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After dropping my 2012 E350 with 71k miles at the dealer for the 'B' schedule service, the service advisor called to say that there's a rear brake line leak which could cause brake failure. The cost to fix is $3600+ USD.
Prior to this, there's not been a sign of any fluid leaks on the garage floor so this triggers a bit of skepticism. What do you all think? Can leaks spontaneously occur at the dealer?
Did you follow a bi-annual brake flush routine with this car? At this dealer? Is the estimate to replace all brake lines or just the one faulty line?
This is a real pickle situation to be in quite frankly.
If it were my vehicle and you had not noticed anything off when braking, it raises a RED flag.
I would visit the dealer personally and ask to see the point of failure, brake fluid color, and state of the reservoir. If there is nothing obviously broken, rusted, effectively leaking (not just humid) and you feel comfortable driving it to another dealer or trusted indy, I would definitely have a 2nd and possible 3rd opinion. Just be cautious when driving because it could be real.
Sometimes it is not only about the cost, but side effects of disarming a bunch of other components just because a SA wanted to push another service.
Here is just a sample of the price range for the hoses, let us say you are in bad luck and your model are twice as much, $100/axle x 2 axle x 2(unlucky) = $400 (in hoses) + 1hr/wheel x 4 x $200/hr = $1200. Still, I cannot see what that $3600 estimate implies. That means, they are planning to change some other very expensive part in the rear, I wonder what?
=== Stories ====
Been there twice with brake lines leaking on previous non-MB vehicles. Both times I blame myself for not flushing the brake fluid more often as KEY08 asked. Once, the brake line burst open on the left rear brake, corroded from the inside (old fluid with water content), and from the outside (winter salt environment in Canada). I have not looked into the W212 brake lines layout, but for my Toyota, it was a real pain to manually make the brake lines from the front to the rear. I did it and fortunately, I got them right the first time.
On MB Service Agent at dealerships, I have personal stories pushing non-needed services/repairs, so be cautious
1 - Sister takes her W166 for service (do not recall A or B), SA calls back with an estimate $1800 because brakes were in need of repair. Told her, let her husband call back to his SA (for his W211). Summary: she picked up her car with a $500+ bill (I guess B service). Brakes were done 20K miles later by an Indy this time.
2 - I took my W212 for service A (@30K) to a new MB dealer (2 miles from home), I wait for the car, SA comes back with "your throttle body requires some cleanup" at about $100. Told him I would do it at home, he left. I looked at the throttle body when replacing the air filter and spark plugs @65K and it looks like new, with barely any residue on my fingers. Never been to that dealer ever again, I drive 35miles for service at the dealer I purchased from, get a loaner anyways.
Those two are just a sample, I have a few other ones.
Being in Chicago, I'm guessing corrosion of one of the hard lines. $3600 is a lot for replacement of one or all four lines. The parts/materials are only a few hundred (for all lines)... the issue is the labor. To replace the rear lines, the subframe needs to be dropped or at least lowered a good amount. That entails a lot of work (dropping the rear subframe)... so it adds up. Depending on where the leak is, cutting out the section and repalcing with proper unions would be a lot less work.
It's also likely a "I don't want this job, so I'll quote it high"... assuming a semi-rusty car, it just opens up a lot a can of worms.
Definitely get a second or third opinion and price from other shops.
*edit*
maybe jumping the gun... maybe they stripped the bleeder and now there's a "leak". Best find out, first, what exactly is leaking...
Last edited by bmwpowere36m3; 07-23-2021 at 08:07 PM.
After dropping my 2012 E350 with 71k miles at the dealer for the 'B' schedule service, the service advisor called to say that there's a rear brake line leak which could cause brake failure. The cost to fix is $3600+ USD.
Prior to this, there's not been a sign of any fluid leaks on the garage floor so this triggers a bit of skepticism. What do you all think? Can leaks spontaneously occur at the dealer?
Why not go build a relationship with a good indy shop and save $2500. Ask for a 2nd opinion...
Many people want to believe only dealers can work on their special car. I think not.
Support local intelligence, Indy shops are well connected and don't need to extract as much money from each car to suport multiple bosses.
Our modern cars have split brake circuits, don't worry about pinholes. Timely maintenance helps prevent costly repairs.✌️
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; 07-23-2021 at 08:14 PM.
After dropping my 2012 E350 with 71k miles at the dealer for the 'B' schedule service, the service advisor called to say that there's a rear brake line leak which could cause brake failure. The cost to fix is $3600+ USD.
Prior to this, there's not been a sign of any fluid leaks on the garage floor so this triggers a bit of skepticism. What do you all think? Can leaks spontaneously occur at the dealer?
Sounds like you’re getting hosed down real good. For $3,600 you could replace every brake line in that car and the master cylinder. MB has a website that will show you what any part on any of their cars costs. You can figure service at $200 an hour.
07-23-2021, 05:22 PM
