Cost of service query
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
CL550 1976 450 SL
Cost of service query
I live in a county w/ but one MB dlr. w/in 100 miles. The whole county's population is under 250,000, so not at all urban.
While in for warranty work, I asked the MB dlr. SA to rack the car and ck. the alignment. I was told it'd cost about 50 bucks just to ck. If an alignment was called for, it'd be $175. I said okay. A couple hrs. later I am called and told the caster was bad and the bolt pkg. would be needed. I had little option bt to get it driving straight.
My question is bill rates. Their shop rate is $150/hr. To do the caster was one hr. ($150) + fifty bucks for the vaunted bolts/screws pkg. The complete alignment cost $390.
Is the hrly. rate the norm? High for a non-urban area? Reasonable, for all purposes? Is $390 reasonable for an alignment? I know MB fixes aren't Kia fixes, but were my charges pricey?
I'm just trying to get a read, for my own baseline. Input's appreciated. Thanks.
While in for warranty work, I asked the MB dlr. SA to rack the car and ck. the alignment. I was told it'd cost about 50 bucks just to ck. If an alignment was called for, it'd be $175. I said okay. A couple hrs. later I am called and told the caster was bad and the bolt pkg. would be needed. I had little option bt to get it driving straight.
My question is bill rates. Their shop rate is $150/hr. To do the caster was one hr. ($150) + fifty bucks for the vaunted bolts/screws pkg. The complete alignment cost $390.
Is the hrly. rate the norm? High for a non-urban area? Reasonable, for all purposes? Is $390 reasonable for an alignment? I know MB fixes aren't Kia fixes, but were my charges pricey?
I'm just trying to get a read, for my own baseline. Input's appreciated. Thanks.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 764
Likes: 10
From: North Carolina
2010 E350, 2015 S550
Have not had to align the S yet but have done it twice on my E class. Each time I think the cost was about 175 to 225 because of the required offset bolt package required. Seems there are no adjustments possible with the hardware on the car. This does not seem that outrageous to me. I also live in a one dealer county. Nearest alternative dealer is probably an hour and a half away. I have had good luck with them on most repairs so no complaints.
Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 204
Likes: 18
From: Connecticut
2018 E400 Coupe | 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge
It seems an extra $100 was added somewhere.
$50 - initial labor
$50 - parts - Screws/bolts
$175 - alignment labor
$275 total
You did get the screws though.
$50 - initial labor
$50 - parts - Screws/bolts
$175 - alignment labor
$275 total
You did get the screws though.
Last edited by MrRat; Dec 21, 2015 at 05:24 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,037
Likes: 1,012
From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
Labor rates down here are approaching $200/hr at high line dealers, mercedes doesn't really care if you're in a rural area, the dealer still charges a lot. Sounds about right to me for dealership prices.
