w140loyalty

I recently took my 1992 400se to my mechanic for a tune up...the car has been very well maintained since new...my mechanic "Ravelli Motors" charged me $810.00 FOR THE "Tune Up" ...note he only changed 2 spark plugs and replaced 2 coils ($280.00 each) and charged me an additional $86.00 for an oil change...that's right almost $900.00!

Then a week later my "alternator" goes out...he charges me $700.00 to replace it-does a rebuilt alternator cost $600.00...
i have given the shop over $1700...note the car ran fine before the shop got there hands on it, it makes me a little leary...IS THIS PRICING REASONABLE...BEWARE OF "RAVELLI MOTORS.

vinamg

Something is definitely wrong. I have never heard of somebody changing both coils and two spark plugs. There is no reason to change a coil unless you had a major ignition problem (misfire or hesitation).

An alternator for your car is pretty expensive at a dealership. I'm guessing $500-$600 for MB rebuilt. That plus the oil change (for synthetic) is the only thing that sounds about right.

I recommend finding out why in the world did they change both coils and then find another shop for future repairs.

w140loyalty

Thanks, i will take your advise.

electric blue

I dont know how to clearly tell you this....But you been taken, not only once, but twice. It's a damn shame, that in todays world we have to worry about whether people will do the right thing or not. First thing first.....NEVER GO BACK THERE AGAIN. I pay about 100 dollars, for a rebuilt alternator. Granted you should have a professional install it, still shouldnt have costed you 700.00. Labor on that job is about and hr or less. Yes the shop is entitled to make a profit, but not that much. Talking about your tune-up. Those coils are under a hundred a piece, and spark plugs are under 2.00 a piece wholesale. I would personally report them to the BBB. I used to work in a shop, and i can tell you that some of these shop owners have complete control of your car. Theirs a joke in most shops that say once your car comes inside, you no longer own it. I have seen the worst situations that take advantage of the customer but put thousands of dollars in the shop owners pocket.

vinamg

Good point. I assumed it was a MB rebuilt because of the price. Make sure the alternator was from MB otherwise this shop is really something. A local alternator shop would probably charge less than $200 to rebuild, depending on what needs to be changed. If it came from the dealer there should be a Bosch Rebuilt sticker on it.

Brian Felts

Check out Mercedesshop.com they have been very helpful for me and the prices are excellent. Get the Shop manual for your car, you may be suprised what you can do on your own on your car.



Brian

w140loyalty

I knew something was not right...i will take your advise and contact the BBB...i want to thank all of you for giving me some insight on the unethical practices that RAVELI MOTORS practices...people beware there are bottom feeders out there...i learned a valuable lesson...thanks !

sosh

The BBB cannot do anything for you. They have no teeth at all. They will make nasty phone calls and write nasty letters to the shop. They have no legal power. They exist only from the dues they collect from member business'. If you did not get an estimate its on you. If you signed a work order its on you. The BBB is where poor people go when they feel that they have been ripped off by their local supermarket or home repair company. Perhaps you should have gone to an MB dealer, it most likely would have cost you less and the job would have been done right. Its also possible that the alt failure had nothing at all to do with the shop and that the parts they replaced were in fact bad. They can charge you whatever they feel they want to. Don't like it?? Don't go back.

w140loyalty

Sosh,

First of all the BBB is not where poor people go to seek remedy, they do not litigate but they are good moderators...would you go to this shop, did not think so...and i did not say the shop was at fault for the Alternator..the prices are the issue and i had not signed any paperwork...also i did not authorize the work for the Alternator or the coils either written or verbal...they were authorized to change the battery only, so perhaps i will call my attorney...your feedback does not resolve or give any insight to this unfortunate event...and if you read the previous posts you will see i and everyone else stated not to go back...but thanks for your two cents, that's what it is worth.

sosh

In your original post you said that you took in in for a tune up. The coils if bad would be part of this.Now you are saying that they only had autorization to replace the battery. You are not being very rational and seem only to want to damage some shops reputation. Why on earth would you go to an attorney and add more or even double your expense?? If you do not like them just go somewhere else. Would I have gone back?? No but then again I would not have gone there in the first place. My daily drivers (02ML500 and 05 E320 4M ) are serviced by a great dealer. The only car I have serviced out of the dealer network is my 65 Corvette that I have had since new and that goes to a specialty shop maybe once a year and I spend maybe 3500 on it every year but its only driven 2000 to 3000 miles a year. I firmly stand on what I said about the BBB. Its really a for profit organization that makes money from the dues they collect from business'.Find out for yourself!!

w140loyalty

Sosh,

A week after the tune up the car was brought in to have the Battery replaced...the tune up and the battery replacement were to seperate issues and took place a week apart...the owner Ravelli Motors then without my consent called me the next day and stated they replaced the Alternaor and i owed them $700.00...i told them to replace the battery only...this is not right and someone needs to standup to them...they need to have my consent...my attorney stated he will write a letter to the company and seek damages since the company did not receive consent...i guess you let people walk all over you! I stand up for myself...being a business owner yourself i am surprised you would defend such a company.

sosh

I am not defending them. The best resolution as I see it is to have them undo the work that you said was unauthorized. IE, remove the new alternator and coil packs and reinstall your old ones. Did you get the old parts back?? Here a shop usually saves the old parts to show the customer if there is a dispute. Hope your lawyer does not charge what they do here or you will be in for more than the value of your car!! Perhaps Legal Aid may be the best place to go.

SL55406

Another thing that COULD be possible .. dispute the charge on your credit card. If you can get written statements from MB mechanics, you might have a case. Don't let these scammers get away. Seriously.

w140loyalty

Sosh,

The shop never showed me the old parts, infact when i asked they stated they threw them out...my attorneys letter cost me $185.00 hardly the cost of my car...you must know the S-Class is a cost no object car while the E-Class in a "price point" car...i hope you do not take offense, it has been interesting communicating with you.

w140loyalty

SL55406,

Thanks...i will consider all options...if they do this to me what about the next guy, i bet most people would have a difference of opinion if it happened to them...your absolutely right they must be held accountable.

sosh

At the time you picked up your car, you should have demanded to see the old parts and not paid them until you did. Yes, I realize that about the E having owned several S Class MB's in the past and having one on order with the upcoming redo. The E is actually my wife's car. I drive the ML and in summer nice weather my Vette. Your lawyer must be just starting out with fees that low. Mine gets 350/hour in office and 475 in court. Min chg is 350. Maybe things are different in Seattle.