Star 23

I just spoke with MB US about my car slipping into park when at a light or reversing. She told me to take my car to a MB dealership for evaluation and repair.

I don't know why the mechanic I took my car to repeatedly could'nt say that. I learn that those outside MB dealership can't diagnose all MB problems.

Looking for recommendations for MB deanships in the DC Metro that has good mechanics. Silver Spring is not one of them.

Thanks in advance.

juanmor40

and there are issues MB dealerships cannot diagnose because of the lack of expertise (having a Star Logo means nothing except access to databases/specialist tools), nor admit it is their fault. Some problems have been resolved/diagnosed by non-MB dealerships.

It is a blame game, and you are the one to make your specific decisions, and live with the consequences.

Star 23

I should have labeled this post "frustrated me"

For a year now, (yup a year) I have been back and forth to the same MB mechanic near me for the same problem. As much as I enjoy the convenience of having a shop nearby, I just can't keep driving a car that randomly slip into park. Once it starts, it don't stop until the car rest overnight.

I don't particularly like MB dealership mechanics. My experience with them has never been good, and I have had my car for almost 9 years.

If I can find a MB mechanic that has experience with my particular car problem and fix it, I would be a happy camper.

I'm frustrated, and contemplating trading the car in for a Nissan.

juanmor40

I understand. I read your other related thread.

A few months ago, I had the same issue when parking, as my brother had while driving my car a few weeks later. I found two error codes during the scan related to the "shifting module" (forgot the official name for it), deleted the codes and they have not come back yet (fingers crossed). It also did not respond to shifting until I turned the car off, and restarted. At the moment I do not have any idea how to proceed.

Star 23

I don't have the expertise to fix my own car.

S-Prihadi

I feel your frustration 23

You probably reluctant of indie workshop...yes ? but.....
MD as in Maryland, correct ?
Pine Hollow seems 200 miles if from MB Silver Spring to State College PA.
http://www.pinehollowdiagnostics.com/

No wonder Ivan is smart and progress very fast and far, he has the proper education
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Physics (with a minor in Mechanical Engineering) at Cornell University
http://www.pinehollowdiagnostics.com/about.html

His Father must be a scientist :
My dad, who always fueled my curiosity for how mechanical and electrical things worked, was invited to work at theParticle Accelerator Laboratory at Cornell University.
WOW !!


https://www.chess.cornell.edu/develo...act-undulators
WOW WOW !!!

If you go the Pine Hollow, we all can watch the video too, of your repair and it will be so AWESOME !!!!!
Hence I keep reminding you of Pine Hollow.

AllPhonesAretap

Mercedes Benz of Silver Spring Off of Briggs chaney road has the lowest prices in the area to my understanding. Whatever you do, DO NOT go to Magic Benz in Beltsville, they're running scams! I've heard good things about Mercedes Benz of Cockeysville. Mercedes Benz of Tyson's Corner has ALL the parts, they're the distributor for our area if I'm not mistaken. Finally, there's Euro Motorcars of Bethesda and Euro Motorcars of Germantown. Independent Mechanics in this area are a joke for the most part. However, there's " White Oak Mercedes repair Guarantees a 40% discount on whatever the dealer has quote you, they're the only shop I've heard about for Mercedes through word of mouth that knows what they're doing and treats your car with respect.

Finally, I work at a dealership that is not afraid to work on your car. We're a large dealer network and we have a relationship with Euromotorcars to have them fix the benzes our technicians can't fix- my job is in Gaithersburg.

EDIT: I just re read your post, why do you not like Mercedes Benz of Silver Spring? I tried 2 Indie mechanics then realized I can fix it myself for what these goof ***** charge. I'll be forward with you, a lot of the workers treat you some type of way when you're a minority in a nice car, I'm an amerimutt but they still treat me like **** and I have a degree from University of Maryland- it is what it is.

