Price Check: 2004 C230 (plugs,coils,breather hose, boot)
07-16-2016, 12:10 PM
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2004 Mercedes C230 Sedan Sport
Price Check: 2004 C230 (plugs,coils,breather hose, boot)
Hello,
Was wondering if it is Ok to ask about recent service to my MB 2004 C230 sedan sport.
I bought the car about 4 years ago from my ex-wife who typically ensured good maintenance on the car. I used to own a 2003 C230 coupe so I was familiar with the car and related issues.
Well, I have been bad and did not upkeep the maintenance. Only doing the oil changes and hoping to trade it in the next 6 months. As luck would have it, I went to work last week and my car started to run rough at stop lights and even conking out. (the stress level in driving heavy-stop traffic was a nightmare; one foot on brake while I kept it revved up a little to keep it running).
Upon first inspection under the hood; I noticed the PCV crankcase breather hose (hose that pops out on right side (looking in) of the engine cover) had a crack in it and was very spongy. I got a quote for $200 flat (cash) to replace (1 hour of work); another shop around $238. But, the shop I went with before they worked on it said there is another breather hose (5 inches long about $8 part) that will probably need to be replaced as well and will do a smoke test..it takes 3-5 hours to replace apparently. The other shop I went to asked what hose I needed and said something similar. So I understood the other hose is going to be costly to replace. I asked to just replace the one that is visible with the leak for various reasons.
The PCV hose that I replaced did not fix the problem. Well, duh.. The computer said I was misfiring on all cylinders. The smoke test they said the small hose had a leak too. Dang. They said they would fix the other hose, replace the plugs and coils for $800. I was forced to invest. The car runs better than before the stalling.
They ended up throwing in an air filter (beyond filthy) and found a crack in some boot hose ($12 part - short wide silver looking hose and hard to get too also). So with that said, did I get a great or bad deal at $1000 total?? Owner said it was $1500 worth of work. He had no customers really when this all happened as it is his slow season he said. But it gave me pause. Thoughts?
Was wondering if it is Ok to ask about recent service to my MB 2004 C230 sedan sport.
I bought the car about 4 years ago from my ex-wife who typically ensured good maintenance on the car. I used to own a 2003 C230 coupe so I was familiar with the car and related issues.
Well, I have been bad and did not upkeep the maintenance. Only doing the oil changes and hoping to trade it in the next 6 months. As luck would have it, I went to work last week and my car started to run rough at stop lights and even conking out. (the stress level in driving heavy-stop traffic was a nightmare; one foot on brake while I kept it revved up a little to keep it running).
Upon first inspection under the hood; I noticed the PCV crankcase breather hose (hose that pops out on right side (looking in) of the engine cover) had a crack in it and was very spongy. I got a quote for $200 flat (cash) to replace (1 hour of work); another shop around $238. But, the shop I went with before they worked on it said there is another breather hose (5 inches long about $8 part) that will probably need to be replaced as well and will do a smoke test..it takes 3-5 hours to replace apparently. The other shop I went to asked what hose I needed and said something similar. So I understood the other hose is going to be costly to replace. I asked to just replace the one that is visible with the leak for various reasons.
The PCV hose that I replaced did not fix the problem. Well, duh.. The computer said I was misfiring on all cylinders. The smoke test they said the small hose had a leak too. Dang. They said they would fix the other hose, replace the plugs and coils for $800. I was forced to invest. The car runs better than before the stalling.
They ended up throwing in an air filter (beyond filthy) and found a crack in some boot hose ($12 part - short wide silver looking hose and hard to get too also). So with that said, did I get a great or bad deal at $1000 total?? Owner said it was $1500 worth of work. He had no customers really when this all happened as it is his slow season he said. But it gave me pause. Thoughts?
