<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRPELLE%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5 Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtyp e namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.EmailStyle15 {mso-style-type:personal; mso-style-noshowes; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ascii-font-family:Arial; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:windowtext;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshowes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> I finally found a good independent here in the Charlotte / <st1:city w:st="on">Huntersville</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">NC</st1:state> area after 2 years of looking having moved from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:place></st1:city>. I have three Mercedes (2003 S500, 2005 SL500 and a 1998 E320) so while I like to do whatever work I can myself obviously from time to time one of the cars will need servicing. The dealer in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:city></st1:place> was great but my experiences in NC have been both expensive and also not up to par on the service side. <o:p></o:p>
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In case anyone in the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:place></st1:city> area is interested there is a place in Huntersville called MB Mercedes Bimer. The owner’s name is Tony and the guy running the phone is usually Ray. Both of them were able to articulately speak to me about an Airmatic issue I was having on my S500 and the specific diagnostic process they would use to troubleshoot it. Having already studied the system myself I am not able to be BS’ed about it and two other Indy shops as well as the dealer just spouted out a bunch of nonsense. That earned them my business from the start. Add to the fact they typically match prices for parts you are bale to find on your own (A valve block and compressor in my case), charge a reasonable amount for labor and are there until 8pm every night and you can’t go wrong.<o:p></o:p>
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I typically dread finding someone to service my Mercedes and I know from being on here for a long time many of you do as well. I can only speak for my experience but if you are within reasonable distance of Charlotte NC, this is the place to go. I’m glad my two year search is over. The local dealer will not see a penny of my money again after trying to rip me off on my SL500 with an ABC issue that they wanted $2600 to fix that I took care of myself for $450. Making a profit is understandable. Gouging the public is not, hope this helps at least one of you out.<o:p></o:p>
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Robert<o:p></o:p>