MBCA - Are their forums good?

Looks like I'm about to become a new MBZ owner. This forum has been tremendously helpful, and I'm glad its here. I am wondering if the Mercedes-Benz Club of America forums are like this, better, or worse. Tech help, model info, DIY procedures, etc. They don't let you see them until you shell out $45 for membership (which I'm thinking about anyway to get the magazine).

Thoughts on the quality of the club, and in particular, their web forums??

Thanks in advance.

Dave

there magazine (star) is good, local events vary from section to section, the forum is not as good as this one.

I have been a memeber for about 4 yrs.

[420SEL]

I've been an MBCA member for 3 years in Canada and I really think it has been worth more than the membership fees. The Star is an excellent magazine and the club events are really cool, lots of nice people, lots of nice cars. The tech forum is not a big as this one and there are no special forums for tech, performance, SLs, etc. I have always found good advice on both sites, and I usually post the same question on both forums when I have one. This site has alot more features, such as email notification, the big one - technician monitors - is invaluable. So this site is certainly the better of the two by far. That's not to say the MBCA forum is no good, I have gotten lots of good tips and info there and met lots of great people. If you were going to join the MBCA just for the site it might not be worth it, especially since this site is free. I think the other benefits of the club well worth the fees. Either way, joining the MBCA doesn't mean you have to stop using this site. Join up and use both this site and all the club ammenities to the fullest!

Happy driving!

[JCE]

I have been an MBCA member for 3 years. The Star is good. Local events in my area aren't particularly interesting to me - lots of fancy dinners and little fun or competition meets, tho it is getting better. The raffle is good. I haven't been to the forum since I first joined, as it was all politics and flame wars at that time, and could never get answers to questions. It sounds like it has improved, but I get everything I need here, so...... Anyway, try a search, I think this question was discussed at great length about a year ago. Enjoy your new MB!!!

[Tom400e]

Hey Avus,

I'm about to join as well. I was a member about 15 years ago. Have been driving BMW's since then and just recently purchased a 400e so planned on re-joining. Now I'm not so sure ...

I live in Ventura County, Ca. The local region is Channel Islands. I went to the MBCA site but wanted to get a sense of the local region before I joined. Clicked on the contact shown for the region. I have sent 7 emails. All returned undeliverable. First 6 came back "box full", last one came back "user unknown". What's up with that?

I contacted John McCollister from the Central Coast region (the next closest)He was very helpful and got bck to me right away providing a telephone number for a contact at the Channel Islands region. I called, asked if I could speak to the person named by John. The reply ... a very curt "NO" and then he hung up. Nice huh? I'm not sure this is a group I care to be a part of frankly.

If the Central Coast region wasn't 2 hours away I'd certainly go there as they seem to have a very active chapter with a nice mix of activities judging by the newsletter I recieved from them.

I've been a BMWCCA member for 20 years ... and a very active one I might add. The experience was wonderful, the people were even better. I was very much looking forward to the same kind of experience and activism with MBCA. Looks like there is work to be done though, atleast at my local level.

The forums there are no match for this one. This MSHOP has already been a rich source of info for me in the less than 2 months I've been visiting. I feel much more like sending the $45 to support this activity at the moment.

[420SEL]

Blackmercedes,

There is also a Mercedes Benz Club of Canada. It has no affiliation with the MBCA. I have exchanged emails with their president, but am not a member. Maybe their club would be more to your liking - but like I said, I am not a member so I don't know. May be worth checking out.

Brothers of The Benz
I've belonged to MBCA since purchasing my '87 300E in Jan '88.
That's a long time.
I've seen the ups and downs of the club.
I will still support it with my membership.
I enjoy participating in both of the forums; but I must admit there are more informed participants on this than the other.
What I miss most when not using MBCA forum, is a fellow Christain, Tom Hansen.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

[420SEL]

Donald is right, one of the best parts of being a member of the MBCA is access to Tom Hansen. He works for an MB dealer out west that discounts to MBCA members and he is always willing to help out. An incredible source of information and very helpful. I bought some parts from him last summer and what I saved paid for my club membership more than twice over. He has an incredible wealth of knowledge that he is always willing to share.

I have used Tom Hanson a few times. Actually I got something from him last week, lol.

Hes a nice person, and helpful.

You dont HAVE to be a memeber of MBCA to buy parts from him, but I do think they offer club discounts.

[TCCBass]

I have been a member for 2 years. There have been several times that I have required parts from the dealership, and my membership has more than paid for itself in the dealer discount. They say 10% at Park Place, but it has been as much as 40% on some parts. Of course parts are cheaper from other places, but I only have Saturday's and don't do well at planning ahead. The North Texas chapter is pretty active and has activities like steam cleaning and technical sessions at shops. The forum doesn't have as thorough of information as Mercedesshop (just my opinion) but I have found some good information there.

Brothers of The Benz, All
Those of us who know T.H. and I mean other than the Forum, but intimate correspondence e-mail; know that he would not or could not do on this forum as he does on the other.
Enough said my,
Happy Trails Beep Beep from the Spiderman in Houston!!!