So my friend sends in his SDL to the dealer (no, not Jiffy Lube...this is an important detail) to give it the once over before I purchase it from him. I tell my friend, "Make sure they inspect the flex discs, especially the front one." After reading http://www.dieselgiant.com/Mercedes%20flex%20disc%20failure.htm, I'm not taking any chances.

Dealer's response? Service advisor tells my friend that neither he NOR THE MECHANIC knows what a flex disc is. And this is the Dealership??? SA added that he was only a junior in high school when the car was made.

A little alarming, if you ask me. Confirms my growing conviction that a good indie is to be preferred.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 158k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 177k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 144k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 72k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I'd report that dealer to MBUSA for negligence in service. Thats pretty bad if they didn't even know what a flex disc is!!

__________________
-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)

You might have confused him with terminology. The official name, per the EPC, is "Flexible Joint Disc", which is found in Group 41 "Propeller Shaft".

__________________
Bob
'82 300D Petrol B-G Metallic

Maybe, but you would think!!

They knew what it was when I called it a flex disc at my dealer.....he had a quote ready for me in like 2 mins, $550 for both to be replaced. $155 (in parts and a couple tools) and 9 hours of my time later I replaced them myself. 11,000+ miles later they are doing great. Saving hundreds of dollars is great encouragement for me to do stuff on my own.

__________________
-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)

Dealers are hit and miss. The trick is to find a good one that has some mechanics and people who care.


But in general its not a good idea to take anything older than a W140/210/R129 to them.

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

Sadly for the average MB owner, there aren't all that many MB dealerships nearby in the majority of the country. Except for the wealthy MB-laden areas of course (east coast....Chicago areas....Florida...CA....etc..) In my entire city here, 2nd largest city in Michigan, we have one MB dealer. Thats it. Thankfully they do care and do a good job on our older cars (when we need them, which is very rare).....but for many they may not be so lucky. The nearest next MB dealer to me is just outside Lansing, MI (capitol) and thats about 85 miles away each way. No one is going to drive 150+ miles to go to a dealer....especially at current fuel prices. I certainly wouldn't. My dealer is 17 miles away round trip as it is....they moved too, used to be ONE mile away. Oh well.

__________________
-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)

Their are two that are about 10 miles away from me, CT has a lot of MB's.

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