The MB shops won't do partial repairs. They will want to fix it all to warranty the work. Their hourly labor charge is 3x that of indy shops.

For the same price as MBs work I could buy a whole "nother" W221 and chop and weld a clip. Then have all of another car as spare parts(or individual for sale items).

Maaco Estimate:



The other figure of $41.91 is the price of each ignition coil pack.

 

I have no fear of what a scan will find. If I was worried I would bump the scan up in the priority list. Its in the works, I need to change my #5 and #6 ignition coils first.

I'll judge of if I'm ready for a W221 or not, Thanks.

 

Where do you get this stuff? Do you just make it up as you go along? A MB certified shop is just any ordinary body shop who has worked on several MB cars in the past and who MB trusts to do the work properly. Their rates should be in line with all of the other body shops in the area. You are an amusing character.

 

That's stupid. MB certified shops aren't owned by MB. They're regular shops that work on everything, and they just happen to have been certified by MB. They'll do whatever you want done to your beater 08, but at least they know how to repair aluminum.

When I tore the front bumper off my 2010 and took it to the MB certified shop and told them to zip tie the stupid thing if they had to they didn't report me to MB and make me buy a bumper.

 

Sorry. Verdict is in. Not.

 

OP, please dont tell me you are taking this car to Maaco. You are better off using that hammer and they spray painting the car. They will butcher your car, seriously.

 

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't remember the puddle lights working if you just grab the handles to lock and unlock via keyless go. I recall it working only when I used the key to unlock and lock the car from a distance. I know I should read the manual at some point (Hah), but I don't have time.

 

That is sort of the point I was trying to make. MB uses designated indy shops all the time and for good reason. Those same resourceful shops, know aluminum, and have the ability to cut you a good deal that MB could never match. They are worth a visit.


Unfortunately I speak from experience but all turned out perfect.

 

They may not butcher it, but I'm afraid that they may mess up the aluminum structure by elongating it or heating it up and making it flimsy, or cracking it.

One shop wanted me to get the 2 aluminum parts and they would put it together, but Vlad can do that. Abra said I could pull it myself. Even brought out a dolly which they called a "cheat stick", showed me how to use it and offered I give it a shot. Eff that, I thanked them and left.

Thanks for clearing that up Mike, I found an MB certified shop in my area.
Autowerks NW
7516 S.W. Macadam Ave.,
Portland, OR 97219
(503) 246-2200
They have an "Elite Aluminum Structural Certification"

Update: OMG this shop charges $52/h body repair - $35/h for paint. I found my new repair place! Maaco was charging that rate, Thanks Fellas!


My 'Cedes is a 2007.

 

Make sure you check the Johnson Rods in your engine. Those are very much prone to fail....usually after 7 years or 75k miles. Your CEL and misfire codes could be easily attributed to those rods having a very slight bend in them....and overall not a very expensive fix if you're good with tools. You can probably pick them up after-market for under $300. Figure about 3-5 hours labor for a first time DIY'er....or 2 hours for a professional shop to do the work. While in there, be sure to change out the fire plug as that will usually fail when you're approaching 100k miles. Once that goes, the engine will be getting close to self-destructing. So it's good to be on top of this so you can get many years of service out of your engine.

 

LMAO

 

I'll put it on the list. I ran outta money after ordering muffler bearings.

Called up the MB Indy. Will get an estimate Saturday or sooner. I've got peace of mind knowing that someone who knows what they're doing will handle the repair.

Those Russians would of took a hard pipe to it.

 

So how do they restore the material properties after the metal has been plastically deformed?

 

I don't doubt that.

 

So if your looking at your car from the engine bay, the cylinder order is left,front = #1, left,second back #2, ect. so #5 and #6 are right side, closest to you and second one back from that one.

So if your looking at your engine from the front of the car its in the following order:

4 - 8
3 - 7
2 - 6
1 - 5

I'm going to inspect the cylinders to see if anything else is the matter.

 

more random thoughts.
RTFM??? not...
did you buy a shop manual yet?
on several occasions you mention we have to think like russian.
So do we drink the bottle of vodka before you buy the car or before you work on it?
Or do you just drink it when you order parts?
or all of the above?
which would certainly seem to be supported by the evidence so far and be consistent with most of the decision making to date as well.

and since you brought up russia during world war II, perhaps you should review just how much financial and military aid the US provided to mother Russia.
In the absence of which, it is most likely it would be referred to as the fatherland.

 

On one side, I empathize with him.
I grew up in in a culture where recycling is a a big part of the community economy. Hence lots of DiY's or trying to get cheap and top quality (does not go hand in hand).
The fix-it-till-it-explodes, is the common use-by-date for everything. Materialism/pride is higher in priority list. To be able to obtain and maintain what mr and mrs richie rich owns is considered "made-it".

In my naive youthfull nature, I spent much before realising that its ridiculous. I could have saved more by spending more upfront to get the right service or products.

I have moved on from that culture but I now work with and have friends from similar socio economic background.

From the moment a mallet with an S cedes and a 1k budget was mentioned, it is like, "I can't believe this is happening in the USofA". I guess it happens everywhere.

My reason for empatizing with cedeS55 is, I really do understand where you are coming from. I lived in that culture/thoughts.

If I were back in my own country and culture, I will probably do the same thing as you did albeit a bit smarter and logical.

My advice to cedeS55 is, you are not in your home country now. I admire your tenacity. It is a good trait to hold on to. You may get the initial "I told you so" but once its all done and dusted, I do not think this forum criticises another forever just for the sake of it. We will laugh at you but we will also laugh with you.

We are all here because we want to own a Merc. But we do not want to spend all the $ giving it away either. But we also want the best for our Mercs. So we find a balance and everybody helps with experiences.

However, there is naive headbanging as compared to logical headbanging.

That is one good thing that USArians unlike some other countries are "Go for it, but do it right then we come party and drink your wine"

 

Its not aid when you get something in return.

Do you have a manual? Perhaps you can help me instead. I figure nor do you, or else you would be doing just that. Or perhaps you do and instead would rather be an ***.

 

I like this! Insightful and encouraging

 

This has been the best 51 (so far) pages I've read in my life. But it's like watching pro wrestling, it's entertaining for sure, but this can't be real, can it?

 

whats the surreal part of this movie?

 

If you read all 51 pages carefully you'll find a total of three paragraphs worth of actual useful information.

 

this thread is by far the longest thread in the W221 section. Only one that's close is the "sticky" picture thread

 

And to think I just Today got an estimate.

I'm going to my MB Indy for an estimate tomorrow.

 

I'm guessing you are really a BMW guy and you have been jerking us along the whole way.