Master list of Dealers, Stealers, Incompetents, Indys
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Master list of Dealers, Stealers, Incompetents, Indys
I've had the pleasure of being on this W203 forum for just on a year now. I am firm in my conviction that the US MB Dealers are giving these cars a bad name through their patent inability to diagnose problems. All modern complex vehicles have problems. While swift, competent attention to these problems might hurt the pocket it vastly improves the ownership experience.
I think the time has come to name & shame & compile a listing of no go's & competent dealers & Independent shops. This should be placed in a sticky at the head of the W203 forum.
I think the time has come to name & shame & compile a listing of no go's & competent dealers & Independent shops. This should be placed in a sticky at the head of the W203 forum.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 800
2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Atlanta Classic Cars in Atlanta, GA. Top notch service. They may not always find the issue right away but they are extremely professional and helpful and they do go out of their way to take care of you.
They handed me the keys to a 2008 C350 as a loaner just this morning. Typically just C300s.
They handed me the keys to a 2008 C350 as a loaner just this morning. Typically just C300s.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,545
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
Brumos in Jacksonville, FL is AWESOME!!!
Duval Motorcars in Gainesville, FL will take everything you got from you!
Continental Imports in Gainesville, FL is amazing! Very helpful and will do a lot of things for free!!! Put my car on a lift to check the undercarriage after I bottomed out, found some loose things, including my ambient air sensor that were loose, and reattached it. All for free! My first ever experience with the shop.
Duval Motorcars in Gainesville, FL will take everything you got from you!
Continental Imports in Gainesville, FL is amazing! Very helpful and will do a lot of things for free!!! Put my car on a lift to check the undercarriage after I bottomed out, found some loose things, including my ambient air sensor that were loose, and reattached it. All for free! My first ever experience with the shop.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
C3Twon AWD Jumpofffff
J Ms Motors Inc
17 Valley Rd
Port Washington, NY 11050
(516) 883-3113
Private indy in my town specializes in Euro car repairs.
Horrible place, they over charge arm and leg almost or as much as the stealer charges... anything they cant do they give an excuse... for example saying that my evosport pulley kit didn't fit etc...
stay far away. i had them do my brakes a long time ago, the guy said he changed everything as i brought my own pad and bought oem brembo rotors from him after finding out that he only smoothed out my old rotors...
very dishonest STAY AWAY!
i also heard he that he lost his inspection machine also recently
17 Valley Rd
Port Washington, NY 11050
(516) 883-3113
Private indy in my town specializes in Euro car repairs.
Horrible place, they over charge arm and leg almost or as much as the stealer charges... anything they cant do they give an excuse... for example saying that my evosport pulley kit didn't fit etc...
stay far away. i had them do my brakes a long time ago, the guy said he changed everything as i brought my own pad and bought oem brembo rotors from him after finding out that he only smoothed out my old rotors...
very dishonest STAY AWAY!
i also heard he that he lost his inspection machine also recently
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 50
From: SoCal. Desert
'16 E350, gone: '03 c230k
My experience with Sangera (sp?) in Bakersfield, CA wasn't too impressive - mind you this was ~3-4 years ago. Mainly had warranty work done there. Biggest gripes are: They put some scratches in the car when washing it - and it was always cleaner when I brought it in than when I got it back(!); they replaced a tie-rod end when I had them do the checkover before I went out of warranty but apparently didn't align the car (found a pull to the left when driving back home - I live 2 hrs from the closest MB dealer) - I assumed they did it, and even would have paid for an alignment if they had asked; they did a tranny service when I complained about the 1-2 shift but only used 5 or 6 qts. to refill (i.e. not a complete flush) and they didn't re-flash or upgrade the software (how lame is that?!?); I could never get them to do anything about the climate control under warranty (they 'never found anything wrong') - I'm pretty sure I have broken arms or something isn't sync'd correctly, they did replace the climate control module with one that has the 'rest' function which works and is pretty cool though.
My experience with Valencia, CA MB dealer has been positive, more or less (only went there once, as recommended by my in-laws). I went in to have the infamous $12 hose fixed before it was a recall item or we (this forum) knew this was a common problem. I had all ready cleaned/diagnosed it wasn't the MAF and left a note for the mechanic when I dropped it off. They found it and took care of it, but I was charged the standard shop rates (doubt they took off the intake manny) so it cost ~$480 if I remember correctly. At least they didn't try to lead me down another path ($$).
My experience with Valencia, CA MB dealer has been positive, more or less (only went there once, as recommended by my in-laws). I went in to have the infamous $12 hose fixed before it was a recall item or we (this forum) knew this was a common problem. I had all ready cleaned/diagnosed it wasn't the MAF and left a note for the mechanic when I dropped it off. They found it and took care of it, but I was charged the standard shop rates (doubt they took off the intake manny) so it cost ~$480 if I remember correctly. At least they didn't try to lead me down another path ($$).
