2014 E350 wagon subframe.
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2011 Mercedes E350 4Matic Wagon
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 266
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2011 Mercedes E350 4Matic Wagon
The good news: the dealer inspected the rear subframe and confirmed that it was rotted and covered under the extended warranty. The bad news: the dealer noticed that rear brake lines that go above the rear subframe to the rear brakes are showing rust and need to be replaced before failure at a quoted cost of $1800. The dealer "recommended" that the brake lines be replaced the same time the sub frame warranty work is performed. If done at a later date would incur approximately 24 hours of labor (!!!) to replace brake lines...wtf!!!
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From: WA State, USA
2014 Cummins, 2014 E250 Bluetec
Dont know for sure but if you have to drop the subframe for the brake lines that is the bulk of the work, sounds to me if they do it at the same time it should a much better deal then that since they are already getting paid to drop the subframe.
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2011 Mercedes E350 4Matic Wagon
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
The dealer quoted $1800 for the rear brake lines if they are done the same time as the subframe. I know the dealers upcharge but don't you think the "quoted" 24 hrs of labor to do the rear brake lines ( if I do it at a later date and not with the subframe work) is a bit excessive even if they have to drop the subframe?
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
The dealer quoted $1800 for the rear brake lines if they are done the same time as the subframe. I know the dealers upcharge but don't you think the "quoted" 24 hrs of labor to do the rear brake lines ( if I do it at a later date and not with the subframe work) is a bit excessive even if they have to drop the subframe?
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2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
If they are replacing all the way to the front, and all four brake lines this is a fair price, otherwise no, I did this job from master cylinder back, both rears, in 14 hours on jack stands in my garage and I'm 64. No sub=frame removal neccesary. copper-nickel brake lines and fittings were less than 200 dollars
, and the worst part is that for $1800 MB will use original brake lines which have already shown they do not last, i.e. basically throwing money out of the window.
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
The other point to be made is that there seems to many threads about rusted brake lines being replaced and the high cost of replacement but not actually many stories of brake lines that ended up leaking.
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2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
1 - First, a 1964 VW Beetle brake line broke just after the single circuit master cylinder
, @1984 (20 years run),2 - Second time, a 1993 Toyota Corolla rear brake line broke @2010 (17 years run but 11 of them in Ontario, Canada).
Definitely, a second opinion and estimate is needed before making any decision.
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Unfortunately, I know what it means that a brake line breaks while driving due to rust, twice in my life so far
1 - First, a 1964 VW Beetle brake line broke just after the single circuit master cylinder, @1984 (20 years run),
2 - Second time, a 1993 Toyota Corolla rear brake line broke @2010 (17 years run but 11 of them in Ontario, Canada).
Definitely, a second opinion and estimate is needed before making any decision.
1 - First, a 1964 VW Beetle brake line broke just after the single circuit master cylinder
, @1984 (20 years run),2 - Second time, a 1993 Toyota Corolla rear brake line broke @2010 (17 years run but 11 of them in Ontario, Canada).
Definitely, a second opinion and estimate is needed before making any decision.
I have had brake lines fail before but they'd just get the brake lines at the auto parts store and bend it to fit. That's why I knew about pumping the brakes when the brake lines fail and it's a split system so you only lose half your brakes when they fail but braking is much worse than half as the other half is doing twice as much work and can't quite do it. No one seems to sell pre-bent brake line kits for Mercedes so I guess the cost is probably just bending the lines to fit the old lines so an indy could probably do it just as easily as the Mercedes dealer but probably at 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
