Remrac

My brakes started to squeal so i took my GLE400 in to have them looked at. Dealer says im about 85% done with pads and rotors. He then told me they would start at $2200 to replace. Hot damn I thought $1400 for my Infiniti Q60 was alarming. Just wanted to make sure that sounds right. I did notice they are charging $195 an hour for labor so I guess that adds up quickly. Part of the cost to own an MB i guess?

threeMBs

Suggestion:

1. Buy Brembo rotors at www.brembostoreusa.com, save 50-65% over OEM rotors (IMHO Brembos are at least as good as OEM rotors)
2. Buy OEM pads at many online Authorized Mercedes Benz dealers at about 30% off MSRP, parts.mbobr.com is just one example (there are several)
3. Have your dealer install above parts or better yet have a competent shop install them for about 1/2 the dealer's price.

By following above, you will be under $1K instead of $2K+.

chassis

If you do your own work, have a look at the DIY linked in my signature below.

I did rear pads and rotors (OEM parts from mbparts.mbusa.com) for around $400. Front will be more expensive so say $600. Is $1200 premium at the dealer worth it to you? Go to an indy shop for a quote. Brakes are easy peasy. A reputable indy shop can do as good a job on brakes as the dealer.

threeMBs

At mbparts.mbusa.com one pays list. At the Authorized MB Dealers online (there are many, just google a p/n and you will get many choices), the prices on brake parts are about 30% +/- discount off the list.

amusa

I just buy OEM parts online (Amazon, ECSTuning, etc) and you can do it yourself or bring it to an independent shop.

I find it easy to have the part number when ordering parts online.

gearFX

While you're in there (or whether you replace them yourself or pay a shop to do it), have a look at the parking brake actuators on each rear brake. Sometimes they partially seize or stick and the inner pad will be worn significantly more than the outer pad, and that problem will continue as soon as you insert new pads (reducing pad life prematurely) unless you replace the parking actuator. If the inner and outer pad thickness are comparable, then the parking brake actuator is probably fine.