Hello all,

It won't be long before old man winter arrives, so I was thinking about knocking out some pre-winter service. MB quoted over $800 for the trans service. Gonna check some indys today...Over $800 seems a bit much, but will see what the Indys say....

Anybody still going top down with these cooler temps? I still do when temps are at least 69/70. With the heated seats, air scarf and the vents on low fan it is still quite toasty in the cabin with the top down.

 

We are driving top down until the temps dip below 40, thanks to the heated seats and air scarf.

 

Dawg is talking about Fahrenheit degrees, not Celsius.

 

$800 seems a bit much. When I had the tranny serviced by the dealership in Hagerstown, the cost was $327.42 for labor and "environmental fees". I provided the fluid and parts from my kit from FCP Euro. (I sent back all the parts except the fluid for a refund/credit per FCP's policy.). The tranny kit was $205.88. So, for less than $550 I had the tranny serviced on my 2014 C350 (which uses the same transmission).

 

I called a few other dealers, because I have found that dealers have different prices. Their numbers are below.

Quote #1 $800
Quote #2 $650 Lowest
Quote #3 $850
Quote #4 $982 Highest

 

The labor rate on my invoice is $170 per hour. Total labor cost was $306. That calculates to 1.8 hours.

Now, all four places should use the same "book" (i.e., ASRA) to determine the hours. So, they are scalping you on the hours, hourly rate, and/or parts. I would ask if you can provide your own parts. Tell them you already have them because you planned to do the work yourself, or that your supplier (i.e., FCP Euro) has a policy of reimbursing you when you buy from them again and return the used parts. (That's what I told my dealership). Alternatively, you could schedule a trip to Hagerstown and save at least $100 off of your lowest quote. I should ask, but I think the Mercedes in Hagerstown would do the tranny service for around $600 anyway. My service advisor and phone number is on my invoice. Tell her I sent you and she'll probably charge more.

 

I agree on all of your points, but why would she charge me more if I say you sent me? LOL you must have pissed her off?? Prior to your recent post I looked up the Hagerstown MB. It is 1.5 hours one way from the shop I have closest to it. For the cost savings it would be worth it, if they let me get my own parts and IF I can find the correct parts. I would have to hang around the dealer for 2 hours, but I could probably bring my laptop and get some work done..

Al of my quotes are from official MB dealers. I have always been disappointed in how prices can very in the same state at the same brand of dealerships..

 

Nah! She loves me. I'm her cheapo customer. I did bring her a bottle of wine once.

I didn't buy my car there, but they always give me a loaner if the work is going to take a couple of hours. If you are thinking about using them, ask for a loaner, but it may delay getting an appointment. Also, confirm that you can provide your own parts.

Here's the parts kit from FCP: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...tosin-7229late

 

Every MB dealer that has serviced my car in the past has provided a loaner if I requested one. It does delay when the service can take place most of the time. The reason I wouldn't ask for a loaner from Hagerstown is because by the time I went 1.5 hours to get back my car would almost be finished in service. Thats why I mentioned I would just wait. I tried to call them, but they needed my vin and I didn't have time to find it. I will call them back tomorrow. I will also check on the parts question. Thanks for the info......

Edit- I looked at the parts pic you provided and that looks just like the one I have in my garage now. I purchased one for my E350 years ago and never used/had it installed before I sold that car.. I just saw the parts the other day in my garage when I was bringing in my trash cans. Wouldn't it be cool if it was the same part? I will check when I get home...

 

But with a loaner you could run around and see the sights in Hagerstown, maybe grab lunch at Bob Evan's or the Cracker Barrel or Walmart. (Wait! Did Cracker Barrel go bankrupt?)

 

Woohoo! You're in luck! And no waiting!

 

Nearly $1000 bucks! That’s robbery

I changed the fluid in my w204 coupe with a similar transmission and typed a DIY. It is an easy procedure if you source everything before hand. The directions are super simple.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...iy-advice.html

 

The Schmakerl Stube in downtown Hagerstown has great German food and bier.

 

The seats and air scarf is everything !!! It’s like sitting in a jacuzzi in a ski resort only you’re dry and comfy. Ahhhhhhhhh

 

Randall do they have the real German pretzels?? I’ll go over there for service if so. Easier than going to Germany!

