GDawgC220

bad new today. Brought the c220 in for brake check and throttle linkage and diagnosed with something else.

Throttle linkage was replaced due to the old one rusted and broken (nut broke off). Throttle operates better now.

Brakes were fine, surprised to find out they still had 30% left in the front and 80% in the rear.

BUT the worst is the engine harness is starting to go! They checked the computer and it had 6 codes stored, misc stuff. They cleared all of them, went for a test drive, came back to plug the computer back in and one code came back...so it's definitely throwing codes back. Some parts are starting to deteriorate. $1300 replaced (part and labor)...then $700 for the 150k tune-up (kinda needs it) and the belt-tensioner shock is starting to go...another $200.

They would cut a little slack here and there for cost...so it won't be $2200, be a little less. But ugh, not good news.

Had to vent...

btw, car has 147k on it now.

ShollyC220

That's sad to hear Gdawg... damn stealership. What are their labor rates in your area? $89.95/hr. here... theft I tell you.

I still haven't gotten my headgasket fixed because I refuse to pay their ridiculous rates with jacked-up man hour estimates. Feels good to vent.

-sholly

davis449

The labor rates at the dealer in Midland and here in San Antonio are in the 70's per hr. Damn dealers...

GDawgC220

acutally, I go to a independent MB dealer. They have two labor rates...one is for like minor services (oil change, coolant flush, etc) which is $60/hour

then the other labor rate is for like repairs and diagnostics and that runs $95/hour.

Local MB authorized dealer charges $100/hour. A lot of people from this local dealer acutally go to the independent that I go to for minor stuff :p

As long as your headgasket isn't leaking major oil...should be fine. Just keep an eye out on the level every fill up and add when needed

GDawgC220

certainly better than the Northeast. MB here is $95ish/hour and same with Audi.

Ashkan's C43

what happened to these cars lasting forever??? I thought these were the cars that could drive to a million miles...

GDawgC220

hahaha...they'll last to a million alright. But guess sometimes ***** just breaks

The early w202's had the engine harness which was a common problem because MB used a biodegradable material for the harness due to environmental issues and whatnot. Later on, they updated the material they used for the harness so it would withstand all the heat under the engine versus the early w202s where it would withstand the heat for so many years and then start to crack and degrade the insulation and wiring.

I'm surprised that it made it thus far...many have had theirs die around 100k or so.