Dealer quotes $2000 for a job!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, California
2002 C32 AMG, 1998 NSX-T
Dealer quotes $2000 for a job!
Hello fellow enthusiasts...I posted a problem I was having w/ the car here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...ring-dies.html
and today I get a call from Autobahn, a MB dealership located in SF Bay Area. Here's what they tell me is wrong:
* "Bearings came loose" and the belt came off. Said a symptom was on cold starts, you would hear squealing in the engine...which the car had demonstrated for a few months.
* Need to replace the idle pulley, bearings, tensioner, etc etc.
* Cost = $1100
* I also have an issue where the front driver door latch needs to be replaced (when you hit the keyless entry, the door latch jumps up and down many times, and often times does not lock/unlock). The part is $160, but labor is $640, or a grand total of $800.
I wasn't wearing my fur coat with my diamond encrusted pimp cane, so he couldn't have known I was made out of money. But damn for almost $2000!!!
My questions are:
* Anybody else have the same things replaced, and if so, how much did you pay.
* Local bay area guys...any alternatives to Autobahn motors that is reliable and cheaper?!?!??!
thanks!
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...ring-dies.html
and today I get a call from Autobahn, a MB dealership located in SF Bay Area. Here's what they tell me is wrong:
* "Bearings came loose" and the belt came off. Said a symptom was on cold starts, you would hear squealing in the engine...which the car had demonstrated for a few months.
* Need to replace the idle pulley, bearings, tensioner, etc etc.
* Cost = $1100
* I also have an issue where the front driver door latch needs to be replaced (when you hit the keyless entry, the door latch jumps up and down many times, and often times does not lock/unlock). The part is $160, but labor is $640, or a grand total of $800.
I wasn't wearing my fur coat with my diamond encrusted pimp cane, so he couldn't have known I was made out of money. But damn for almost $2000!!!
My questions are:
* Anybody else have the same things replaced, and if so, how much did you pay.
* Local bay area guys...any alternatives to Autobahn motors that is reliable and cheaper?!?!??!
thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 1
CLS55 Designo 030
I already told you in the other thread - Check your pulleys and replace your belt.
You ask for advice and the dealer told you what we already said...
If you are mechanically incline, go to a dealer and buy the idler pulley (the one closest to the SC) which is more than likely the one that failed. It happened to me twice already (part is $75-$80). Pull the engine cover and replace the pulley. While you are at it, change your belt.
If not, any shop can swap a pulley for you for under an hour of labor.
You ask for advice and the dealer told you what we already said...
If you are mechanically incline, go to a dealer and buy the idler pulley (the one closest to the SC) which is more than likely the one that failed. It happened to me twice already (part is $75-$80). Pull the engine cover and replace the pulley. While you are at it, change your belt.
If not, any shop can swap a pulley for you for under an hour of labor.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, California
2002 C32 AMG, 1998 NSX-T
I already told you in the other thread - Check your pulleys and replace your belt.
You ask for advice and the dealer told you what we already said...
If you are mechanically incline, go to a dealer and buy the idler pulley (the one closest to the SC) which is more than likely the one that failed. It happened to me twice already (part is $75-$80). Pull the engine cover and replace the pulley. While you are at it, change your belt.
If not, any shop can swap a pulley for you for under an hour of labor.
You ask for advice and the dealer told you what we already said...
If you are mechanically incline, go to a dealer and buy the idler pulley (the one closest to the SC) which is more than likely the one that failed. It happened to me twice already (part is $75-$80). Pull the engine cover and replace the pulley. While you are at it, change your belt.
If not, any shop can swap a pulley for you for under an hour of labor.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
Hello fellow enthusiasts...I posted a problem I was having w/ the car here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...ring-dies.html
and today I get a call from Autobahn, a MB dealership located in SF Bay Area. Here's what they tell me is wrong:
* "Bearings came loose" and the belt came off. Said a symptom was on cold starts, you would hear squealing in the engine...which the car had demonstrated for a few months.
* Need to replace the idle pulley, bearings, tensioner, etc etc.
* Cost = $1100
* I also have an issue where the front driver door latch needs to be replaced (when you hit the keyless entry, the door latch jumps up and down many times, and often times does not lock/unlock). The part is $160, but labor is $640, or a grand total of $800.
