To begin I know about the warnings of going to dealerships. This is the first time I have every brought my 88 300E anywhere to get something done but it was for a 4 wheel alignment so I figured I would get it done right since it doesnt happen too often. I have the following issues with my experience at Keeler Automotive in Albany NY

1 - I had two new tie rods from Peach Parts to install. Both were olive in color. Upon getting the car back, they installed one olive color one and one black

2 - To install these two tie rods they charged me 2 hours of labor: $212. The should take no more than 1/2 hour each IMO

3 - The appt was for 2pm. I left at 4:27 but the total labor charge was 3.8 hours (1.8 for alignment + 2 for tie rod install)

4 - They put a small nick in my driver side rear rim. I assume this was done with the alignment tool.

Any 1 of these things I might just say "forget it, not worth the trouble" but with everything I am considering going back and talking to someone.

Has anyone had a similar experience at Keeler or elsewhere and how did you deal with it? Thanks in advance

Brett

__________________
88 300E
02 911TT
17 VW Golf R
2008 Triumph Speed Triple

My pics --> www.BrettAdamsDesign.us

I had a similar experience with our local dealer.

Made an appointment for alignment at 1pm. They started at 3 left it on the ramp for more than an hour and told me that one of the rubber parts of the upper control arm was worn so they could not do the alignment.

Charged me $ 200 for it, pay or we keep your car.

I paid and wrote a letter to the management, got my money back with an apology.

Rob

Hey thanks Rob. Thats encouraging to hear. Glad your situation turned out well

__________________
88 300E
02 911TT
17 VW Golf R
2008 Triumph Speed Triple

My pics --> www.BrettAdamsDesign.us

Same kind of experience, swapped my new Peach parts for their MB and NON MB parts and told me I was "crazy, those are the parts you gave us" and then I took out a photo of the parts laid out on my garage floor on a grey background and then used a blacklight to look for the UV paint marks I put on all the parts I gave to the shop for install.

The marks were not there.

I paid, disputed with my CC company, wrote the dealership with photo backup and filed a legal complaint with the NYS Dept of Motor Vehicles Repair Shop Licence Bureau and filed a legal notice with MB USA.

I got a full refund, they replaced the parts (which was returned to me a week after my omplaint in the original packaging) at no cost, they were fined $2500 by the State for fraudulent operations and work and I have never set foot in their dealership ever again. I also have a license plate frame that says "Ask me about Helms Bros MB Service" and I tell anyone who asks what crooks they are! I also dared them to sue me for defamation, they have declined as of yet.

BTW, MB USA NEVER answered my formal complaint...go figure!

Dealerships are notorious for abusing their service customers.

That being said, shops charge a flat rate for work performed, based on whatever estimating software they use. Has little bearing on how much actual time they spend on the job.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Typical of MB USA. Never expect any help from them. Ask me how I know...

__________________
'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

and that, dear friends, is why this forum exists. because of major stealership screw ups. of course, once in a while there are jobs that one cannot DIY. that's when I get real NERVOUS because I realize I have to turn the car over to those incompetents.......

The local dealer where I used to live had the absolute worst service department, my father (the only one who had MBs under warranty lol) would drive the 2 hours to the next city to get his warranty work done at the dealer he'd worked at 15 years prior. Nothing but good work out of that dealership, except they once didn't tighten the belly pan down on a W210 and at 75mph it came loose. oops.

__________________
68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

Wow, looks like I struck a nerve. I would say at least I am not the only one but that isn't true.

I understand the flat rate but when the car is only there 2.5 hours and you charge 3.8....I'm sorry but the numbers just dont add up no matter how you want to argue it. I wish I took more time before I left but I was going to be late for a meeting if I did

I think I have a valid argument...

__________________
88 300E
02 911TT
17 VW Golf R
2008 Triumph Speed Triple

My pics --> www.BrettAdamsDesign.us

It is not uncommon to have more billable hours than the number of hours the car was in the shop. Not saying it was the case here, but it does occur where more than one technician works on the car at the same time.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Not sure if I am just lucky or what but since the shop manager (the MB specialist) quit I have been using the MB deal here in DFW Mid Cities. I have been treated great every time. I have the number of the shop manager and the senior tech. They know me by name and they know my cars. I had a trans leak on the 300 a while back. The other techs said they had too drop the trans ($1,400) but the senior tech looked at it and said he was pretty sure he could do it in the car. He saved me $800. They did the R134 conversion on my car for less than the Indy quoted and it runs great.

Currently, they are the only ones who I will let touch my car.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

'Will either Drive to Jacksonville,Florida
Or have the MB "Flatbedded" there to Brumos.

Before I'll let the "Pardoned" (GWB)
Convicted Federal Automobile Felon Franchisee,
who is the local Stealer,
touch the Mercedes.

['Will,Hopefully Always be un-necessary...
Factory Trained,both MB and BMW, Owner @ Autobahn (Independent) can handle Anything!]

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

Update - just off the phone with the service dept. They credited me back 1 full hour ($106). They agreed that the tie rods should have been 1/2 charge each side not 1 full hour each. Apparently the "new" Mercedes take 1 full hour (as in the ones under warranty which they get reimbursed for).

To be fair Sean (service tech) was polite and returned my call within about 15 mins after researching the issue.

Moral of the story, if something doesn't look right, speak up. Especially if its to your benefit

__________________
88 300E
02 911TT
17 VW Golf R
2008 Triumph Speed Triple

My pics --> www.BrettAdamsDesign.us

The dealer in Sacramento uses an alignment shop down the street to do their alignments. $200 dealer alignment = $55 alignment from the local alignment gurus... I've never taken my car to the dealer for a "dealer" alignment.

The local shop has not been the best in the last few months, IDK if they got a new guy or what, but it took them twice to align my Dakota, and look them 4 times to align Garrett's 123. (they align everything from MBs to large RVs)

I'm sure there is some merit to having the MB tech inspect your car before he drives it down the street, but I'm not sure if its $150 worth.

__________________

My experience at Mercedes Benz of West Chester (north of Cincinnati). Wife and I were heading to Rochester, NY for niece's wedding in my '88 560SEL. I'm on I-71 north out of downtown Cincy. About 15 miles out, hear a sudden bad noise out of engine bay. Jump off interstate and pull in gas station to check. Find power steering belt has (mostly) left the engine and taken alternator belt with it. Call parts manager at MB West Chester (dealt with him for many years). Tell him my sad story and ask him to walk over to service desk and see if they can get me in today. He asks if car get to the dealership under its own power (about 8 miles). When I say yes, he say "just get it here, we WILL take care of you". They are waiting for me when I get there. I tell them I want them to do all five belts if possible (no time to cheap out). While one tech begins working on the car, another runs out to get one belt that is not in stock and rather rare. Takes awhile, mostly waiting for the guy to get back with the odd belt (Friday traffic-yikes!). Soon enough car is done and I'm back on road. Total bill about $175 including labor and five belts. These guys were professional, fast, honest, reasonably priced, and took care of me right away. I do most of my own work, but I would be very comfortable going back to this dealership.