Auto Mechanic phasing out old MB repairs - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chasinthesun · #1 03-17-2014, 11:20 AM

Today's Call to a local MB /BMW Houston Auto Mechanic shop was disturbing especially since I was referred, his response was "we are not excepting any more new customers with 30 yr old cars", the 30 yr old cars is kinda of insulting ,the fact was that he didn't even let me finish my question about my car, just went right into his response ,what a d%$^, if I was an owner of a manufacturers car that still was ticking on all cylinder after 30 yrs I wouldn't mind an example sitting next to my new model in the same garage. These shops like the fact that newer cars bring in bigger repair costs is my guess.

Junkman · #2 03-17-2014, 11:23 AM

The guy here likes to work on the old cars. He says the owners don't want to pay the shop rate. He usually just gives me advice about whatever I'm working on. I try not to bug him & abuse his gift.

Zacharias · #3 03-17-2014, 11:58 AM

This sort of thing is happening more often.

The problem is, the older mechanics that really knew the older cars are retiring, so even a larger a shop may only have one guy left who they trust to do anything beyond basic service on the older cars.

Meanwhile, shops have to make ongoing investments in technology, equipment and training for the younger techs to work on the newer cars -- which is where the money is as well. It isn't easy to 'back train' the newer techs on the old technology.

Around here I think they use more finesse in delivering the message... you call them up with an urgent issue and they offer to make an appointment for you... in three weeks. That sort of sends the message.

One member's mother just purchased a mint w123 240d and when she went to get the provincial roadworthiness inspection done, in order to plate it, she had a devil of a time finding a shop that would even roll the car inside due to its age. Many stated flat out they won't even look at a car over 15 years old.

Now THAT is scary, when you can't even have the government inspection done.

Left Coast · #4 03-17-2014, 12:00 PM

A number of things factor into this. Parts are getting harder to find, and dealer parts prices have become nearly prohibitive in the last two years. Major repairs on a W123 can easily exceed the value of the car, so they are rapidly becoming impractical to keep up. Issues are more easily diagnosed on newer cars, and repair work on them is more profitable. Skilled mechanics with solid experience on old cars are aging out of the marketplace. These all combine to make working on 30 year old cars a serious hassle for many shops, with little opportunity to make a decent profit, and business is about making profits.

Simpler=Better · #5 03-17-2014, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

This sort of thing is happening more often.

The problem is, the older mechanics that really knew the older cars are retiring, so even a larger a shop may only have one guy left who they trust to do anything beyond basic service on the older cars.

Meanwhile, shops have to make ongoing investments in technology, equipment and training for the younger techs to work on the newer cars -- which is where the money is as well. It isn't easy to 'back train' the newer techs on the old technology.

Around here I think they use more finesse in delivering the message... you call them up with an urgent issue and they offer to make an appointment for you... in three weeks. That sort of sends the message.

One member's mother just purchased a mint w123 240d and when she went to get the provincial roadworthiness inspection done, in order to plate it, she had a devil of a time finding a shop that would even roll the car inside due to its age. Many stated flat out they won't even look at a car over 15 years old.

Now THAT is scary, when you can't even have the government inspection done.

If a shop refuses to perform a state inspection I'm pretty sure they can lose their license.

efm-7 · #6 03-17-2014, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

One member's mother just purchased a mint w123 240d and when she went to get the provincial roadworthiness inspection done, in order to plate it, she had a devil of a time finding a shop that would even roll the car inside due to its age. Many stated flat out they won't even look at a car over 15 years old.

Now THAT is scary, when you can't even have the government inspection done.

Oh god... I hope this said 'province' isn't Ontario.. spent the last year putting my blood, sweat, tears, and money into my '82 240D getting it 'roadworthy'

pawoSD · #7 03-17-2014, 01:39 PM

Our local MB dealer still has a couple tech's who know the older cars, but the costs go up rapidly when its anything beyond a basic repair like an alignment or basic suspension work. We try to avoid them for anything but buying parts or alignments. We have some newer cars now (W210 and W203) and they will readily service those. Prices on some procedures like transmission fluid replacement are reasonable too.

In general getting work done on cars 30+ years old is going to get harder and harder.

Once I retire my 82 SD my oldest will be my '89 420.....which at the rate I drive it will last about 40 years before it is worn out.

My daily is my '93 190d and my wife's is a 2005 C240 wagon....both have a LOT of life left in them.

IMHO cars like the W123 are neat to have around "in the collection" but I don't consider them a viable daily driver anymore. W124/W201 are the oldest I'd go for a daily driver at this point. My 420SEL is my fun car....and I only drive it about 35% of the year.