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,856
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02 C32 AMG
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Joined: Feb 2009
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
Never go to:
Rusnak in Pasadena (they know what they are doing but because Rusnak has it's name out there they have horrible customer service)
W.I. Simonson in Santa Monica (these guys don't know their head from their a$$)
Will continue going here:
Van Nuys Keyes MB (Great service and great knowledge)
Rusnak in Pasadena (they know what they are doing but because Rusnak has it's name out there they have horrible customer service)
W.I. Simonson in Santa Monica (these guys don't know their head from their a$$)
Will continue going here:
Van Nuys Keyes MB (Great service and great knowledge)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 4
From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Never go to:
Sovereign Mercedes-Benz in Brooklyn NY
HORROR SHOW. Every time we bring one of our cars for warranty work they manage to damage something, often parts unrelated to the work. Other times they just refuse to fix certain problems because they cant understand them - for example the rather well known issue where the passenger side mirror does not return to the proper position after tilting down when you are in reverse - we have this problem and they refuse to fix it citing that it works fine and they don't know how such a thing could happen! Search for my other posts for plenty of other gems about how they overfilled all my fluids and almost damaged my PS system.
Sovereign Mercedes-Benz in Brooklyn NY
HORROR SHOW. Every time we bring one of our cars for warranty work they manage to damage something, often parts unrelated to the work. Other times they just refuse to fix certain problems because they cant understand them - for example the rather well known issue where the passenger side mirror does not return to the proper position after tilting down when you are in reverse - we have this problem and they refuse to fix it citing that it works fine and they don't know how such a thing could happen! Search for my other posts for plenty of other gems about how they overfilled all my fluids and almost damaged my PS system.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,212
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From: Pasadena, CA
2002 C230K, 2013 BMW 328, 2015 BMW X5
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: MD
2007 C230 and 1985 Monte SS
I have mixed feelings about Valley Motors in Cockeysville, MD. I've taken the car in for warranty work, and they fixed a couple of little things. Customer service was pretty good.
I also complained about a jerky 2-3 shift, even left the car there overnight, and they claim that they couldn't duplicate the problem. It does it EVERY time I drive the car in the morning, before and since.
I also complained about a rough feeling in the front end at ~18 mph. At first they called it bad tires just to get it out of their hair. Then the next time in, they found a bent rim and a missing lug bolt. So they didnt even take the wheel off the first time to check for anything, and I suspect that they didn't the second time either.
There was also a thread about some cars that they stored there being stolen off the lot, or something if you search.
I also complained about a jerky 2-3 shift, even left the car there overnight, and they claim that they couldn't duplicate the problem. It does it EVERY time I drive the car in the morning, before and since.
I also complained about a rough feeling in the front end at ~18 mph. At first they called it bad tires just to get it out of their hair. Then the next time in, they found a bent rim and a missing lug bolt. So they didnt even take the wheel off the first time to check for anything, and I suspect that they didn't the second time either.
There was also a thread about some cars that they stored there being stolen off the lot, or something if you search.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Brumos in Jacksonville, FL is AWESOME!!!
Duval Motorcars in Gainesville, FL will take everything you got from you!
Continental Imports in Gainesville, FL is amazing! Very helpful and will do a lot of things for free!!! Put my car on a lift to check the undercarriage after I bottomed out, found some loose things, including my ambient air sensor that were loose, and reattached it. All for free! My first ever experience with the shop.
Duval Motorcars in Gainesville, FL will take everything you got from you!
Continental Imports in Gainesville, FL is amazing! Very helpful and will do a lot of things for free!!! Put my car on a lift to check the undercarriage after I bottomed out, found some loose things, including my ambient air sensor that were loose, and reattached it. All for free! My first ever experience with the shop.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 0
From: Saint Augustine, FL
1999 CLK320 (sold), 2007 C230 SS (gone), 2000 Grand Marquis, 2011 CR-Z, stay tuned...
Just purchased 08 E350 Sport Package from Duval Motorcars less than a month ago. I live in Atlanta, visit family in central fl regularly. Duval Motorcars made me an aggressive offer, so I jumped on it and traded my 01 C240 six speed. About an hour or so after taking delivery on vehicle, tire pressure sensor inoperative light came on. Visited several dealerships in atlanta to rectify the problem to no avail. Returned car to Duval motorcars on 5/7/10 and it's been in the service bay for five days. I had to return to Atlanta in a courtesy vehicle and I haven't heard from the dealership in two days. I'm driving a 2010 GLK 350 courtesy vehicle, but who needs the headache and I think this is a poor way to start a relationship. Does anyone think it's unreasonable to request my vehicle is delivered to atlanta from Gainesville on a flat-bed or motor carrier? I just don't think I should have to make a 5 hour drive to pick up a vehicle that wasn't prepped properly prior to taking delivery!
