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2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Interesting that they don't give you the labor rate, just the total price. I'm not sure how to read the ASRA, but it seems that to remove and install the right cylinder head is 7.4 hours and replacing the right exhaust manifold is 1.2 hours for a total of 8.6 hours. There may have been some additional work, so let's round it to 10 hours. That means their labor rate is $602.14 per hour. That seems a little bit much. Even at 15 hours, that would still be $400 per hour.
Thats why I was questioning the labor hours in the first place. It just doesnt make sense.
I went ahead and filled my MB shopping cart with all the parts they billed me for. They billed me $1262.92. Some parts they charged me triple the price listed.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
My dealer charges $185 per hour labor. Even if your dealer charged $200 per hour, $6000 is 30 hours labor. No way it took 30 hours to do the job for you.
I stopped in there earlier to pick up some parts and I bought a gasket while I was there, a gasket they billed me $9.50 for. Well it was only $1.90 today. Proves my point I was over charged. I was talking to my neighbor who is a Mercedes fan and also a lawyer, hes going to help me write up a letter to send them. I forget what he called it, something about consumer complaints and intending to take them to court over the issue.
I saw the service advisor that helped me but I avoided her, didnt feel like getting into it with her. While paying for the parts I did ask the two people at the parts counter if they knew if they mark up the price of the parts if you have them installed, they really didnt know but said they dont think they do.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Nobody who works there is going to jeopardize their job by ratting out another department. You may want to present you evidence and letter to the General Manager and get a response. Not sure if Massachusetts has a consumer protection bureau (or similar) in the Attorney General's office, but you should also investigate there. They may be able to actually fine the dealership. And the negative publicity would be unwelcomed for the dealer. Is there a Facebook page for local businesses in your area?
If you sue and win, are your legal fees covered? Each state is different. The dealership would probably offer to settle by refunding the overcharge. However, you want to get them for you time and mental duress, which we all can see here. Tell them you want the full amount refunded to compensate for your anxiety, loss of time, family problems, etc. because they lied and tried to defraud you.
Last edited by JettaRed; Oct 26, 2024 at 03:30 PM.
I didnt bring anything up when I was there earlier, the parts counter people had no idea why I was asking or that I had my car recently repaired there.
My neighbor printed me out some info about the laws in MA and it says that a written estimate must be provided with specific repairs, labor, parts and total cost before any repairs are made and that it must be signed by the customer. My case it was just a verbal estimate over the phone. I remember going in to pick up my car and I was hoping they listed all the parts they replaced, I had even told her I wanted all the old parts kept and thrown in my trunk, I said i just wanted to look to see how bad the old parts were.
.I recently looked through there reviews online and noticed a few responses to negative reviews by the GM with his email for them to get ahold of him. Thats who I planned on contacting next. Hes the guy who signed my High Mileage award it turns out. I want to try and do this right so I have the best possible outcome, took me a few days to even calm down from being so mad about feeling I was ripped off.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
It's always good not to react when emotional. It also gives you time to prepare and strengthen your argument.
Follow up with your friend and see if there is any precedence in MA with regard to not providing a written estimate. If the dealer says, "We gave you a verbal estimate and you agreed to it. We have you recorded saying so", I don't know about MA, but in many states it is HIGHLY illegal to record a conversation without notifying the other party.
At dealer 1, the price is the same on the website, over the counter, or on the repair invoice. I know because I just bought a battery and had checked the price on the website. The parts counter quoted the same price without my mentioning the website. I called my service advisor and got the estimate of the battery price plus one hour. They couldn’t get the battery done because I called so late, so I bought it at the counter, took it home and did it myself.
I was directed to dealer 2 by MBUSA for the Takata airbag recall because they had them in stock. During the “courtesy inspection” they “found” $1700 work my meticulously maintained car needed. $915 of that was for replacing 2 tires (which were less than 1 year old) that the MB Tire Center said would cost about $460 installed. When I pointed that out, I was told, “Well, that’s an online price only. You know, sort of like the online only deals that businesses always run. Do you want the tires or not?”
My SA at dealer 1 left dealer 2 because SAs were rated by their level of upsells at dealer 2, and at dealer 1 they are not.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by Odd Piggy
Tale of two dealers:
At dealer 1, the price is the same on the website, over the counter, or on the repair invoice. I know because I just bought a battery and had checked the price on the website. The parts counter quoted the same price without my mentioning the website. I called my service advisor and got the estimate of the battery price plus one hour. They couldn’t get the battery done because I called so late, so I bought it at the counter, took it home and did it myself.
I was directed to dealer 2 by MBUSA for the Takata airbag recall because they had them in stock. During the “courtesy inspection” they “found” $1700 work my meticulously maintained car needed. $915 of that was for replacing 2 tires (which were less than 1 year old) that the MB Tire Center said would cost about $460 installed. When I pointed that out, I was told, “Well, that’s an online price only. You know, sort of like the online only deals that businesses always run. Do you want the tires or not?”
My SA at dealer 1 left dealer 2 because SAs were rated by their level of upsells at dealer 2, and at dealer 1 they are not.
All dealers are not created equal. Good luck.
What other "emergency" repairs were needed?
When I bought my 2004 SL500 from a coworker for $10,000 a few years back, she said she had just had a B-Service done at 50,000 miles and her dealership (who absolutely LOVED her based on her previous stack of invoices) handed a list of recommended services that totaled over $10,000, in addition to the $2300 she just paid for the B-Service. They offered her $10,000 on a trade. I said I'd give her $10,000 for the car and we made the sale. (Later she told me it seemed the dealership didn't like that, even though she went and purchased another car from them.) I was able to make all the repairs, including replacing the water pump (which was fine) and idler pulley (which was fine) and other easy fixes. All-in-all, it cost me about $1000 to do all the fixes.
Last edited by JettaRed; Oct 27, 2024 at 06:55 AM.
Interesting that they don't give you the labor rate, just the total price. I'm not sure how to read the ASRA, but it seems that to remove and install the right cylinder head is 7.4 hours and replacing the right exhaust manifold is 1.2 hours for a total of 8.6 hours. There may have been some additional work, so let's round it to 10 hours. That means their labor rate is $602.14 per hour. That seems a little bit much. Even at 15 hours, that would still be $400 per hour.
Somebody has some 'splaining to do.
This is great info. I took a screenshot and may include this when I contact the GM.
I noticed in one of there "recommendations" they give an estimate to replace the air filters, I think it was over $300. Funny enough I had just replaced them recently, I looked and I bought the Mann filters from Amazon Sept 29th. Imagine recommending work for over $300 when they clearly do not need to be done.
They also recommended replacing the wipers due to "streaking" for a little over $100. My wipers do not streak, they work perfectly. I bet they just looked at little circles on the wipers that turn yellow when they should be replaced, but I have had those wipers in since I bought the car 4yrs ago, I just replace the blade part.
Another thing that really got me angry was they never re-installed the metal shield for the front diif or the metal shield over the engine mount. I looked through there recommended service and they quoted over $4,000 to install those shields I kid you not. They had the cylinder head and exhaust manifold already off, they could have easily at least installed the engine mount shield since its literally right there.
I have no problem paying what is fair for work done. I'm even fine with paying $7,400 for the work, if thats what it actually was. But I truly feel I was ripped off.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Wow! That is total negligence on their part not to replace the heat shields. And no way replacing the shields should cost $4000! I just think they don't want you as a customer and are afraid to say so because you could come back that you align with something you're naturally not and claim discrimination.
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