have a "whoops" issue with it. Last time I did this, I definately needed that extra when I found that the first hose I put on was too short. Yes, it would work but I'd rather have a little more length between the injector #1 and #2 since the nipples don't all line up

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

So you think that they cut so precisely that they end up with exactly one meter left on the reel? Won't happen.

Does a good business adapt its policies to fit the needs of the customer? Or does it allow the bean counters to dictate policy?

Farm and Fleet? No. Home Depot, probably not. However, when I got the hose, I did see them measure it out and it was pretty close if not on the dot. Your dealership might not but in principle, I understand why they do it. Also, it makes pricing easier. 3 M? unit price multiplied by 3

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

So you would have us believe that the MB dealers' computers can't deal with decimals?

Shall we get into sunroof lube by the gallon when you need a teaspoonful per job?

Sixto
93 300SD

Make friends with someone there and ask for a dab of the "goat jizz" and you are fine. Not saying that is what I did.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I just bought a bunch from Phil, I wanted a couple feet of extra because it does leak.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Pfft. The diff capacity is about 1.1 litres. Guess what size the bottles come in.....

Liquor comes in fifths, but how many bars would stay in business if they only sold it that way? Eggs are sold by the dozen. Do restaurants insist on serving only 12-egg omelets? Does the corner market charge for two pounds of 'taters if you only get 1.2 pounds?

Hoses are sold by the foot - true at auto parts stores, true at dealers.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Sorry dude, not the return hose, at least not at the 2 dealers I surveyed for it...MB prices and lists it being offered by the meter and that's how they sell it.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Not true at my dealer. Ford dealer, maybe, but not Mercedes Benz. Either you buy a meter, or nothing at all. The only exception is the coolant bypass hose, sold by the inch. Some online parts vendors even sell that by the meter!!! Ouch!!!

And the parts stores want to sell you a SAE 3/8" hose to replace a 12mm, in the case of the power steering hose.

bummer. 3/8" ain't even close to 12 MM...
John

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