My dad accidentally hit a half empty 12 oz can of soda onto the center console. The car is stuck in limp mode and we took it to MB of Tampa. The damage is the following (per their breakdown):

2001 E320 (out of warranty)

Body Harness $1150
ETC Control Unit $596.70
Fluid $11.21
Connectors $8.00
Lock $.78
Misc. $200

LABOR: 45hrs = $5000

Total w. Tax plus Shop Fees = $7967.59

What to do? I'm thinking of calling AAA and getting the car out of there and taking it to an independent repair shop. I know of one in Tampa I have used, but that has been almost 3 years ago.

Question 1: What do you guys think of taking it to an independent repair shop?
Question 2: What do you guys think of pulling the body harness from a salvage yard (they have several here)?
Question 3: Anyone in Tampa on the board that has experience with a shop?

Thanks.

i grew up in tampa and we would often take our older benzes to this place called MMW...i think was the name of it. It was only a few streets back off dale mabry, real close to the dealership. they seemed to do just fine with the work/service. i dont remember what i thought about the cost compaired to mb but it can't be as much!

Thanks...I just spoke with an independent shop and they told me the repair shouldn't take 45 hours and that they could do the work. The shop owner did tell me that since MB says we need to replace the ETC unit that the final activation of the ETC control unit would have to be done my MB (at an estimated cost of a "couple hundred dollars").

Whatever the case...out of warranty repair sucks.

You sure it wasn't you that spilled the soda??

Nope...I've already done something similar in my other car (CLK430), but it was under warranty. Besides, I'm 39 yrs old, not 19. I'm just helping pops out on his car, because he can't stand dealing with service people.

Don't drink & drive :p

Where exactly did this soda spill that caused all of this damage. I may never take a coffee cup into my car again.

ETC Control Unit $596.70
Spacer $8.00
Lock $.78
ATF (tranny fluid) $12.00

MB of Tampa recoding $185

Labor $225.00

Total w/ tax $1114.40

He stated that the short was not from the spilled soda. He stated that when he took out the ETC unit that it was full of TRANSMISSION fluid. Apparently, there was a leak from the transmission plug (I'm not very technical so I apologize) underneath, which flowed THROUGH the harness wires and ended up in the ETC unit.

He stated that he replaced the ETC unit, removed as much of the tranny fluid from the harness, and replaced the leaky transmission plug. He estimates that this was a problem that has been brewing for at least 2-3 YEARS and that is just bad engineering on MB's part.

He stated the reason they wanted to charge 8K was they were going to replace the wiring harness completely (mucho labor - still unreasonable).

So...MB was going to make us think it was the soda in the transmission boot area which caused the short. Thanks a lot MB.

This is the reason(s) why I don't take my car to dealer(s) for service, they think we are all rich driving an MB, when in fact we drive it because of its engineering. I am lucky to have found an independent shop which runs by 2 guys who used to work for MB dealer, better yet these 2 guys were master mechanic at previous dealer(s) so I know that my car is ALWAYS done right. My suggestion is to find an independent dealer that you trust and start building a good working relationship with those guys, you will be much happier