FWIW I had the entire front suspension rebuilt of my td buy a tire place that also does suspension work. This included ; LCAB, UCA, ball joints, castor joints, tie rods, shocks, and the centerlink. They let me supply the parts and they had it done in about a day. The only thing they didnt get right was the alignment.

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a few mb diesels

Unfortunately, the market determines what is a fair price. And near broke college students (assuming you are like I was) do not make up a significant portion of the market.

So, you will be creative and get it done another way. Isn't life great?

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

I have deleated my reply predicated on your last post.
Takes a big man to apologize.





.

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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

I am a blunt person. Many of my posts say it like I see it and are often critical. The typical response is anger, followed closely by run and hide, or silence. Never any hint that the person even considered my points.

I am impressed that a young guy had the maturity to think about all this feedback and recognize the error of his ways. Keep listening as you progress through school, and career.

Now just so you don't think that many of us older guys haven't been there, here is a short example. Years ago I took over management of a smaller plant. My experience had always been bigger plants, Fortune 500 company. I didn't like the quality of a certain type of tooling. I reamed the salesman and basically said I was switching to Supplier A. Turned out that Supplier A and Supplier B weren't interested. Not enough business for them.

So tail between my legs, I confessed my mistake to the original supplier, and begged him to come back. He did, but never let me forget it!

Steve

Moral of the story: Before you ream out original salesperson and threaten to switch, make sure that the other suppliers are willing and able. IOW, BEFORE I fire you, I make sure I already have your replacement lined up and ready.

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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

Id say that 300-400 is fair. If you cant use a cut off tool effiecietly, find a different profession.

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1984 300D

Well then find a shop that will do it at your price, or you do it and save the money. Owning a 23 year old car kind of requires you to do a lot yourself, if not it just costs a lot of money and is not really worth it. Those guys are in business to make money, they have to eat to.

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

Agreed. Business is business. I just want to understand WHY someone would charge for 6-8 hours of labor even when the job may take 4 hours. (Both garages I called said, "oh, that car would have to stay overnight".
What, just to give the appearance that it actually took that long to do?

That right there is my issue. These dudes have no moral or ethical backbone. Its clear B.S. One shop told me that it took 8-9 hours to do the rear control arm bushings. Please. Maybe if you were using a 9 year old, not that I'd put it past these people...(yes, very offensive I know)

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1984 300D

Why would the eccentric pin/bolts go bad.. they look pretty solid

They charge that much because they can. Most people don't know the differerce. They only know they can't or don't won't to learn how.They are quoting book time to you. Look into doing it yourself.

I have been exploring this option for soe time now but my classes just started and I wont/dont have time anymore.
I wanted to get a feel what the local indies would charge and I don't like the feel.
I wanted to explore the motives for mechanics overcharging people. Here, we see how mechanics justify their prices and how consumers justify paying them.

I still dont get it.

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1984 300D

I am guessing it would take me 4-6hrs to change out the LCA bushings on a 123 chassis. I know because I have done mine already.

Being self-employed in a trade it irks me a bit to see someone chipping away at a shop owner that quotes them a price. If you don't like it then do it yourself. I get the same kinda crap from Harry Homeowner when they don't like my labor rates. $500 seems fair to me. What happens when something breaks and the shop spends twice the quoted time on it? Chances are they eat some of it. Ask them if they will do the job straight-time. This may work for you or it may bite you when something breaks and they have 12 hours into it. You pays yo money and takes yo chances....
RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

What he said, almost exactly.

I am an indie tech and an MB fanatic. Book time is book time, and my quote is exactly what it is. If I quote you $500, that is what you'll pay. I may have to eat it and spend $700 worth of time, you'll still pay $500 because that was my word. Maybe things will go extra smoothly and it would really be $400 worth of time. Well, sorry, you're still getting charged the $500. It's the way it is, not the way you wish it was. I have a strong sense of altruism- I spent 2 hours today checking out a car for a forum member from another state, at no charge, because that's how I do things, but I won't cut the price of the job just because that's what you can afford to pay.

If you think anyone is netting anywhere near $60/hr working on MBs or any other car, you're in for a rude awakening once you finish college. The shop I'm at charges $65/hr.

That has to cover all expenses of the shop. Every nickel of expenditure has to come out of that revenue stream. Every insurance premium, every utility bill, every database subscription, all advertising, EVERYTHING.

By all means, buy tools, do your research, become *proficient* as an MB mechanic, able to handle anything your W123 can throw at you, even make a career out of it and turn pro if you like (that's akin to how I ended up doing this for a living, actually), but don't ever call me dishonest because I know that my skills can earn me more than subsistence-level wages.

It's not true.

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1985 300TD
1984 380SL
1983 280SE (full Euro, trunk triangle and all!)

Formerly owned:
1986 420SEL
1984 300D
1983 300D
1981 300SD
1976 300D

Yep, after having seen the money side in a service business I understand totaly now. I have no problem paying a fair price, I don't want to be overcharged but if I call three shops and they all quote about the same I'll pay it. Margins are slim and that $65 an hour gets eaten up real quick with overhead.

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

and don't forget, if you bring in your own parts, and the deal is done, and something fails, your and his insurance company is going to see on the invoice "customer supplied parts" and only the installation of said parts is going to be in question.
Me,? I do all my own work, I have worked for indie's and dealers, I know all the tricks, and all the reasons to charge what they charge. if You don't have the time, or skill, pay what the local companies want. don't b#$ch, if you don't like it find another place, do it yourself, or get another car.
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!