I just received a cordial invitation to a "Complimentary Service Clinic" at my MB dealership. Although I'll probably go there just for the free breakfast and lunch, I still like to know what to expect. Has anybody done that before? Is that an opportunity to really learn something or are they just trying to sell their services?

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'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

its one of those generic mailers... I doubt any of the techs knows how to work on your W123 or W126

My local dealership has two techs that are excellent at working on our W123/W126's when they need service (which is super rare, my car hasn't been there in well over a year.)

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Its basically an invite to bring your car in so they can find stuff for you to buy from them.

Our local Mercedes club had one of those events at one of the local dealers.
They put my 300D on a lift and gave it a careful inspection and then handed me a list of things that had to be done to it that totaled over $1,700.

When I told them I was just trying to figure out why my Electronic diesel system wasnt giving me enough boost, they told me that they didn't have anyone who could troubleshoot it.

They are very proud of their work. One of the items on the list was replacement of the serpentine belt which totaled $280 for the belt and the labor to replace it. Of course, I already knew that it needed a new belt and had just purchased one for just under $20.00. When I got home as a sanity check, I decided to time myself on the replacement job. Twenty minutes.

The sandwiches were great.

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Tom Hughes
St. Louis
84 300SD
92 300D
86 300SDL

Our old Service manager liked to do these. It's kinda good for everyone except the techs that have to give up their saturday to come to work

Basically how we did it, the clinic was a free 30-point inspection and general checkover with no strings attached, if they decided to do any of the recommended work within the next month or whatever, they'd receive some sort of discount off the total bill. If they didn't want to do any of it, then that was it, they get their car back and we never see them again. It's also an attempt on the dealerships part to get more business in the door when they're slow, sometimes it works.

yeah, I definitly don't know how to work on any of those...

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

I'd do it to mess with the tech. Come on find something wrong with my SDL I dare ya! I wonder if they could come up with anything that I don't already know about and have on the to do list...doubt it.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

ROFLMAO

[QUOTE=Johnhef;1802851]Our old Service manager liked to do these. It's kinda good for everyone except the techs that have to give up their saturday to come to work . . . QUOTE]

It's nice of your company to use YOUR time to promote THEIR business, isn't it? I guess in the long run the mechanic benefits, too. Unfortunately, you're the one taking the risk.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I go to the service clinics when I can. They often point out something that I either never thought to check or overlooked. It's good to get a second set of eyes checking my car. I take my list of things needing attention and do them myself as I have the time.

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Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

I don't see any reason why you wouldn't want to get a second set of eyes looking at your car, and if they've got free food, I'd be there in a heartbeat (bring the Bride and Little One as well!). Will also be a good opportunity to meet some fellow local owners, and if you're feeling froggy, wagering an adult beverage against the tech could make it even more fun.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

I wonder what the ratio of DIYers to people who always use the dealer's mechanics for everything is? I suppose it must be high enough to suit the dealers or they'd quit having the clinics.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I suspect that there are lots of folks that will be shocked into trading in their otherwise fine car when they see a list of expensive items that are "about" to go...

I think it is a big SALES tool!

I had a boss one time that would actually loose sleep if his car went out of warranty. He was worried that he might have to make a major repair before trading it in and blow his investment... Sheesh!

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02 S500
92 500SL
92 400E (Sold)
87 300E (Sold)
83 300D Turbo (Sold)
75 300D (Sold)
74 240D (Sold after 20 years)

I don't really trust the dealer to work on older cars, they just don't see enough of them and most of the techs seem to be about 12 years old. I let my indy do a lot of my work, because I'm lazy and he actually knows what he's doing. I do use the dealer for parts sometimes, I show up enough so they know me and usually give me a discount.

Actually, I had that thought, too. You're probably right. A lot of people just need a little nudge, any excuse to trade in and sign up for a whole new schedule of payments. I guess the rest of us should be thankful. They keep the economy going.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles