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Take a look at these prices. Car is in for an oil leak coming from passenger valve cover.
1. Transmission. SA says every time the transmission service is performed, the life of the transmission is diminished.
That it's a detergent with metals that get drained...The car is overdue time wise but NOT on mileage which is another 10K.
Q. Do you agree that I can skip service on this until mileage is reached?
That seem to be what he's recommending.
2. Once the shock wore off from the prices, I looked up the shifter bushing.
Q. Does anyone know the location? It sounds like it's inside the car...
Last edited by Nicholi2007; Apr 23, 2023 at 11:44 PM.
Transmission service is a mileage requirement more than time — every 60,000 miles.
But those prices look like about 2x-3x what they should be at an independent MB shop, except tires.
$469 For a tire may not be too bad. Michelin PS4 is about $395 mounted and balanced at America’s Tire. My dealer will price match local tire shops -- ask.
Is the car 4matic? That will increase the cost of engine mounts. I just paid $650 for engine & transmission mounts on my RWD C250.
The valve cover just seems way out of line for something many owners would do themselves.
Transmission service is a mileage requirement more than time — every 60,000 miles.
But those prices look like about 2x-3x what they should be at an independent MB shop, except tires.
$469 For a tire may not be too bad. Michelin PS4 is about $395 mounted and balanced at America’s Tire. My dealer will price match local tire shops -- ask.
Is the car 4matic? That will increase the cost of engine mounts. I just paid $650 for engine & transmission mounts on my RWD C250.
The valve cover just seems way out of line for something many owners would do themselves.
Car is not 4Matic. The valve cover isn't too bad but I don't have a garage and 3-4 hours.
The dealer wanted $1,800 for the valve cover before lowering the price.
I looked at the vids for your engine as I’ve never worked on that one. Valve cover removal/replacement is not “fun” but should not be rated for more than 4 hours labor. You probably won’t get much of a break at the dealer because MB can charge $300/hr for tech time. An independent shop should be about 4 hours @ $180/hr and $150-$180 in parts.
If some of the members with a WIS have other times, that would be good to hear.
How bad are the other things you listed? Can they be spread out over a few months or more to make the cost more manageable?
I looked at the vids for your engine as I’ve never worked on that one. Valve cover removal/replacement is not “fun” but should not be rated for more than 4 hours labor. You probably won’t get much of a break at the dealer because MB can charge $300/hr for tech time. An independent shop should be about 4 hours @ $180/hr and $150-$180 in parts.
If some of the members with a WIS have other times, that would be good to hear.
How bad are the other things you listed? Can they be spread out over a few months or more to make the cost more manageable?
There's 148K miles on the car. The other things can be spread out assuming a shoe does not drop.
I just run for groceries and errands. No serious driving. Maybe 5 miles a week.
1. I need a new rear tire that cost $138 plus tax, It's $24 to mount & balance at America's tire. The tire was sliced from the opposite side.
2. The SA says the sway bar link is metal on metal but I don't hear anything that suggests that.
There is a knock sound when I slow down to brake or turn around. Oddly no knock sound when I go over speed bumps. I thought it might be a bad top mount on the strut.
There's also a creaking sound when I turn, say into a drive, to do a 3 point turn. Probably a bushing
3. The leak is pretty bad. Oil came into the cylinder and was inside the coil. I replaced the coil as it started to misfire. cleared the code.
4. Mounts - There is vibration in the car but not terrible. I don't see any evidence of a rough idle that they are tying to engine mounts. Bad mounts cause a rough idle?
5. Broken Shifter Bushing? Sometimes it feels a little off putting it in drive or reverse. It must be under the shifter in the center console. It's not difficult.
I'm generally suspicious of the dealer. SAs get a cut of everything. I just want to get the leak fixed and get out of there.
Thanks for your input.
Last edited by Nicholi2007; Apr 23, 2023 at 01:56 PM.
Mercedes dealers are not going to deal with economy tires, as you know. We have 9 cars and use American/Discount Tires regularly. All dealers are not created equal. Some don’t give the SAs bonus on upsells. There are about 10 here and I can deal with service at one of them. I also have 2 solid German car shops that I use to do things I can’t donor don’t want to do. When we lived in Long Beach there were lots of good independent German shops. Getting one might keep you in your C350 for another 100k miles at reasonable costs.
