Folks with poor social skills are SOOO boring.

It's continually amazing how many folks are intimdated by auto dealers. Yes, it's kind of common to expect a price and find your guess low. Better word than low is "outdated" or just "uninformed." Same kind of folks that pay greater than retail buying on eBay.

Anyone that can't maintain a relationship with their dealer is not going to be a successful car owner.

You might be able to maintain a Ford at Jiffy Lube or the Pep Boys parking lot, but not a Mercedes.

Dealers are in business to make money and won't if they're not customer friendly. That's economic fact that can't be changed by anyone. Some customers are more challenging than others, of course.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

I vote for dealer on crush rings.

You will need dealer now and again for parts, and face time with their parts dept. does help in establishing a relationship.

Maybe I am spoiled in Atlanta, but I have found the dealers not unpleasant to work with - I buy my suspension parts, crush rings, and trim pieces there. A fair amount of stuff is simply not available on-line, along with the occasional alignment.

It's all about people. Whether it's your local auto supply house or the dealer, I've found some aren't that smart, and others that know their stuff and stick with you until you get exactly what's needed.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

Originally Posted by buckwheat
another good post - IMHO all Merc dealers are from the same mold, especially parts. Sales? Nah, it's all image. Real estate wash outs, ex-managerial types that have been caught with their pants down or just released from jail for raiding pension funds etc.

We have someone here looking for Crush Washers, to maintain his vehicle to "As originally manufactured". Admit it, most Benz owners lean towards being a little anal retentive. Call it love of the marque, perfectionists, it's just, It DOES matter what parts we replace, even down to crush washers! Original is aluminium, it has to be aluminium, not brass, not a Ford or Mazda part, even if it will fit.. I don't think so, must be identical, because the bottom line is YOU know it's there even if no-one else does or cares. so it has to be right.

At least when you walk into a Merc Dealership with your VIN, you tend to meet like minded people,,,somewhat anal - Hence the conflict! Remember opposites attract! With your Vin they can tell you the colour, when, where and what accessories came with your Merc and I do not doubt for a price could find out who was rostered on the day it was built! Try getting that sort of information on your Mustang. Some may not agree, but you cannot deny, we are definately a breed all of our own.