monstaloc

Hello,

Dealer wanted almost 1000bucks for front pads, rotors and labor. I ended up getting rotors and pads on my own (and the ones I wanted, cross drilled and pads that emit less dust), now I found a place that will do the labor for 150 (2 hours of work). Is this a good deal? They seemed okay, lots of clients, and knew right away my car had SBC and it needed to be disconnected and then reconnected (even tho some posts say this is an easy process). Any comments? Thanks.

mbzw211

1000.00 is alot. I paid around 450.00 for front pads and rotors at the dealership.
Surprisngly the rears cost more than the front.

ElDiabloJoe

My local after-warranty independent repair shop wants a grand for all four brakes and rotors...

EDJ

glassJAw

I've seen a lot of aftermarket pads & rotors that make a lot of noise when installed. Also remember that independent shops don't care if your brakes make noise. If you get them done at a dealership and they make noise they will usually take care of it free of cost.

EDIT: And yes, $1000 for pads and rotors seems a little high.

Air Marshall Eldritch

Everyone I checked with (dealer and independant) seems to charge just the fronts at 4 hours labor. I can't imagine it would take my dog that long to finish this job, but perhaps I'm missing something.

vettdvr

I am sure my dealer has much higher skilled workers than anyone else , because he changed my front pads with out authorization and then charged me the meezley sum of $330 for JUST FRONT PADS.

But not an issue I just paid quietly since he had done the work .

1) Fool me once shame on you
2) Fool me twice shame on me

Ok,, they got me once.

Jim

Flash Gordon

I have done quite a few brake jobs on my own and none of them would take that long, even with the disconnetion of the SBC, which I have not done yet. Based on the feedback of those who did it, it should be an hour job for the front.

Air Marshall Eldritch

I confirmed with a MB technician, who shall remain nameless, that it takes at most 1 hour for a complete front job.
However, he wanted to point out that other complex jobs cannot possibly be finished in the time that MB will pay for.

cyclerider

So they design brakes that wear themselves out way before they should, and then overcharge to fix them? WTF???? Good thing we all have money falling out of our a$$es.

paulv

A complete brake job on the front of all the cars I ever owned only took me an hour, and I'm not a pro tech -- just a weekend mechanic flunky!!

I would agree with your tech friend and I believe that MB does put a squeeze on their dealerships.

BTW, I like your messge caption -- that's one of my favorite movies.

Regards,
paul.

hellolarry

I paid $450 total for front & rear brakes at my MB dealer.

paulv

That's a great price considering I can buy aftermarket rotors/pads for close to that amount and have to provide my own labor.

Regards,
paul...

hellolarry

Just come on down to Atlanta!

Air Marshall Eldritch

If the distance is around 1600 miles RT, or 4 tanks of gas roughly, it actually would be cheaper to drive down there next time.

revstriker

Not sure if he meant pads and rotors, or just pads. OEM pads for an 03 E320 will run you about $150 for all 4 wheels. Add another $205 to that for OEM Rotors and your looking at about $355 for parts. I'm guessing that the $450 did not include the rotors.

FYI: These are NOT prices through the stealership.

monstaloc

I paid roughly 350 for front porterfield pads and front cross drilled zimmerman rotors. saved the labor by having my dad do it. Well, it did cost me a day at the movie$, which in turn, probably would've ended up the same price as labor.

hellolarry

The price was just pads. I don't think you should need rotors also, unless you're just not watching the pad wear or you have a lot of miles on them.

Air Marshall Eldritch

Depending on who you ask, rotors should be changed with every pad replacement. I, however, feel every other pad change would suffice.

hellolarry

I guess I don't replace them until they need repacing.

revstriker

Just one thing to consider: The dealer typically only sees your car once per year or so. When they look at the rotors, they will recommend a change if it appears they will be "well worn" in the next 12 months.

I would side more with McLean Stevenson in getting them replaced when they are needed. Of course, I doubt I would ever have MB do my brakes so it would end up being myself.

monstaloc

I didn't know a question about how much a brake job should cost would turn into a discussion about when rotors should be changed.

paulv

I saw a thread on another forum that went off on a tangent so far that people weren't talking about MBs anymore!

Considering that hellolarry paid $450 for a set of pads in Atlanta, I'll stay in Boston.

Regards,
paul...

Sovren

25,000 miles on a 2 year old E320 and now my dealer quotes me $609.00 for front pads and rotors and $629.00 for rears.

I understand the whole luxury car price gouging thing, but come on. I have owned 7 mercedes over the past 18 years and I have not had to put brakes on any of them. I know of no other cars that need rotors in 25,000 miles. I have had a few cars for 70K, 90K miles and think I replaced the pads once on each of them. Rotors shouldn't wear out in 25K.

I called an independant local shop to see what they quote, and I am waiting for a reponse.

On top of it I am about due for tires too. There goes another grand.

WEBSRFR

My Volvo S80 needed new brakes around 15K miles and based on what I've seen here in the past, I think 25K isn't that bad for the newer models. What is bad is the ridiculous price quoted to you! Shop around for an independent shop that knows what they are doing and give them your business instead!

I think part of the excessive break wear bight be related to features like traction and stability control that use brakes at individual wheels to control the car. If you drive conservatively/normally, this should not be such a big issue though.

Keep us posted on what you find out at your independent place.

Sovren

Pads and rotors all around for $800.00. Better than the $1238.00 that dealer is quoting.

Independant shop said they do MBZ brake jobs all the time and know about disconnecting SBC before and reconnecting after. I am still going to shop around, but 800 is better than 1200.

My gripe is mosltly that it needs rotors. Pads, I have no problem with at 25,000..... but rotors??? Thats really quick.