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Shop with STAR in Bay Area, CA?

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Old 02-25-2011, 06:31 PM
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Shop with STAR in Bay Area, CA?

Hey All,

I decided to try the "don't make an appointment and just drive up" method to get the Xenon=Present setting done. I went to Fletcher Jones in Fremont, and the <insert explitive> service guy wanted to charge me $165 for 10 minutes of work (that he wouldn't even be doing). To make it worse, he explained to me that I can't set Xenon=Present until I have them on my car or the computer won't allow the setting (I believe he was lying straight to my face).

Anyways, now that the rant is over, does anyone know of a reputable shop preferably in the Bay Area, CA (preferably south bay)? I didn't think this 5-10 minute fix would cost more than $50 (I thought it might even be free). Looks like the dealers these days have no decency.

Suffice it to say, I am NEVER going to take my car in for service at Fletcher Jones Mercedes in Fremont, CA. The guy gave me attitude, and the smiles these guys gave me disappeared the second they knew they couldnt screw me for a couple grand.

Thanks!

Last edited by element913; 02-25-2011 at 06:43 PM.
Old 02-25-2011, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by element913
Hey All,

I decided to try the "don't make an appointment and just drive up" method to get the Xenon=Present setting done. I went to Fletcher Jones in Fremont, and the <insert explitive> service guy wanted to charge me $165 for 10 minutes of work (that he wouldn't even be doing). To make it worse, he explained to me that I can't set Xenon=Present until I have them on my car or the computer won't allow the setting (I believe he was lying straight to my face). I think his name was Muhammid or something, I recommend that anyone on here avoid him, give your business to the other service advisors that actually deserve it.

Anyways, now that the rant is over, does anyone know of a reputable shop preferably in the Bay Area, CA (preferably south bay)? I didn't think this 5-10 minute fix would cost more than $50 (I thought it might even be free). Looks like the dealers these days have no decency.

Suffice it to say, I am NEVER going to take my car in for service at Fletcher Jones Mercedes in Fremont, CA. The guy gave me attitude, and the smiles these guys gave me disappeared the second they knew they couldnt screw me for a couple grand.

Thanks!
yea! hey go to mercedes benz of pleasanton and talk to mike pierce and tell him michael kuzni sent you
Old 02-25-2011, 09:20 PM
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If you were in the sadiego area i could have tried to help you. I'm not a shop or anything i got tired of going to the stealership so i bought a star DIAG
Old 03-02-2011, 07:55 PM
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I'm curious too if anyone in the southbay has star?
I wish MbenzNL was around. I want to tweek some setting in developer mode.
Old 03-03-2011, 12:27 AM
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which city are you in?
Old 03-03-2011, 02:24 AM
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I went to these guys when i did my Xenon=Present They did it in 5 mins and only charged me 40 bucks, Great guys to work with. They get extreamly busy so get there early and be as friendly as possible lol

Star Auto Services‎
1555 South 10th Street
San Jose, CA 95112-2516
(408) 280-7002
Old 03-03-2011, 01:51 PM
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I'm in the South Bay, Mountain View specifically.
Thanks for that. I give them a call and see if they have the developer access.
Old 03-03-2011, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by doom239
I went to these guys when i did my Xenon=Present They did it in 5 mins and only charged me 40 bucks, Great guys to work with. They get extreamly busy so get there early and be as friendly as possible lol

Star Auto Services‎
1555 South 10th Street
San Jose, CA 95112-2516
(408) 280-7002
That seems like a very interesting shop - thanks for the info. Have you used them for other Benz stuff? I need somebody to replace my supercharger pulley bearing.
Old 03-03-2011, 06:43 PM
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If anyone needs a mechanic in the East bay, Leo has been my mechanic for the last 5 years. he's done all my mods and maintenance and I TOTALLY TRUST him. It's a small one man shop so he can stand behind all his work.

He's reliable and affordable. I can't say enuf good things about him.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/san-pablo-european-berkeley
Old 03-06-2011, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Glasgow Gold
That seems like a very interesting shop - thanks for the info. Have you used them for other Benz stuff? I need somebody to replace my supercharger pulley bearing.
Been there, too. They did my CPS. Brought it in around noon and picked it up by late afternoon. Labor cost was ok but I think they made a killing with the part itself. I still recommend them if you're in the San Jose area.
Old 03-06-2011, 04:30 PM
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I went there for the Xenon=Present setting yesterday, took about 10 minutes, $40. Tech checked it twice to make sure it stuck. They definitely didnt have a shortage of cars to work on, lot was so full I could hardly drive in.

Installed the Bi-Xenons shortly after (not at the STAR place), all I can say is wow they are way better than the Depo H7 Projectors I had.
Old 03-06-2011, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by omagicbum
I'm curious too if anyone in the southbay has star?
I wish MbenzNL was around. I want to tweek some setting in developer mode.
What kind of settings are there? The only one I've found is the fuel mod. I can't read German so it would be hard to just go in there and see what's there.
Old 03-09-2011, 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by 91RS
What kind of settings are there? The only one I've found is the fuel mod. I can't read German so it would be hard to just go in there and see what's there.
From what I remember off the top of my head
Date display in the status line
Outside temperature/MPH (switchable) in the status line
Fuel tank content display.
Auto folding mirrors when locking/unlocking. Requires electrically folding mirrors.
Radio frequency/memory searching via the steering wheel
Tire pressure loss warning (passive)
Old 03-09-2011, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by element913
I went there for the Xenon=Present setting yesterday, took about 10 minutes, $40. Tech checked it twice to make sure it stuck. They definitely didnt have a shortage of cars to work on, lot was so full I could hardly drive in.

Installed the Bi-Xenons shortly after (not at the STAR place), all I can say is wow they are way better than the Depo H7 Projectors I had.
quick question for a benz newbie.. if my 02 C32 has the projector housing with non-hid bulbs.. i need to do the xenon=present setting to avoid throwing codes?

.. then i can install my own set of HIDs for headlights and fogs without getting any annoying errors codes?

could you have gotten the chrip sound also while you were at it? the norway setting or something?

thanks!

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