2001 S500 Needs Brakes and Rotors ..
 

Any input on a good place to contact in the Bay Area (east bay mainly)? The Stealership is at $900-1k .. would like to see what it would cost somewhere else (perhaps the rotors can be turned/resurfaced) ..

Thanks in advance.

Forget rotor turning, absolutely nonsense. If they are worn the thickness will be under minimal measurement and they have to go to the junk.

Exchanging rotors and pads is a simple DIY job takes you 1.5 h per axle. That's all. The parts run at around $ 450 for both axles. Never buy any crap aftermarket, EBAY...go for Zimmermann or ATE parts.

Thanks for the input .. the fronts are apparently warped but not worn out ..still .. I had already found rotors (Zimmerman & others) for $100 front (only front need replacing) and pads for around $150-175 (total, front & rear) so parts are under $300 .. no way I'm paying $700 in labor!

Still may buy the parts & have someone put them on .. space & time are limited these days & I'm taking first real road trip in her in two weeks.

Thanks again ..

Great Repair Shop in the Bay Area!
 

Call Johhny Bui at Betty's Arco (408) 262-7120. They are located on the Milpitas and Fremont Border in Milpitas at 43 South Abbott Ave., Milpitas, CA, and they are very experienced and have worked on many Mercedes including the S class, my E430 and my S55.(They saved me over $ 1,000 labor on the A/C Blower motor installation on my E430 and over $ 1,000 labor on oil and oil filter change, replacing the plugs, plug wires, engine and tranny mount for my S55.) If you don't have the time to get the parts yourself talk to Johhny and he will get them for you at a much lower price then others.(They only use OEM Mercedes parts.) I highly recommend them if you are in the Bay Area!

i went with akembono ceramic brakes. see thread. https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...hlight=ceramic

they are great after a few thousand miles and still no brake dust. i bought some ceramic brakes for my volvo from kragen and got brake dust just like the reg. brake pads.

not sure where you are in the East Bay, but I use(d) Foreign Auto Care in Concord (925) 689-8109...they have service every Mercedes I owned.

ALL Mercedes in Oakland has done good work for me at prices far below the dealership.

Thanks all .. as of now I've ordered two new rotors (zimmerman's) and front and back pads for $350 (total, after tax) .. have been told it's a pretty straight forward DIY job so (with some help) I'll put em on this weekend before my trip.

(FYI, it's not that I'm poor, I'm just cheap!!:cheers: .. then again compared to many on this board I'm poor too!! :wall: )