Mercedes dealers are not going to deal with economy tires, as you know. We have 9 cars and use American/Discount Tires regularly. All dealers are not created equal. Some don’t give the SAs bonus on upsells. There are about 10 here and I can deal with service at one of them. I also have 2 solid German car shops that I use to do things I can’t donor don’t want to do. When we lived in Long Beach there were lots of good independent German shops. Getting one might keep you in your C350 for another 100k miles at reasonable costs.
That's a lot of cars! The one independent Mercedes shop I trust is in Encino. The dealership is 1.5 miles away in Beverly Hills. Neither have loaner cars. I've used all of the dealerships at one point or another.
All of The SAs are a bit desperate. One dealership is run by Satan. It seems like the SAs never sell enough. None of the mangers know how to run a dealership. Experience is different as ownership varies. Using the independent guy might take longer. He has a small shop.
I've got a flat tire. I should have just put thrown the spare on. The dealer does not do economy tires. The leak has been put off long enough. Yes the price is outrageous but it's the easiest way to deal with it. They said they were 1 day behind.
They have had the car since early Thursday afternoon. Hopefully this is not going to drag on. Otherwise I'll pull the car out of there.
Last edited by Nicholi2007; Apr 23, 2023 at 01:58 PM.
Reason: damn grammar
2. Once the shock wore off from the prices, I looked up the shifter bushing.
Q. Does anyone know the location? It sounds like it's inside the car...
The shifter bushing is a rubber bushing that sits between the shift lever on the underside of the shifter and the shift lever on the top of the transmission. It's a $10 part and is accessible from the bottom of the vehicle. Once up on the lift, a good tech could start a pot of coffee, remove the old bushing and install the new one before the coffee is ready. The $426.73 seems more than a little excessive.
The shifter bushing is a rubber bushing that sits between the shift lever on the underside of the shifter and the shift lever on the top of the transmission. It's a $10 part and is accessible from the bottom of the vehicle. Once up on the lift, a good tech could start a pot of coffee, remove the old bushing and install the new one before the coffee is ready. The $426.73 seems more than a little excessive.
Haaaaaa! I did look up the part and have my suspicions.
While having transmission service done a few years ago, I told the SA there's a gas leak in the engine bay. Sure it enough it was the fuel injection hose.
Their Cost $238.00. "1 hour to replace a hose" I asked. "That's what he put down" the SA replied.
Uh huh.
I left with a coffee and two danish with napkins.
My cost: $25.00 for a used hose off eBay (New was backordered). 17mm wrench and I had it done in under 5 minutes. Thanks to YouTube.
This guide does not mention some of the parts on the work order above.
I don't have a garage. The economics of low rent have been too good to move on from. Once I get into a new space
I'll have garage space. I would not say this is an easy job.
Assuming that the screws and bolts are not aluminum, they can be reused. Aluminum bolts are sometimes used on valve covers and should be replaced after being torqued. That’s about $300 of the estimate. Seals, seal rings, and o-rings should be replaced.
Assuming that the screws and bolts are not aluminum, they can be reused. Aluminum bolts are sometimes used on valve covers and should be replaced after being torqued. That’s about $300 of the estimate. Seals, seal rings, and o-rings should be replaced.
This guide does not mention some of the parts on the work order above.
I don't have a garage. The economics of low rent have been too good to move on from. Once I get into a new space
I'll have garage space. I would not say this is an easy job.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by Adi-Benz
...To top it off these cars are so easy to work on....
A truer statement couldn't have been made. Anyone who has worked on a VW or Audi (or Saab) and then a Mercedes will confirm that. That's the real genius of Mercedes engineering: Build cars that are easy to service and maintain, but convince owners that they must be serviced by German techs in white lab coats at $300/hour and $10 screws!
A truer statement couldn't have been made. Anyone who has worked on a VW or Audi (or Saab) and then a Mercedes will confirm that. That's the real genius of Mercedes engineering: Build cars that are easy to service and maintain, but convince owners that they must be serviced by German techs in white lab coats at $300/hour and $10 screws!
Thus far it has also proven easier compared to American cars in my experience as well.
At the end of the day, doesn't matter what brand you have, dealer will rip you off. The problem is, most independents don't even do a quality job, so I've lost trust in both ends.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
Car is in for an oil leak coming from passenger valve cover.
It seems like the SAs never sell enough. None of the mangers know how to run a dealership. Experience is different as ownership varies. Using the independent guy might take longer. He has a small shop.
