My B service is 1500mi overdue and I'm trying to decide whether to take it to H.M.B. Carlsbad or M.B.S.D. Does anyone have any experiences with them?



Rob C320

 

Either one is OK by me.

I bought my 2002 C230 from MBSD in February, 2002. I took it in for A Service about a month ago. I made the appointment two weeks in advance. I had counted on that. The service went OK, they gave me an ML320 loaner, but that was because I got there early in the day. They seemed to be concerned about keeping me happy, but the two-week wait was a little long. It might be better after they move into the new dealership that they are building.

I took my old car (a 1967 230SL) to Hoehn for a detail last year. I made the appointment that morning. They had a nice loaner for me (W202 Sedan). If it wasn't so far away from me, I would probably go there, because they seem nicer and more professional. I don't know how long they are backlogged for service, though.

Good luck,

Richard

2002 C230 K Orion Blue, 6-Speed, K2a,

 

I like hoehn better my self. mbsd takes too long to get your car into service. also for some reason i dont like the service advisors


~fk

 

I'd vote Hoehn over MBSD in a big way. Couple bad service experiences (stupid mistakes like mounting very obviously mis-matched tires on the rear of my CLK when one of my original Pilot Sports blew out).

That, plus a major league snobbish attitude outta sales (didn't buy there as a result), plus getting the most clapped out rent-a-wreck loaners I have (from their "on-site" rental agent)ever driven = I ain't going there again.

On the flip side - excellent service across many multiple visits to Hoehn. The other San Diego county alternative, MB of Escondido, has been a hit & miss proposition. Never really great, never really awful, but always just a little bit off the midline.

Willing to travel a bit? MB Laguna Niguel has never been less than excellent.

Good luck.....

 

Thanks! I'm heading over to Hoehn to make an appt. Do they have ML's for loaners? btw, does anyone have a listing of tsb's for our class? For me, I have issues with:
A squeaky drivers seat

No A.M. or weather band

Front and rear tail light burning out

Front windshield easily fogs up

 

Do they have ML's for loaners?

 

Have never been provided anything but a clean MB loaner. Service is great and on time and if you call for an appt-they are ready for you. Nice showroom and goodie store as well.

 

If you want an ML loaner for sure go to MB of Laguna Niguel. Personaly I don't like the ML, noisy & uncomfortable. They also have plenty of E320s.

 

Finally took Maxine in to Hoehn for her "B" service. While I was there, 3 C32's were coming in, also for service. It was the 1st time for me to see them close up, so I was kinda drooling! Anyway, Steve Howard [1-760-476-5377] is the best advisor I've met to date. He asked all kinds of questions, and wanted to know of any possible things I wanted them to check out; so I gave it to him:

NO A.M./WEATHER

MULTI TURN SIGNAL FAILURES

DRIVER'S SEAT NOISE/SQUEAKS

VIBRATING ASHTRAY

PURGE VALVE REPLACEMENT

I received a W202 230k for my loaner; the W203 is light years ahead IMHO. He called back this afternoon telling me everything was replaced/fixed except the front light assy. It will come in on Monday. They also found an oil leak from the oil sending unit, and that was replaced too!

Very happy and impressed so far with Hoehn

 

will they give loaners to people under 21?

 

No idea; I'm 37

 

I had one of the worst experiences at Mercedes Benz of Escondido. I have a 02 C230 (non C7) so I called the dealership to get my black door handles replaced w/ white ones. So I called the parts department and they ordered white door handles (driver & passenger side), no problem. The guy told me that they would have them in about a week, so I was fine with that. A week roles by, I get a phone call from the MB of Escondido letting me know that the parts have come in so I set up an appointment. My service advisor told me that it would cost about $140 (for parts and labor). I was pretty hyped about that, $140 was a real bargain!!

Well, I drop my car off (Tuesday morning) and wait a while for my loaner. A guy at the loaner desk tells me that they ran out of loaner vehicles and they have to rent from Hertz. So guess what vehicle they give me, a FORD TAURUS!! I was like “wtf”!! So I thought you know, I should have my car back by the end of the day, so I was fine with the Taurus. I get a call from my service advisor in the afternoon saying that the factory shipped the wrong parts (one white handle & one white handle w/ a chrome strip). Then he says that he’ll have the correct part the next day (Wednesday). So the next day comes along and I get another phone call, it was my service advisor saying AGAIN that the factory shipped the wrong item (this time a black door handle). Then I was promised that they would have it straightened out the next day (Thursday). Next day comes along and they finally get the correct part (white handle), but now he says that the small IR piece came in black only and that it can only be painted to color match my car, and that I would have to pay an additional $140 to get it painted. I was like “BULL****”. First they stick me with a FORD TAURUS, waste my time, and then tell me that I have to pay extra for something they messed up on!!

I told them to forget it and to leave my car alone. Then my service advisor told me that they had already put one of the handles on and if I wanted my blacks ones back, I would have to pay for them to take it off. So he basically said that I was going to be charged for the install ($40) and to take them off ($40), which came out to $80. I argued with the guy telling him that he shouldn’t have put them on in the first place (because they were the wrong parts) and that I shouldn’t have been charged anything. My service advisor insisted that I pay for the labor. He said, “Most people would dish out the $140 and not think anything of it”. I felt that that comment was rude and uncalled for. First off, I’m not any other person and second, I know when I’m getting jacked. So I asked for his manager. So I gave my story to the manager and his manager sided with me and took all charges off of my bill. I was really pissed that he said that but didn’t bring it up w/ his boss because I just wanted to get the hell out of there (that’s how frustrated I was).

I’m gonna contact Steve to see if he can get me the door handles.

 

jigg619, I understand that you are upset. I would be if that happened to me. To quote a famous American, "I feel your pain." But how many times are you going to post this?

 

sorry lynn, i just ran a search for "service" and posted it on each forum. just wanted to spread the word...