If you're not going to silver spring, that leaves cockeysville, tyson's corner, and euro motorcars. it's probably like the guy said and you just need to have it hooked into Star Diagnostic System or Xentry and someone will knowledge poking around in there should clear up the issue

nc211

The one in Bethesda has a decent reputation, and the one down in Alexandria has a good reputation for repair work. I think Bethesda is EuroMotors. I take mine to an Indi on the VA side that is basically run by the son of the Sr. Tech of the Bethesda dealership. Those are the only two I have been told are good. I've never used the Alexandria one, I bought mine from the Bethesda one in 2017. Had a somewhat bad experience on one repair at the Bethesda one, but that was years ago and won't hold it against them anymore (brake rotor issue, a simple and stupid mistake made by them, they fixed it).

Don't go to the Penske owned dealerships though. Those are the ones that I've had the worst experiences with for some reason. Their go-to answer is usually "can't duplicate the problem" or "need to new tires".

kajtek1

Your issue is most likely faulty door switch, meaning this might take lot of time to troubleshoot, while there is no profit on parts markup.
Dealers have fancy computers, who should pinpoint the issue, but then 1 hr (minimum) will run close to $300 and they did not repair anything else.
Than I think that "good and dealership" is oxymoron.
There is good reason why common name is stealership.
I would call local auto-electric shops and check if they work on MB. If not- talking to your dealer SA can go long way.
I would highlight "can" as 2 SA at my local dealership are idiots with no knowledge.
But I drive diesels in state where diesel cars are white elephants.

Star 23

Oh Wow! I don't know what "Indie" means. But I do appreciate the reply.

PA is way too far for me to drive for service. I am in MD, but not the Balt area.

I wish I was closer, I would definitely give this service a shot.

Shopping for a new car is where I'm reluctant. That's were my mind is at right now.

These days, I don't want to buy a car that's high on the list for auto theft.

Star 23

I purchased my car from MB of Silver Spring. And I never had a good experience with them maintenance wise. Each time my car was ever serviced there for annual, I had problems. Moreover, I told them after purchasing my car that it needed a wheel alignment. The dude actually asked me, "how do you know it needs an alignment." Really? I felt insulted.

This is what I can recall from them from the top of my head. I'm sure theirs more, because I don't trust them at all.
1. Took my car in for an annual service, after picking it up; I had to pull off the highway because the car was shaking so bad. They had to bring me a loaner car and wait for a tow truck.
2. I took my car there again for annual maintence and when I was leaving the lot I felt some shaking. So I bought it back, and the dude actually said it was motor mount problems. What, am I an idiot. Mind you, it wasn't shaking when I bought it in. How the ..... can it be motor mounts? Fortunately, after a few months, the shaking stopped.

After that, I stop going to MB of SS, except when it needed a battery. It was towed there.

They don't build trust, they build mistrust with their clients. And the make no effort to improve that.

They are always upselling services for issues that don't exist.

The MB repair shop I took it to, claim they hooked my car up on their diagnostic system and road test it to try duplicating the issue. They use the one starting with X.

Star 23

Wow! I heard that too many times.

S-Prihadi

Indi or indie is independent workshop , not MB dealer workshop.

I first heard the term for film https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_film
But it seems it applies for workshop too ... LOL.

I later learnt here of Stealership https://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...rm=stealership



I for one due to my itchy hands and curious to learn, do not like MB dealership because I can not be present close or at my car when they are working on it,
that workshop zone is off limits to customers.

I have a trusted indi workshop or I DIY whenever I can for exercise sake and the fun.
My indi uses old buildings so the cement only floor has collected grime and grease, sort of. I don't like non clean workshop floor.
I like cleanliness of a workshop floor to be like my own car garage.

I am also very fussy on how a workshop will lift/jack my car.
I carry my own jack pad adapters (4) whenever I go to any workshop or tire shop.
I don't like my OE jack pad to be squeezed wrong and not look pristine.

AllPhonesAretap

i've heard of that guy before lol

Star 23

To All

I want to thank everyone for helping me to make the decision to keep my car and understanding what is wrong with it.

I will get the starter replace during the annual B maintenance service. Recently I have not had any problems with the car throwing itself into park.

I just need to save a little money before taking my car in for service in March.

Again, thank you for your generous knowledge. I do appreciate it.

S-Prihadi

Why the Starter motor ?

Reallyjustbob

@nc211 what is the name of the indie shop in VA you use ?