ncmudbug

I already took it to the dealer. They were open Monday and the original idea was that I might get my car back for work today - and that if it were the compressor, they would be on the hook for it. When neither of those things worked out, I did manage to get a loaner so getting to and from work today and getting the car in the morning will be easy. I think I need to give them credit because I'll be getting my car back before the original estimate. I think they humped it a bit for me. The difference between the stealer's estimate and the indy I'd been going to was about $500 - certainly substantial. There were some offsets, though. As you say, there's some security with their service warranty. I got the ball rolling a day earlier than I otherwise could. And I got a loaner. Whether that adds up to $500... I won't know till next year in case it happens again.

I guess I wasn't clear. The alternator is ok, it's just the clutch/pulley that needs replacing. I agree with you that the stealer is playing straight with me, too (I feel kind of bad that I doubted him, now!). It's kind of scary that I didn't hear anything that would warn me that there was trouble. Now that I've read a few of the posts, though, I do remember that there were some times when getting out of the garage it sounded like tires chirping (we have rubber garage tiles in our garage - so does Best Buy where I heard it a lot before it went out). I'll bet that was the warning sign! Reading Scottisha's explanation of what happens, it sounds like MB should have put a real clutch on the compressor rather than a part that breaks when over stressed. Also his problem was that it took his wrench two or three compressors to find out the problem was the alternator sprang so hopefully, I probably won't have as much trouble as he had - on the other hand, this is ME we're talking about!

LILBENZ230

I don't understand the benefit of a swash plate compressor over having a compressor that can clutch out. Maybe someone can explain that.

ncmudbug

I'm not familiar with what a "swash plate compressor" is so I'm not sure which side you're coming at this from.

Air conditioning units is not something I've fooled a lot with but I think all the ones I know about have a clutch pulley at least partially to engage the compressor on start up of the A/C. After this good time, I wondered if it also might have taken care of this situation (though I still don't fully understand the situation MB was trying to defend against or why it seems that the compressor and the alternator pulley are sacrificial... Actually the real situation is that I probably don't have any idea what they are trying to defend against). I've known lots of other cars with less sophisticated 4 bangers that don't seem to go to the lengths MB went to and don't seem to have this problem. Maybe it's because of the size of the alternator and maybe once the spang bearing goes, there's no way to tell the compressor to disengage. I have to believe what they did made sense. I wonder if a similar arrangement is found on the 6 cylinder motors... I'm not aware of any other upper-end cars with 4 cylinder motors so it might be that BMW, Nissan, etc. never had to deal with this situation.

I got my car back this morning - a bout a day earlier than expected and it actually cost a little less than expected too: $1898.01. Ok, not a huge discount to what I was expecting, but I'll take it. They washed my car, of course, even though it was raining when I picked it up. Every time I leave my car at a shop, it feels like somebody has messed around with my seat. I really wish I had the memory seats!

LILBENZ230

The memory seat thing was a must when I bought my 05, though it was used. I wish I'd been that insistent upon things like factory Bi-X and a 6MT

As I understood it, the reason why this happens this way is so the car doesn't break/shred the belt and strand the driver. Still, a tow and a new belt would be less expensive than a $1900 A/C repair, though I suspect that's a good 250-300% over what I'd pay for that repair.

ncmudbug

Yeah, I read that. Could be true but I wonder if somebody could have figured a way to just "disconnect" power to the compressor. Well, people a lot smarter than I worked on that so I doubt I would have a better idea except for yours - call for a tow!

As for the price of the repair... I wish I had your indy! The one I have gone to recently had never heard of this problem. If I had taken it to him, he would have fixed the compressor, etc. and it would have happened again like it did with Scottisha (and I don't know if he would have warranted his parts like Scottisha's indy did). That doesn't necessarily mean he's not good for most things, but it does give me a little pause. I guess I'll look for another indy...

samaritrey

any way we could get a copy of the invoice or atleast a list of part numbers. I am wondering what they replaced exactly.

ncmudbug

Sure. Here are the items they replaced:
Q PART # DESC PRICE
=====================================
1 271-155-01-15 PULLEY 146.48
1 013-997-74-92 V-BELT 59.00
1 001-230-55-11-88 A/C COMPRESSOR 571.63
1 211-835-00-47 DEHYDRATOR 113.93
1 020-997-76-45 O-RING 2.58
1 140-997-07-45 O-RING 4.25
1 210-997-03-45 SEAL RING 2.98

Good times!

LILBENZ230

So $900 in parts and $1,000 in labor? Really? The parts are all a good bit cheaper through RME, but the real savings at my indy would be the labor. His rates are half a Benz dealer and he is realistic about it, as well. I find it hard - no, impossible - to believe that this was enough labor hours to add up to four figures.

Interesting that RMEuropean explains when you buy the A/C compressor from them:

A/C Compressor With Clutch
Manufacturer: DENSO Original Equipment
When replacing this A/C Compressor, also inspect the Alternator Pulley. The Alternator Pulley must spin freely in a counter clockwise direction. If not, the Pulley must be replaced. Otherwise the Compressor may fail prematurely.
27 in Stock
$486.07

Harleyl7

This how I learned how to do it. Pretty easy stuff

ncmudbug

Yeah, I didn't want to realize that their labor rates were THAT inflated, but why should that surprise me given the amazing price they charge to change spark plugs! Just to compare, I check the labor when they just replaced the compressor, etc. last July, it was a bit lower then, but it didn't include the alternator pulley. I guess somebody has to pay for all that marble in their showroom. That would be me. I need to find an indy like yours!

Interesting (and very nice) that rmeuropean gives you that warning. Obviously good people.

ncmudbug

Thanks, Harley.
No doubt it is a lot easier than I worried it would be. Maybe next time, I'll install it myself (but hopefully, there won't be a next time!).

LILBENZ230

What is the reason the dehydrater needed replaced? Just curious - I genuinely don't understand.

ncmudbug

I really don't know either. I always thought they were changed together but I'm not sure why. In the case of a leak, maybe it could be a source of contamination, but that doesn't sound like a good reason in my case...

LILBENZ230

Maybe to pad the profit. I hate dealers.