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Repair shop is $180 an hour (brakes, flex disc, and thrust arms et al.)
So I have a 2006 C55 AMG and am headed to Korea (think you Army). I want my wife to be able to drive it while I'm gone (some/not a lot) but want to insure everything is taken care of before hand. I want to replace these parts, just need suggestions of whats better for the money (bang for the buck)
Brakes and Rotors- Akebono (EUR847 front EUR603 rear) pads with zimmermann cross drilled rotors (400362820 front) I need suggestions for the rear (?)
Thrust Arm Bushings (I'm thinking Lemfoerder)
Control Arm Bushings (I'm thinking Lemfoerder)
Flex Disc I have no idea (help) I'm thinking Lemfoerder
Additionally I need to replace the REAR MAIN SEAL of the CRANKCASE, what would labor cost on this, as the person that fixed the mounts quoted me $595 to do this. Sounds like a good deal to me but I'm simply a guy that changes spark plugs, air filters, and oil.
Help...
Like I said the Mercedes shop is around $180 an hour here in San Antonio and I just simply can't afford to get everything fixed at their prices. Also if something is easy to do, let me know. I'm sure I'll take a look at it doing it myself.
Thanks for the in dept reply. Have you had any noise from the brakes and how is their over all performance?
The videos are good and yeah I'll probably knock those two things out.
$180 an hour is the price that Mercedes gave me. There are a few other shops around that will do $120 an hour. Still rates like this make me want to go to school to be a mechanic.
The $595 is a Korean guy that has done work on my vehicle already, as long as it's nuts, bolts, and typical work that all cars have; I trust him.
I wonder if he would do the brake job cheaper since I'll probably get him to do the bushings and arms?
I have those exact Zimmerman's and hate them. My butt-dyno felt no stopping gains but I definitely felt the grinding-like pedal feel.
Had my flex disc done and car felt noticeably smoother. 16 new plugs helped too. And get that $595. rear main seal price in writing because that's less than 1/2 price.
That 2nd video on a flex disc change aint gona cut it for a C55. That car in the video is a Merc yeah but it aint as straight forward as that guy did it. You will battle a bit more at the rear than he did on our cars but as for the front, that's another story on its own.
The brakes is an easy job. Just ensure you change brake fluid when you doing this job.
As mentioned above, that rear main seal is a PITA and at that cost, get it in writing and a descriptive detail to next to that for the labour that will be carried out. I thought of it myself as mine has a leak and the main seal from agents cost roughly $40 in my country. But now for me to do the job myself won't be straight forward as I thought it might be. Well if the guy is at it, he might do a gearbox oil and filter service whilst at it if you haven't done it and then do the seal as well as the flex disc and probably get him to change the carrier and propshaft bearing. Atleast then you know you good to go for another 150 000km or more depends on your driving. NB exhaust have to be removed out of the way for the propshaft to come out as well as heat shields and covers and O2 sensors being removed.
There are a few other shops around that will do $120 an hour. Still rates like this make me want to go to school to be a mechanic.
If you're in the army, shouldn't your base have a resource center with a free garage with access to a lift and tools? I remember every base I was stationed at had a garage with a lift tool rentals for free; used to work on my turbo eclipse there.
If you're in the army, shouldn't your base have a resource center with a free garage with access to a lift and tools? I remember every base I was stationed at had a garage with a lift tool rentals for free; used to work on my turbo eclipse there.
We do have two auto hobby shops close by but there is none on Fort Sam. I will go and use their stuff, so it makes it easier on the labor part.
I'm more interested in the parts and whats best for the money that is going to be spent. I can get Zimmermann Rotors (Z coated) for about $120 a piece... should I save some money and just do the EBC?
I'm just looking for the best part suggestions I can get.
Hey, the $595 is in writing and I trust the guy doing it. So your Zimmermann rotors gave you grief, what kind of pads did you use with them? So if it's not zimmermann, than what do you suggest? I did the plugs probably 5000 miles ago, fair improvement in power after doing that. Just need to get the rest of this stuff under control.
We do have two auto hobby shops close by but there is none on Fort Sam. I will go and use their stuff, so it makes it easier on the labor part.
I'm more interested in the parts and whats best for the money that is going to be spent. I can get Zimmermann Rotors (Z coated) for about $120 a piece... should I save some money and just do the EBC?
I'm just looking for the best part suggestions I can get.
I've been using Zimmerman rotors for years and never had any issues with them. They work well on my C55 with the Akebono Euro pads. AutohausAZ sells the Zimmerman Coat-Z's for $95.41 each with free shipping.
We do have two auto hobby shops close by but there is none on Fort Sam. I will go and use their stuff, so it makes it easier on the labor part.
I'm more interested in the parts and whats best for the money that is going to be spent. I can get Zimmermann Rotors (Z coated) for about $120 a piece... should I save some money and just do the EBC?
I'm just looking for the best part suggestions I can get.
I used OE replacement rotors for 80/piece online and akebono ceramics (40?) (dust free) when I did my fronts...was around a total of 200 for the fronts. They are just as good as stock, if not better. Especially now that they're dust free.
hey @DriveMyC55 Long shot! haha . ..how happy were you with your buddy replacing your rear main seal? My C55 needs it bad, and guibos, transmission oil and filter, and carrier/prop shaft bearing.
Had my flex disc done and car felt noticeably smoother. 16 new plugs helped too. And get that $595. rear main seal price in writing because that's less than 1/2 price.
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