I think we should start a running thread on good MB repair shops in Greater Vancouver (from Vancouver all the way east to Abbotsford). A lot of our vehicles are getting older and need of diagnostics and repairs. Not all of us are DIYs, nor have the time or equipment to do it.

Please list places to go to instead of the dealer, that specializes in MB repairs and diagnostics (particularly for W124), will be honest in the repairs, and will do it at a fair hourly rate.

Also, include any bad/dishonest and ripoff places from your experiences. This way we can avoid these places.

 

My experience with Europe's Auto Repair in Langley.

I went there to change a flex disc on my W124. I noticed there were a lot of old MBs sitting in the parking lot that appeared to be sitting there for a long time. First warning sign.

He wasn't busy at all, and was able to work on my car the next day so I brought it in. A place that is not busy at all in an area that doesn't really have any other MB repair shops to compete with. And quite a few MB owners in the area too. Further, they have been in business for 30 years so you figure they should have a big customer base. This should have been my second warning sign. But I still went through with the repair as they seemed to know what they are doing.

Europe's Auto is owned by Paul Budai. He is originally from Hungary. He as 1 or 2 other employees. That is all.

The owner Paul Budai will RIP You OFF. He is the one that will book appointments and make the bills. I went in for a simple straightforward repair for my car. It was changing the flex disc off my driveshaft. He charged me 2.5 hours labour for this when it does not take more than an hour. He said it was the labour time quoted from Michellin's book. I showed him the maximum time you can charge right from the Mercedes repair manual which was 1.5 hours. I then asked him to see his book but he refused to show it to me.

He refused to budge and made a ridiculous lie that it took him 3 hours to do this. I reluctantly paid it as I needed my car. I called up MB Boundary Rd the next day and they said the job is 1 hours labour to 1.5 hours maximum. The service guy said we will charge you 1 hour, as that is all it will take, as it is a straightforward job..

So bottom line, Paul Budai and Europes Auto are dishonest, he will cheat you. You might think you are saving a few bucks on his hourly rate compared to the dealer (he charged me $96/hour - so not that cheap either), but he is majorily scamming you on the time he says it took him or is quoted in the repair manuals (which are already very generous than it actually takes to do the repair).

Note: He is clever and may give do a minor job (5 -10 minutes) at no charge which he offered to do for me. So you think you are getting a deal, but you will more than pay for it on the other repairs.

Stay away from Europe's Auto. You will get ripped off big time. Paul Budai is an older guy, seemed nice, so you first impressions are he is probably honest. Avoid this palce. I wound up paying a lot more than if I went to a MB dealer. I had to write this as I don't want anyone else to get ripped off by this place.

 

WhiteRock Sports and Imports, South Surrey

King George Hwy @ Crescent Rd.

Bart Blaack is the owner. He has been there for many years. Knows his MB's. He is busy with small staff. Bart prefers, I think, to do many smaller jobs, rather than a big job, as it ties up his resources too long.
This is a family business. I used to know the son, chief mechanic. These guys were honest with reasonable prices when I took my 16V there.