WOW!!! What a surprise that was. I was in Orlando Florida and stopped into the dealer to see the cost of an alignment. With out batting an eye the service advisor said $270 plus taxes and shop fees. I laughed. That's all I could do.
She went on to say Labor Rate is $135 an hour, but they do include new adjustment bolts.

Geeze I got 2 tires (2P195/65R-15 Kumho Solus KH16) for $130. Came out to $180 with mounting/balancing/road hazard package.

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

why, why, why, would you go to a dealer for anything?

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1985 300SD
1998 Jetta TDI
Previous: lots of diesel VW's, MB's, KW's, Pete, Freightliner


Walking isn't a lost art: one must, by some means, get to the garage.

The 124 must have MAGIC bolts! But I wouldn't write off the dealer completely. Occasionally - ever so rarely - I have found a part that is cheaper from the dealer than an online store. So at least check the dealer price before the other guys.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

I had a INDY do a complete front end for 250 cash with motor mounts, I supplied the parts but still.....stay away from stealerships or at least get a price before you ok the work

You must have been LOL and shaking your head the whole way out the door

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1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

I have a coupon for 4 wheel alignment at Fields BMW/Mercedes for $200...

When I had my w123 I paid the dealership $120 to do a front wheel alignment

We have a place here in Atlanta, their main business, is alignments. That's what they specialize in. They charge
$55 for 4 wheel alignment, and have a great business going.

You can find many qualified people who do alignments in lower rent districts. Just ask if they have ever done Mercedes. It's not magic. If they do a lot of alignments on foreign cars, they can do it for about $75.

By the way, not sure you want to go to a Firestone where some young guys are experimenting on your car, but I think they have lifetime warranties for $100 there. Not sure if they can do MB, but ask to see if they have the right equipment for it.

Though they might experiment, if it's not right, or 2 months from now when you hit a big bump, you can take it back for free.

jeff

Do you know whether she was quoting a 4-wheel alignment, which is standard for a 124? Some cars only get alignment on the front; shops quote a lower price and then later "remember" that you need the expensive version.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

A Firestone shop with a lifetime-warranty on the alignment?

There are expensive parts that can be damaged by someone who doesn't know what they're doing, a guy fresh out of adult-education mechanics training might or might not know the difference between a pipe-wrench and proper tie-rod tools.

Second, a good set of tires costs what? And the wasted fuel from pushing them around mis-aligned? So they'll re-align, but you're paying for the tires and fuel.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

My last Oldsmobile ('89 88) had a lifetime Firestone alignment. Didn't get to use it much because I sold the car soon after paying for it so it was a waste of money. Nonetheless, they do honor the terms and it can be valuable providing they know how to align your car--and as Jeff implies, their mechanics might not necessarily know how to align a Benz.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

There is a place in Hampton VA called Davis Alignment (no affiliation) that I take my 210 to. Last bill was $48. He does only alignments, no mech. work whatsoever. He may be doing a terrible job but the car drives straight and no odd tire wear.

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

Because they have the spreader bar to properly load the front end on the 124.

I had mine done at the local dealer some time this year. It was right around $100. They must be using some really special bolts that they have shipped over night from Germany.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Here the dealer charges similar prices but they just take your car and drive it across the street to the local Mark Morris tire shop and there they pay 60 dollars to have it done i discovered, so now i just go there.
Recently the guy who does the Mercedes alignments and who is very knowledgeable quit,so the trainee isnt even close , it doesnt hurt to ask the shop if someone there knows how to do a Mercedes.
You'll know if they are lying i bet.

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W123 1985 300TD naturally aspirated

I only paid $135 at my dealer not all that long ago for an alignment. $300 is crazy....as is a $135 an hour shop rate....

__________________
-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)

Stay in Michigan, then, you're better off, at least as shop rates go. R.A.B. Motors, a Mercedes dealer in San Rafael (Marvy Marin County, California) is up to $175/hour or so I have heard (not that I go there). My indy's rate is up to $105/hour and that is bad enough.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970