kompress

This group has more of a consumer and minor mod spin to it than other forums I've experienced. That is not a complaint, just an observation.

So I was wondering if we have folks who do their own work-- even minor repairs and services? Do we have any members who are MB techs?

I service my own cars and try to do minor repairs on anything I can get info on. This will now include my MB since I am out of warranty. I am not a tech wiz but I do enjoy the feeling of accomplishment, learning a little more about my cars and saving some money.

Buellwinkle

Many of the original forum members do a lot of their own work like brakes and stuff not covered under the free maintenance as well as their own mods like pulleys, springs, shocks. It's hard to see a lot of that since the first 2 years of this forum nobody had to do their own maintenance other than brakes and mods. Personally I do anything that my dealer wants too much money for, for example, the Ford dealer wanted $300 for rear brakes, not counting the cost of rotors which it needed so I did it myself, on the other hand they want $20 for an oil change so I let them do that.

There is another MB forum, the name escapes me now that is way more mechanically oriented, mostly because they cater to the older MBs but more and more W203's issues are being posted there last time I looked. You won't find much on 19" wheels, stickers and such there.

Axxis22

Free maintance?????

I just finish leaseing a 05 c230. I didnt accept any of the extra charges for the maintance. I didnt see a point for $800 for 3 years of oil changes.

I just lease it normal, am I missing something?

I figured I would do the brakes and oil change.

nukblazi

I've done almost all my own work including pulling the transmission to install the Kleemann lwt flywheel and race clutch.

Tom

kompress

Sweet! I assume you've done the mundane stuff like brakes, too. How hard is it to do on the C230?

Buellwinkle

Yes, free, nada, zip, 2001-2004.5 gets free maintenance for 4 years, would never have gotten a 2005. Pricing it out it's worth a conservative $2,000 if you get the maintenance done at the dealer. Some do the math by just adding the A and B services (3 A's and 2 B's) but you also have to count the time based maintenance like fluid changes (transmission, radiator flush and brake fluid), filters (cabin, fuel, engine) and other stuff that's in the manual that you don't think about until your car is 3 years old, you bring it in for a simper $199 "A" service and they charge you $500 because they had to do the other stuff in the manual.

nukblazi

Pathetically easy... Seriously, once the wheel is off, the fronts are back out one bolt, flip it out and pulled and replace the pads. It's a joke. Changing the oil filter is harder.

Speedo

I need to pull out the back seat center head rest cuz it doesn't raise up. Where can I find a tech write-up that would direct me to pull it out?

Thanks

c230Kraz

I dont really want to spend $200 on a Service A - aka Oil change- so does anyone know if i do it myself do i have to worry about the FSS counter or anything?
thanks

JohnCL

You can handle the Service A on your own, I do mine. You can reset the FSS also, and the instruction should be somewhere on here or in your manual. I know it is on here somewhere, just search for FSS reset or something. Good luck.

SUNILP

me too me too! I do my own work

Gregs210

I've always done my own maintenance and repair except for things I reasonably can't. I've approached the Benz with a little more trepidation, but so far it hasn't overwhelmed me.

Saprissa

i'm a mechanical idiot,
so I rely on Dealership, local MB tuners, and MBenzNL,
consequence is that after my Free Maintenance plan is over, I will pay dearly !

I really need to learn how to change oil, do brakes, and simple electronics....

I wish I had 1/10th of SUNMAN's, MBENZNL's, SCORCHIE's, NUKBLAZI's, JOHNCL's, BUELLWINKLE's technical expertise !!

Justinius7

I agree.... 200 dollars is prety steep for a service "A" (oil change)

When i had my ML, i took it to the dealer (right after a nice 4 wheel drive excursion, so it was NICE and dirty for the free car wash)...

They said my a Service "A" was going to cost me 2 hun something... I asked so what is in a service "A". Was like an oil change and check fluids (or somethig like that).. Well checking fluids is something I do before every road trip, takes about 30 seconds!

I then asked the rep, how much for just an oil change and nothing else, as i do not need to pay you to check my fluids or anything else.. he said 90 bucks. I approved the 90.00 oil change and off i went in my loaner for the day.

Shortly after i get a call from the dealer, they noticed a few waranttee items to be fixed, so they fixed them while they were under there.

Moral of the story: $90 is way cheaper then $200, and they still seem to go through the entire car. They want to look over the car and find things wrong with it, its in their best intrest, as they can then fix and make more $$$$....

And as for the 90.00 oil change... I mathmatically figured it out, its not unreasonable at all. Synthetic oil is definatly more expensive, BUT it lasts 10k miles, and the car takes some 7 or 8 qts (roughly) Say if you drive a Mazda you chave your oil evey 3k at 30 bucks... its still roughly the same price as the $90.00 oil change in the end.

nukblazi

There is but one way to learn my friend. Put it on jack stands, pull the tires and look around.

I pulled the trans and installed the flywheel and clutch (never had done so before on any car) with only a little nudge from Brandon at Kleemann!

mbbodytech

I find that it can be very satisfying to service your own car, almost as much as adding mods to it and making it faster / cooler!

And, MBs are pretty friendly to the technician - just look at the oil filter location!

JohnCL

That sure is the truth, can't get a better filter location IMO.

shorthair

My 2002 manual say that the center rear head rest cannot be removed or adjusted.