I wasn't wearing my fur coat with my diamond encrusted pimp cane, so he couldn't have known I was made out of money. But damn for almost $2000!!!
My questions are:
* Anybody else have the same things replaced, and if so, how much did you pay.
* Local bay area guys...any alternatives to Autobahn motors that is reliable and cheaper?!?!??!
thanks!
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...ring-dies.html
and today I get a call from Autobahn, a MB dealership located in SF Bay Area. Here's what they tell me is wrong:
* "Bearings came loose" and the belt came off. Said a symptom was on cold starts, you would hear squealing in the engine...which the car had demonstrated for a few months.
* Need to replace the idle pulley, bearings, tensioner, etc etc.
* Cost = $1100
* I also have an issue where the front driver door latch needs to be replaced (when you hit the keyless entry, the door latch jumps up and down many times, and often times does not lock/unlock). The part is $160, but labor is $640, or a grand total of $800.
I wasn't wearing my fur coat with my diamond encrusted pimp cane, so he couldn't have known I was made out of money. But damn for almost $2000!!!
My questions are:
* Anybody else have the same things replaced, and if so, how much did you pay.
* Local bay area guys...any alternatives to Autobahn motors that is reliable and cheaper?!?!??!
thanks!
He's a small one man shop and he does all my work. This same thing happened to me early on, but i don't remember how much it cost me. I can call him tomorrow and see what it ran though. Most importantly, besides him being very competent, I trust him completely. If something take 15 minutes, he charges me for 15 minutes.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,475
Likes: 5
From: City with Tall buildings!
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 8
From: Tampa FL
.
R.A.B. Motors in San Rafael is better IMO. In 2005 I bought a car from Autobahn and service treated me like crap... R.A.B. was much better, things got done the first time with no repeat trips and at a more reasonable price.
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Eurocharged Performance ML63 and TT lambo
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Joined: Jul 2007
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2002 E430
I will guarantee my work for $1400 and I haven't done this type of work. Seriously if you can find a trustworthy mechanic you can get 'em all done for under $500. MB's are no different from any other cars.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 569
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From: Bay Area, CA
Volvo
D J Healey Auto Body
80 Gate 5 Rd
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 332-0477
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 20
From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
I highly recommend my mechanic, http://sanpabloeuropean.com/
He's a small one man shop and he does all my work. This same thing happened to me early on, but i don't remember how much it cost me. I can call him tomorrow and see what it ran though. Most importantly, besides him being very competent, I trust him completely. If something take 15 minutes, he charges me for 15 minutes.
He's a small one man shop and he does all my work. This same thing happened to me early on, but i don't remember how much it cost me. I can call him tomorrow and see what it ran though. Most importantly, besides him being very competent, I trust him completely. If something take 15 minutes, he charges me for 15 minutes.
When my idler bearing seized, it sheared off the mount on the water pump thus causing my belt to fall off.
At the time, I had to buy a new water pump, but now they only have remanufactured ones which are about $150 less.
Water pump: $279
Idler pulley: $41
Belt: $57
Coolant: $25
total $402
tax(usually not included on dealer quote) $35
Labor $303
Total from San Pablo European: $740
If you're interested, just give him a call, really nice guy, Leo.
Phone: 510-524-1036
Good luck!!
$1300 final offer. im a mb certified tech so im 100% qualified to do the job. im ready for a vacation too. 
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: EDH, CA
23 R1S, 23 EQS450, 21 F250 Platinum, 16 MX P90D
check out precision mercedes in santa cruz. http://www.precisionmercedessantacruz.com/ (831) 462-4624
take them the lowest quote and they will hands down beat it. i've taken my e350 and srt-6 to them for work and it's fast, top notch, and cheapest around in the central coast and bay area by far. they have no problems chatting with you and showing you the work as they perform it.
take them the lowest quote and they will hands down beat it. i've taken my e350 and srt-6 to them for work and it's fast, top notch, and cheapest around in the central coast and bay area by far. they have no problems chatting with you and showing you the work as they perform it.
Last edited by AmSFighter; Feb 21, 2009 at 12:54 AM.
