Best Garage or Dealer for High Mileage
12-24-2016, 02:14 PM
#1
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2005 e320 4MATIC Wagon
Best Garage or Dealer for High Mileage
We've got a new (old) high mileage e320 and we're going to try to put many, many more miles on it. Who's the best Seattle garage to help us do that, without spending a fortune?
Two weeks ago, we bought a new (old) car! This was a big deal for us, as we try to be thrifty people and we haven't owned a car together before. It's a 2006 Mercedes-Benz e320 Wagon, it's in beautiful cosmetic shape, and it has 171,000 miles on it: we were nervous about that, but the interwebs assured us a well-cared for Mercedes could keep going for a long time. Now we need to figure out how to keep it going!
We bought from a private party, and got it at a very low price, a few thousand under our expectation. We took it into the Mercedes of Seattle Dealership, where they concluded that it was in pretty good shape, with the exceptions of: 1) a small transmission leak, 2) a small oil leak from the right-side valve cover, and 3) a radiator leak that requires replacement, along with some hoses and clamps. They assured us that these are easily fixable, but quoted a total of almost $3000 for parts and labor.
The private seller is willing to cover half the replacement of the radiator, but he thinks we should go to a garage instead of the dealer. The estimates from private garages are substantially lower than the dealer's. Also, the dealer replaced the windshield wipers for us at over twice the cost I had planned on after researching good wipers, so I'm not convinced they are fairly priced.
We don't know much about cars or car-related headaches. I can imagine private garages as being awesome, geeky tech-head places that will make my exciting new car sing, or I can imagine them as sloppy, off-market that won't have the expertise or care for my car. I just don't know!
Please help us with this anxiety so we can do right by our car and our bank account. Bonus points if you have specific experience with Seattle or Seattle-area Mercedes maintenance and have recommendations. Thank you so much!
Two weeks ago, we bought a new (old) car! This was a big deal for us, as we try to be thrifty people and we haven't owned a car together before. It's a 2006 Mercedes-Benz e320 Wagon, it's in beautiful cosmetic shape, and it has 171,000 miles on it: we were nervous about that, but the interwebs assured us a well-cared for Mercedes could keep going for a long time. Now we need to figure out how to keep it going!
We bought from a private party, and got it at a very low price, a few thousand under our expectation. We took it into the Mercedes of Seattle Dealership, where they concluded that it was in pretty good shape, with the exceptions of: 1) a small transmission leak, 2) a small oil leak from the right-side valve cover, and 3) a radiator leak that requires replacement, along with some hoses and clamps. They assured us that these are easily fixable, but quoted a total of almost $3000 for parts and labor.
The private seller is willing to cover half the replacement of the radiator, but he thinks we should go to a garage instead of the dealer. The estimates from private garages are substantially lower than the dealer's. Also, the dealer replaced the windshield wipers for us at over twice the cost I had planned on after researching good wipers, so I'm not convinced they are fairly priced.
We don't know much about cars or car-related headaches. I can imagine private garages as being awesome, geeky tech-head places that will make my exciting new car sing, or I can imagine them as sloppy, off-market that won't have the expertise or care for my car. I just don't know!
Please help us with this anxiety so we can do right by our car and our bank account. Bonus points if you have specific experience with Seattle or Seattle-area Mercedes maintenance and have recommendations. Thank you so much!
01-01-2017, 04:30 PM
#2
Super Member
Super Important: MB Star SDS readout !!! I
Congrats on buying a new(er) car.
TBH; Indy's are only slightly less in parts costs.
The dealio is that they repair MB that are older and neglected in a more cost effective manor than a certified MB dealer who must satisfy MB USA liability responsibilities. MB dealer Must use Wipers issued for a E series ordered from the certified files and guaranteed by MB USA to fit and work irregardless of aftermarket replacements that are similar or even better in quality or cost.
I know this a little wordy but IF you own a MB and can't network with those who REALLY do know how to work on a Benz and want to be guaranteed work will be performed as per MB, then a dealer is your friend.
There a ton of repair shops out there who do repairs (not by the book) who will charge you < $$'s but do it in a manor if you actually intend to keep the car you WILL regret.
The skill level to perform what you've described is quite low and Can be performed by anyone.
