njc230

So I was at the car wash last week and ended up with a 3 inch or so scratch just behind the front left wheel well. I took it to the dealer and the quote is $1200!! The total labor hours was 15.3 = 1083.91. Some of the items included:
Disable & Enable air bag - .5h
Reset & Reprogram electronics - $95
Is this possible or is the dealer on glue? If this is out of line can someone recommend a better alternative in N. NJ?

Thanks

C43AMG

Need pics!

C230SportsCoupe

Glue. $500 tops from a decent body shop.

njc230

I will post pic tonight...

MJ50

don't take it to the dealer unless it's covered by warranty...

'91 300CE

And if I may... Don't take it through the car wash anymore!!!

TruTaing

My buddy just had someone run a key along the side of his car.... it was about 8 inches long, but not that deep. It ended up costing him around 450 bux to fix!

-j0hn

anthuny85

i jus got a new hood repainted, part of front bumper, and my rear fender that got scratched all painted for 550. find a good body shop that gives a good price, dont take that to a dealer its a waste...

white_w203

damn that's a lot of $$$....all of that could have been towards mods.

METC240

if you do not mind comming to Metuchen / Edison there is a real good body shop. inside Stop and shop mall, had my GTI done there. Man they did a hell of a job... can not recall the name... it is off route 1 south pass 287....

Moviela

I paid $ 200 to repair a scrape on the side of the front spoiler.

MB certifies dealer and independent body shops. In New Jersey they have approved:


Benzel Busch Motor Car Corp. Englewood 1-201-567-1400
Compact Kars, Inc. Clarksburg 1-609-259-6373
Concours Auto Body Pennsauken 1-800-645-6115
Contemporary Motor Cars, Inc Little Silver 1-732-842-5353
Ferraro's Auto Body Montclair 1-973-783-1100
K & H Automotive, Inc. Hamilton 1-609-588-0166
Mercedes-Benz of Cherry Hill Cherry Hill 1-856-663-3200
Mercedes-Benz of Morristown Morristown 1-973-267-5000
Millennium Automotive Group Bridgewater 1-908-685-0800
Prestige Motors Inc. Paramus 1-201-987-2061
Ray Catena Motor Car Corp Edison 1-732-549-6600

Don't let them jack up your trousers and rotate your wallet!

If you'd like to see the complete list state by state:

http://www.mbusa.com/care/service/collision-centers.do

njc230

All

Thanks for all the feedback. I was hoping it was not going to cost this much. Here are the pics of the scratch. fyi - the quote came from Prestige Motors in Paramus NJ.

Pic 1



Pic 2

cla 1000

That should not be more than 250-300. I got my hole rear bumper painted for 230. Do not go to the dealership. They are one big scam. I hope they will go bankrupt and starve to death.

BlackLiquorish8

I really want to get my hood and front bumper painted

slammedcclass

are you serious? just leave as it is lol. i have worse scratches than that who cares lol.

bloodyhands

you never go to the dealer unless you have warranty.

anthuny85

that is no where near 1200....u can pay me 1200 and ill get it done for you....then a week later ull see an eisenmann exhaust on my car..

scottw

There is a very good auto body shop in Midland Park, NJ....Midland Park Auto Body. The have worked on all of my cars, and did a first rate job on same fairly bad damage to my current C230. Very good and honest people.

gate1way2

dude, for something that small just go to the dealer and buy some touch up paint...after a week or two you'll forget it was ever there....use that money to buy some wheels

14cue

touch up paint should do the trick. i bought some from the stealership - cost $35 CDN :\ but it should last you a life time.

good luck.

METC240

agree... buy touch up paint, detail the car afterwards and in less than 2 - 3 hours you will forgot it is even there. Are you sure the dealer is looking at that and not something else?

Pashap5

Wow that is really funny..for a scratch???
this Stealer is on some serious cheap glue...
why would you reprogram electronics to fix a scratch...that is outrageous

scottw

I just typed a wonderful message, but it did not post for some reason. Here is the short version.

Midland Park Auto Body's telephone is 201 444 5564. I have an estimate for fixing a 12 inch scratch on the driver's door and it is for 442.77. It is based on the "Motor Crash Estimating Guide", which is a computerized estimating service. I watched them do it, and they do not make it up. It is car specific.

If a body shop does not use this or a similar system, they are not serious.

Good luck.

yates

if your gonna worry about small scratches like i do then u need to make friends with a body man. less than a month after i bought my car some one keyed the trunk (about 12") and it cost me $175 to fix ($100 material and $75 labor) plus i have paint left for if i need it.

ScottW911

I was wondering the same thing. What does the electrical system have to do with the small scratch on the trim?