At The Dealer for Alignment - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Tpawlik · #1 01-25-2011, 09:10 AM

I am in the waiting area for an alignment. The mechanic doing the alignment owns a W124, so he should know what he is doing. Before they took the car away, they were already talking about LCA bushings or new front LCA's, (less labor) causing the wandering problem.
If it does need new bushings or complete LCA's, it won't be done by them.
Wish me luck.

vstech · #2 01-25-2011, 09:27 AM

LUCK!

wandering is likely rear subframe bushings... ask bodhi...

Diesel911 · #3 01-25-2011, 09:54 AM

New LCAs are expensive at internet Parts places; it will be even more so ad the Dealer.

Unless the LCA has managed to get bent or in my case the LCA Bushing bores were so badly rusted out (I got used ones and replaced the Bushings).

If the LCA Bushings have never been replaced I do not believe I would have the alignment done until they were replaced. There has been at least 2 Threads I can remember where an alighment was done and 6months to a year later the LCAs went bad and ruined the alighment.

winmutt · #4 01-25-2011, 11:35 AM

I agree wandering is almost always the rear.

Tpawlik · #5 01-25-2011, 05:17 PM

Everything in the rear is new or in very good condition. The thrust angle was way off and all the specs up front were off. It's what I get for letting NTB and Firestone take a crack at it. But, they were able to align the car without any new parts

. I am no longer fighting the wind. It is much better. I still think it could be better with just a little toe-in.
My 89 300SE, 24K miles when I got it, drove the same way. Everyone who checked the alignment said all the specs were correct, but, it never tracked as well as it should have.
The tech, (Tony) owns a 93 300D 2.5. So, I told him about this forum, he never heard of it.

TheDon · #6 01-25-2011, 05:23 PM

side question

how much did they charge you for an alignment?

My local dealerships want $290+ for an alignment

showme · #7 01-25-2011, 05:50 PM

YOW! $295??? I feel better already. Had my 81 300D done last spring by a local mechanic who fortunately knew how to allign one of these. And he did very well. But he told me about how they were engineered and how, with him anyway, it needed to be adjusted, checked, tweaked, checked, tweaked again, checked once more, and tweaked again, if needed. He was looking worn when he got done, but told me it was right, and he'd guarantee it. It's been good ever since, and the new Michelins are wearing very well.
And it only cost me $49. I think I want to go buy him lunch now that I've heard what others are paying.

Codifex Maximus · #8 01-25-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by showme

YOW! $295??? I feel better already. Had my 81 300D done last spring by a local mechanic who fortunately knew how to allign one of these. And he did very well. But he told me about how they were engineered and how, with him anyway, it needed to be adjusted, checked, tweaked, checked, tweaked again, checked once more, and tweaked again, if needed. He was looking worn when he got done, but told me it was right, and he'd guarantee it. It's been good ever since, and the new Michelins are wearing very well.
And it only cost me $49. I think I want to go buy him lunch now that I've heard what others are paying.

I get the feeling that these cars were engineered to have a full-time mechanic to take care of them. Job security. That's not to say I don't enjoy working on my car - I do. They are beautiful pieces of engineering.

Would have been a good gig to be a Mercedes Benz mechanic in the ritzy part of town I figure.

layback40 · #9 01-25-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codifex Maximus

I get the feeling that these cars were engineered to have a full-time mechanic to take care of them. Job security. That's not to say I don't enjoy working on my car - I do. They are beautiful pieces of engineering.

Would have been a good gig to be a Mercedes Benz mechanic in the ritzy part of town I figure.

Codifex,
Next time you do a U turn in a narrow street remember the front end of your MB. It is designed like no other. Thats why they are so hard to align. Once its right, they do things that are unbelievable for a car their size.
I think the car sales man in the ritzy part of town would be the one who did well!!

TheDon · #10 01-25-2011, 06:57 PM

The dealerships in my area are used to getting customers that don't know anything about cars. Just whip out the visa and make the sound go away.

#11 01-25-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

side question

how much did they charge you for an alignment?

My local dealerships want $290+ for an alignment

That sounds a little high, I think I paid less than $200 last time at my indy (who bought the correct software package for his alignment equipment so I wouldn't have to refer people to the dealer).

Tpawlik · #12 01-26-2011, 11:17 AM

$129.95 plus tax. $140.03 Total at Mercedes of Bedford, OH. Bedford is a suburb of Cleveland. While I was there, they had a beautiful 81-85 300CD with 193K on the clock and a very nice 80's 560SL with 85K miles. Both customer cars with an 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper on the windshields touting their classic car service. 70's thru 90's, $100 per hour labor rate vs the standard $112 per hour and a discount on parts. They didn't say how much the discount was. But, nice to see they are recognizing those of us that drive "classic" MB's. Now if they only had a mechanic that was as old as the cars!

#13 01-26-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tpawlik

$129.95 plus tax. $140.03 Total at Mercedes of Bedford, OH. Bedford is a suburb of Cleveland. While I was there, they had a beautiful 81-85 300CD with 193K on the clock and a very nice 80's 560SL with 85K miles. Both customer cars with an 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper on the windshields touting their classic car service. 70's thru 90's, $100 per hour labor rate vs the standard $112 per hour and a discount on parts. They didn't say how much the discount was. But, nice to see they are recognizing those of us that drive "classic" MB's. Now if they only had a mechanic that was as old as the cars!

Those are the folks who installed my engine last month (long story), they did a good job and actually seem interested in working on old cars. They guys I dealt with were very helpful, I sent a nice e-mail to the service manager.

winmutt · #14 01-26-2011, 12:37 PM

Beware the dealership will charge you an additional $40 for aftermarket tires because they bloody use lasers. What is a spreader bar?

Tpawlik · #15 01-26-2011, 01:41 PM

According to the FSM an adjustable bar must be placed between the front tires with a specified amount of force to spread the tires/wheels apart. It is supposed to simulate the force on the front wheels when driving to get the adjusmnets correct. From what I have read here the toe cannot be propery set without it.

Craig. From following your engine replacement thread I knew MB of Bedford did the work. I had a negative experience with them when I had my 95 E420. While I was last there a gentleman was having a very loud discussion with a service manager over a $2,200 bill for a CLK that was under warranty. Seems like they have some new people there that are more cutomer service oriented. Before they had bad rep for gouging everyone. Maybe even they have been affected by the slow economy.