The modern conveniences are also really nice....our W203 is amazing....solid, comfortable, reliable....all wheel drive...its pretty hard to beat. And I can troubleshoot it with my android tablet. Can't beat that.

Zacharias · #8 03-17-2014, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efm-7

Oh god... I hope this said 'province' isn't Ontario.. spent the last year putting my blood, sweat, tears, and money into my '82 240D getting it 'roadworthy'

Sitting down?

This was Ottawa area.

The only shop out of eight or so she tried, who said yes, was the local large Mercede$ independent.

$250 for the paper on a car with zero issues.

Quebec would not be a problem as most of the inspection stations are not repair facilities, all they do is inspections.

Deemo13 · #9 03-17-2014, 02:00 PM

My mechanic in Sacramento enjoys working on the older cars because they are more simple and a relief as opposed to the newer electronic nags of the new cars.

The other guy I talked to was a tech working at O'Reillys auto parts who worked for a MB dealer (dealer will remain unnamed) and said that the W123's were also the most simple to work on and an entertaining change of pace.

One might argue that these cars are simple to work on so you would wonder why they wouldnt want to work on them.

Zacharias · #10 03-17-2014, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

If a shop refuses to perform a state inspection I'm pretty sure they can lose their license.

Glad to hear it. However, these are not annual inspections in the same manner you have in some US states. In Ontario you only have to get it done when the car is sold/purchased, unless you are sent in by police on suspicion of roadworthiness issues.

Sadly the whole system is a bit of a joke, and shops have 100 percent discretion on what they choose to look at or not.

Zacharias · #11 03-17-2014, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deemo13

One might argue that these cars are simple to work on so you would wonder why they wouldnt want to work on them.

For the older guys, certainly. At the local giant Benz-Volvo indy shop, now run by the original owners' sons, the Mercedes grandpa comes out of retirement when people book in a nice older car like a w113 for something significant, so he can come back and play for a day.

As for the younger types, hmmm. Take me as a very loose analogy (though I am hardly a wrench by any means). I started wrenching on diesels and did a little on a couple of winter beater gassers along the way. All with either EFI or diesel injection.

So, while I am passingly competent for some stuff, I haven't got the faintest clue how a carburetor works. Don't care. Yet everyone I meet is slackjawed when I say that ("but carbs are SO simple!"). Not for me, looks like making fire by rubbing sticks. Dirty and dumb.

Many mechanics are like that. What they don't know is bad, stupid or not worth bothering about. (Look at how many diss diesels, for example.) My friend owns as shop, but I will rarely put my car in there, though he is competent and honest. Why? He had a couple of bad experiences when he brought in a VW guy who claimed to "know" Mercedes. The tech did not, and cost a bucket in comebacks on two Benzes he did major work on.

For this he blames Mercedes. Not the wrench, who of course, who loudly proclaimed himself innocent.

Now, my buddy has never had a problem with any BMW he has worked on. So what is his conclusion? BMWs are great cars, will roll one into the shop in a heartbeat. Mercedes are stupid, overcomplicated ****boxes.

I can only marvel at the logic.

300dOwner · #12 03-17-2014, 02:13 PM

And sooo the repair shops loss is this forums gain! Keep on posting the trouble shooting tips, repairs and funnies!

jcyuhn · #13 03-17-2014, 02:17 PM

I'm guessing it is simple economics on the part of the shops. Cars with a market value south of $5K probably are not a good source of revenue and profits for a shop. Likely the owners decline any significant repairs, not wanting to put in significant monies. Hence all the time the shop has invested in the overhead of writing and scheduling the service, performing the diagnosis and estimate, etc. is wasted. Even if they get paid for an hour of labor to diagnose the car, it's a losing proposition for them if the customer declines to repair the issue. It is selling the parts and performing the repair itself which generates the money to keep to doors open.

efm-7 · #14 03-17-2014, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

Sitting down?

This was Ottawa area.

The only shop out of eight or so she tried, who said yes, was the local large Mercede$ independent.

$250 for the paper on a car with zero issues.

Quebec would not be a problem as most of the inspection stations are not repair facilities, all they do is inspections.

UGH... this is exactly where I live... The dream of finally getting to drive this car past my driveway is looking slimmer and slimmer

Mölyapina · #15 03-17-2014, 02:55 PM

The older cars are simpler machines, but not necessarily easier to service. OBD really changes diagnostics -- you can get a while lot of data on a car by just plugging into the system, whereas on pre-OBD, you have to diagnose everything by yourself. Not a deal-breaker, but certainly more difficult.