MB Enthusiast

I just made a move to Orlando FL and I went to the local dealer for an oil change. While there the dealer told me that the car was over heating. I have never seen the car go over 85 decrees. I don't beleive this is too hot is it?

They tell me I need new thermostat,coolant and fan clutch.

They also tell me that the bushings on my shifter is bad and it will be $120.00 to replace.

Help. My local guy in Massachussetts was great and I never had to question his recommendations but I don't know about this new dealer

Rafael Grullón

That is not hot at all. It could go to almost 100 and is still normal.

zam2000

If the themostat or fan clutch went bad, you would have the temp go into red-zone. Anywhere less than 100 is in normal range.

MB Enthusiast

The car has 174,000 on it and I have not replaced any of these items previously.

I understand that the Radiator,thermostat,hoses,fan clutch and shifter bushing all go somewhere after 150,k

Is this correct

If so would it be smart to view this as preventitive maintenance?

I drive 50k a year and I am now in Florida for the Northeast

The dealer tells me all the above will cost me 1,550.00 but it seems high

I have looked up the parts but I know the dealer will cost more.

Do you think the price is in line.

Help I am in a new area with no references!

zam2000

Yes, at around 100K or so, you should replace the themostat, belt, and fan clutch. Fan clutch might show symptom of degrading (turn not as powerful, temperature raise a bit), so is belt (crack). But themostat, you wouldn't have a clue: work perfect one day, break the next, and car will immediate go into overheat.

Themostat cost about $20 in part, about 1/2 hour to replace
Belt run $40 part, about 1-2 hour labor
Fan clutch run about $200-250, and 2-3 hour to replace, but if you change fan clutch, you should save on labor for belt, since you will have to take the belt out anyway.

I can't see how it can go $1.5K, you might want to try independent shop, but definitely at this mileage, these things need to be replaced (along w/ transmission service, fuel filter)

MB Enthusiast

The price included the radiator and hoses.

They have not yet been replaced and I was thinking I should do this as well


Thank you for taking the time to reply

Green E-300 DT

I cannot see how any shop would even try to charge one hour for
labor let alone two hours to change out that belt.

Also, two to three hours to replace the fan clutch? Come on now. Be serious!

zam2000

I'm just quoting from the software. Most shop don't charge by how long the job actually take (the themo probably take 15 to replace), but by how the software/book tell them.

Note that even w/ that with that labor quote, it comes out nowhere near the $1.5K. Now that he said it includes radiator & stuff, it make sense.

This is a reason why most shop don't want people to stay and watch mechanic working on car (beside the insurance liability purpose). Some people would argue "why are you charging me 1/2 hour for 5 min job", or "why is this and that counted separately while I saw you worked on them together" (working on belt while wait for oil to drain in oil change).

MB Enthusiast

I am not being cheap. I have run my own service company with 32 techs in the field and I know about overhead.

I just don't like to be taken advantage of and with limited knowledge it is hard to assess the cost.

Do you think a competent radiator show could handle the service I described or do you is there something tricky about this particular job?