What you Should be ware of and the dealer (maybe they did but didn't come up in your post) didn't do was a MB Star SDS computer connection; readout including error codes and updates needed to be addressed. Super important to know what the car is telling you BEFORE it needs tossing out complete systems instead of a small less expensive part(s)
After all this is said ^ I've performed trans, ABS, brake, ABC hydraulic re & re, ECU updates, coolant flushes, multiple electrical issues and MB Airmatic pump re & re. If you want to do your own repairs these cars Very straightforward once you understand the procedures and do repairs as per documented.
What I'm surprised is that you should've been warned of a complete serpentine Assembly replacement with that mileage. Very easy to check (2 min & 1 socket wrench.)
Like I said IF you plan to keep the car and are replacing the rad doing the serpentine system is a no brainer unless it was done < 30k mi ago.
Be your Cars BFF and learn how your car works. It'll repay you x6 and you'll keep the car x6 > reliable saving you "YOUUUUge"!!
Hary
TBH; Indy's are only slightly less in parts costs.
The dealio is that they repair MB that are older and neglected in a more cost effective manor than a certified MB dealer who must satisfy MB USA liability responsibilities. MB dealer Must use Wipers issued for a E series ordered from the certified files and guaranteed by MB USA to fit and work irregardless of aftermarket replacements that are similar or even better in quality or cost.
I know this a little wordy but IF you own a MB and can't network with those who REALLY do know how to work on a Benz and want to be guaranteed work will be performed as per MB, then a dealer is your friend.
There a ton of repair shops out there who do repairs (not by the book) who will charge you < $$'s but do it in a manor if you actually intend to keep the car you WILL regret.
The skill level to perform what you've described is quite low and Can be performed by anyone.
What you Should be ware of and the dealer (maybe they did but didn't come up in your post) didn't do was a MB Star SDS computer connection; readout including error codes and updates needed to be addressed. Super important to know what the car is telling you BEFORE it needs tossing out complete systems instead of a small less expensive part(s)
After all this is said ^ I've performed trans, ABS, brake, ABC hydraulic re & re, ECU updates, coolant flushes, multiple electrical issues and MB Airmatic pump re & re. If you want to do your own repairs these cars Very straightforward once you understand the procedures and do repairs as per documented.
What I'm surprised is that you should've been warned of a complete serpentine Assembly replacement with that mileage. Very easy to check (2 min & 1 socket wrench.)
Like I said IF you plan to keep the car and are replacing the rad doing the serpentine system is a no brainer unless it was done < 30k mi ago.
Be your Cars BFF and learn how your car works. It'll repay you x6 and you'll keep the car x6 > reliable saving you "YOUUUUge"!!
Hary
01-04-2017, 01:31 AM
#3
Junior Member
Congratulations on the car.
I've had Adam Takayoshi from Mercedes Garage in Bellevue handle all the work on my CLK55 since I bought it six years and 60K miles ago as well as on my SLK55 for the year that I've had it. He has a phenomenal reputation and outstanding communication with regard to the what, how, and why (or why not) when it comes to service and repairs.
Interestingly, when I had Phil Smart MB perform the pre-purchase inspection on the CLK (then eight years old and 70K miles), they found some similar items to remedy - a valve cover leak and other deferred maintenance type items for which I was quoted a grand total of ~$3,700. I'd have to go find the paperwork for the exact number, but I believe Adam provided an estimate of ~$2,400 for the work itemized on the PPI and the actual cost came in exactly in line with the estimate.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/mercedes-garage-bellevue
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...29526343bd09,1,
I've had Adam Takayoshi from Mercedes Garage in Bellevue handle all the work on my CLK55 since I bought it six years and 60K miles ago as well as on my SLK55 for the year that I've had it. He has a phenomenal reputation and outstanding communication with regard to the what, how, and why (or why not) when it comes to service and repairs.
Interestingly, when I had Phil Smart MB perform the pre-purchase inspection on the CLK (then eight years old and 70K miles), they found some similar items to remedy - a valve cover leak and other deferred maintenance type items for which I was quoted a grand total of ~$3,700. I'd have to go find the paperwork for the exact number, but I believe Adam provided an estimate of ~$2,400 for the work itemized on the PPI and the actual cost came in exactly in line with the estimate.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/mercedes-garage-bellevue
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...29526343bd09,1,
01-06-2017, 09:35 PM
#4
Senior Member
I can also recommend Adam at Mercedes Garage. I can't imagine a more honest mechanic, and he doesn't balk at older cars.
