Workshop is driving me crazy
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Joined: Jul 2011
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E500 2003
Workshop is driving me crazy
Workshop is driving me crazy, a have a 2003 E500 that I bought in 2007
. When I fisrt got it and sen it for maintenance and end up paying almost $6,500 
for repairs I didnt know had to be done. Of course I did pre-authorized it but I figured at the time I had a secured auto now. Now at 70K miles the maintenance lght comes on again, and I send the car and they did an allegally cortesy check of the unit for free. The original maintenance was $199.95( oil tune up) but after they finish the call me and told me that the car was not in driven condition because the rear left side was down. I told them that the car was fine when I left it and they say that its not the first time that the air springs bag blows out, that they seen it before and that the car could not be driven. They also tell me that the Crank shaft sensor needs to be repalce and the auxiliary battery. After all I end up paying almost $4K again for servicing the car. I mean this people charge $120.00 in labor for chaging a battery, incredible, I do it for free many times. Im done with my MB Im selling it for whatever I can get and its sad because it rides like a feather falling from the sky, no noise at all, but that silence its too expensive.
Anyone knows how to lower maintenance cost on MB? Where you get OEM parts at a better price than the dealer?
Anyone expirience this problem with air bags blown out suddenly?
. When I fisrt got it and sen it for maintenance and end up paying almost $6,500 for repairs I didnt know had to be done. Of course I did pre-authorized it but I figured at the time I had a secured auto now. Now at 70K miles the maintenance lght comes on again, and I send the car and they did an allegally cortesy check of the unit for free. The original maintenance was $199.95( oil tune up) but after they finish the call me and told me that the car was not in driven condition because the rear left side was down. I told them that the car was fine when I left it and they say that its not the first time that the air springs bag blows out, that they seen it before and that the car could not be driven. They also tell me that the Crank shaft sensor needs to be repalce and the auxiliary battery. After all I end up paying almost $4K again for servicing the car. I mean this people charge $120.00 in labor for chaging a battery, incredible, I do it for free many times. Im done with my MB Im selling it for whatever I can get and its sad because it rides like a feather falling from the sky, no noise at all, but that silence its too expensive. Anyone knows how to lower maintenance cost on MB? Where you get OEM parts at a better price than the dealer? Anyone expirience this problem with air bags blown out suddenly?
Last edited by ricky122965; Jul 29, 2011 at 05:19 PM. Reason: forgot question
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 169
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From: Socal
06' w211 E500 Sport
Hi Ricky, I see this is your first post - welcome!
Unfortunately, you should have made your first post BEFORE you purchased the e 500. The 03 years especially had major mechanical problems, which were ironed out as the years went on. I have an 06 and have hardly any problems.
Also, 120/hr for labor is outrageous, and so are those dollar amounts for repairs. It sounds like you need to look in the forum for reputable independent mercedes specialists, not the dealership....
Lastly, if you are car savy, there are tons of DIY links here, which show you step by step how to do maintenance items, including how to replace the air suspension...
Keep your head up!
Unfortunately, you should have made your first post BEFORE you purchased the e 500. The 03 years especially had major mechanical problems, which were ironed out as the years went on. I have an 06 and have hardly any problems.
Also, 120/hr for labor is outrageous, and so are those dollar amounts for repairs. It sounds like you need to look in the forum for reputable independent mercedes specialists, not the dealership....
Lastly, if you are car savy, there are tons of DIY links here, which show you step by step how to do maintenance items, including how to replace the air suspension...
Keep your head up!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Workshop is driving me crazy, a have a 2003 E500 that I bought in 2007. When I fisrt got it and sen it for maintenance and end up paying almost $6,500 for repairs I didnt know had to be done. Of course I did pre-authorized it but I figured at the time I had a secured auto now. Now at 70K miles the maintenance lght comes on again, and I send the car and they did an allegally cortesy check of the unit for free. The original maintenance was $199.95( oil tune up) but after they finish the call me and told me that the car was not in driven condition because the rear left side was down. I told them that the car was fine when I left it and they say that its not the first time that the air springs bag blows out, that they seen it before and that the car could not be driven. They also tell me that the Crank shaft sensor needs to be repalce and the auxiliary battery. After all I end up paying almost $4K again for servicing the car. I mean this people charge $120.00 in labor for chaging a battery, incredible, I do it for free many times. Im done with my MB Im selling it for whatever I can get and its sad because it rides like a feather falling from the sky, no noise at all, but that silence its too expensive. Anyone knows how to lower maintenance cost on MB? Where you get OEM parts at a better price than the dealer? Anyone expirience this problem with air bags blown out suddenly?
. When I fisrt got it and sen it for maintenance and end up paying almost $6,500 for repairs I didnt know had to be done. Of course I did pre-authorized it but I figured at the time I had a secured auto now. Now at 70K miles the maintenance lght comes on again, and I send the car and they did an allegally cortesy check of the unit for free. The original maintenance was $199.95( oil tune up) but after they finish the call me and told me that the car was not in driven condition because the rear left side was down. I told them that the car was fine when I left it and they say that its not the first time that the air springs bag blows out, that they seen it before and that the car could not be driven. They also tell me that the Crank shaft sensor needs to be repalce and the auxiliary battery. After all I end up paying almost $4K again for servicing the car. I mean this people charge $120.00 in labor for chaging a battery, incredible, I do it for free many times. Im done with my MB Im selling it for whatever I can get and its sad because it rides like a feather falling from the sky, no noise at all, but that silence its too expensive. Anyone knows how to lower maintenance cost on MB? Where you get OEM parts at a better price than the dealer? Anyone expirience this problem with air bags blown out suddenly?However I also own the same car with the same failures you described. Fortunately I had a 100000 warranty. But airsprings do fail IMO too early on this car. Ball joints, and crankshaft sensor are common failures and it is possible to do this work yourself. There are many threads on how to do this work.
The real secret is stay out of the dealers shop unless really necessary.
I agree with you though this car has been a failure headache for me and I look forward to selling it. The down side is the economy is so bad my retirement account can't afford a new car now so I am stuck at 110000 miles and wondering what will fail next.
