1M of braided return hose is NOT enough for the OM606

[nhdoc]

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.

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by nhdoc

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.

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!!!

[aklim]

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

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by aklim

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.

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?

[aklim]

Originally Posted by tangofox007

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

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

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by aklim

Also, it makes pricing easier. 3 M? unit price multiplied by 3

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

[nhdoc]

I would say if they are capable of using a ruler (whether scaled in inches or CM) they should be able to measure any length the customer wants. Also, it would seem the computer should be able to multiply $15 X 1.2, if not, then the clerk should be able to and just enter it manually. In fact I know they are capable of cutting whatever length I wanted...it was the attitude that "if you want over 1M you'll pay for 2M regardless of how much you take" is what was unpleasant.

I don't mind having "a little" extra...if they had offered to sell a meter and a quarter or a meter and a half I would have been satisfied with that. But now I have over 2.5 feet of extra hose that I may never use, and if I do I will still need another meter anyway to replace it all again. Another $10+ wasted.

When I go to an auto parts store and buy heater hose I don't ask for 6.5 feet, I ask for 7 and pay for 7. But when you sell hose by the meter and the job only takes a small bit over one meter to complete and the hose is that overpriced I think it is reasonable to sell it by some fraction of a meter. A meter is a lot more than a foot, it's over a yard, and if the auto parts store started selling hose by the yard instead of by the foot it would probably piss people off there too.

Frankly, MB would make more money if they sold the pieces pre-cut to the 165mm and 340mm lengths needed for the replacement rather than in bulk anyway.

[sixto]

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

Sixto
93 300SD

[aklim]

Originally Posted by tangofox007

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

Computers? Yes. Parts counter people? Well.....

I asked for the filter and prefilter. Note. I also gave the VIN. This clown could not seem to find it where I said it was. He said it was some expensive item called a pump at the rear o the car. After I looked at his screen, I found that he had been looking at the GAS model. WTF? I said diesel. His reply was "Oh, well, aren't they the same?" I grabbed the mouse and clicked away till I got what I wanted. This was a guy that has been there for at least a couple months and he doesn't know the difference between gas a diesel? He also doesn't know how to use EPC and I had to do it for him? I use EPC sparringly so I am not an expert. He should be an expert.

Now, having heard this, what is your question again? If I can get the right hose at 2M length instad of having them fudge around with 1.2, I think I'll be happy. You want fries with that hose too? Lets stick with the basics and if they can master that, we can talk more. Please don't ask them for oddball sizes and lengths. Most of them are not that sure about the metric system as it stands.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by sixto

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.

[Hatterasguy]

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

[Parrot of Doom]

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

[tangofox007]

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?

[nhdoc]

Originally Posted by aklim

Computers? Yes. Parts counter people? Well.....

I asked for the filter and prefilter. Note. I also gave the VIN. This clown could not seem to find it where I said it was. He said it was some expensive item called a pump at the rear o the car. After I looked at his screen, I found that he had been looking at the GAS model. WTF? I said diesel. His reply was "Oh, well, aren't they the same?" I grabbed the mouse and clicked away till I got what I wanted. This was a guy that has been there for at least a couple months and he doesn't know the difference between gas a diesel? He also doesn't know how to use EPC and I had to do it for him? I use EPC sparringly so I am not an expert. He should be an expert.

Now, having heard this, what is your question again? If I can get the right hose at 2M length instad of having them fudge around with 1.2, I think I'll be happy. You want fries with that hose too? Lets stick with the basics and if they can master that, we can talk more. Please don't ask them for oddball sizes and lengths. Most of them are not that sure about the metric system as it stands.

Yeah, I usually have to step them through the EPC to find stuff too...if I don't just bring in the printout myself, that is. I am sympathetic to some extent because they have a lot of models to deal with and I only have a few, so I know what page and section each part I need can be found. But nearly every time I go I have to correct them on something they have screwed up...that's just life today.

[POS]

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