 

Dawg- every dealer has provided a loaner except Simonsen MB in my area. I’m clearly doing this wrong

 

Did you ask for a detailed quote?
With breakdown of parts, labor and work to be performed?

I bet each has different hours since all you state is SERVICE tranny which they can each interpret their own way.

SHould be something like: drain fluid, R&R pan, New Pan seal, R&R filter, reassemble and refill fluid

 

I did not ask for a detailed quote, however each dealer described the same thing with their price. They literally all said what would be done after they quoted the price. Drop pan, change fluid, replace some seal/gasket, or something, replace filter, etc. As mentioned prior any service I have received prior from MB always has different pricing between dealers.. oil changes are the only exception. Always been that way, so I always call around.


if every dealer gives you a loaner except one of them then you are not doing it wrong. Unless you made a typo and meant to say something else??

Agreed. Other drivers in their cars always look like what I assume is a look of it’s too cold to have the top down. I have literally been in a short sleeved polo and wasn’t even slightly cold with a little vent heat, heated seats and air scarf going. And that is not even with any heat on high. The only thing that would be better is if they gave us the heated steering wheel. Still bummed about that whenever it comes to mind. One of the few things my wife’s BMW has over my car. Well actually that is the only thing, because our cars are awesome! lol.


Here are some pics of the old parts I already had in my garage. They were from my old E350, but I never got around to having them installed before I sold that car a few years ago. I haven’t searched the part # to see if they are compatible with the SL. It would be soooooooo sweet if the parts fit!



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Here's the contents of the kit from FCP. Go on the website and look at each OEM part by SKU. It will probably give the Mercedes part number.

 

Matches your part number.

 

There is a service code for every common procedure, such as a transmission service, in the ASRA. The number of hours (or work units) are specified. So, dealers should be able to tell you what service code they are using. But by the time you get all those answers, you'll be on some kind of customer watch list.

 

Yep, they would likely think I was trouble.

I just realized that I was so busy today that I didn't even remember to call Hagerstown and find out the price. Monday it is....

 

Dawg- the problem I made with doing it wrong-is traffic and laziness- so I went over to Simonsen even though they are a literal train wreck. 1st class probs of course. No loaner, asked to approve 2K for new brakes on a car w 7k miles (they did this same fake trick on my 2017 years ago)- they have a new “car wash” that made my car dirtier and probably damaged the paint- and rolled my car up covered in leaves and crawling with ants. Interior and exterior, ants marching and scurrying all over the doors, trunk, seats. WHAT THEEEE WHAT! And there was scum on my front bumper like- did you calibrate your new car wash? Are you embarrassed that I can actually roll through the new one at the shell station and it doesn’t screw up my car or leave water spots on my chrome? No I did not pay the 2K for brakes I don’t need. But I sure as hell don’t appreciate them trying to scare a girl with an indecipherable video of brake rotors at 7am.
I showed it to Karl at Rennsport KC who is a maestro Porsche specialist and he was like- dear god. The brakes look fine. Plus If I could just do brakes all day I’d be rich and it would be so easy.
Anyway what I mean to say is - I’m doing this wrong because I haven’t found an indie that looks trusty around here yet so I went back to that insect zoo no loaner Simonsen! I’d forgotten about the brakes upsell from the previous car. Grrrr.
I’m a professional violinist, cellist and pianist and i would SO LOVE a heated steering wheel! But my conversation with BMW sales was very short. Because our cars are awesome!!

 

Ahhhhh, I got you now. Our cars are really sweet, but it can be a challenge to find the right service shop. Price, respect, know how, skill and a moral compass are sometimes tricky to find all at the same shop. Once you find a good one stay with them!

As for BMW I do like the brand just not more than MB. I have only owned two BMW 2 door cars personally and that was 30 years ago. I really liked them both and had zero issues.I l have always really liked the X5. I think it is powered well and has an aggressive and dare I say at the risk of getting bashed a masculine look. We got my wife's X3 SUV like 4 to 6 months ago and she really likes it. It is nice.Tech, appointments and style are all top notch, but I do notice that the SL has a much more luxurious and high end feel to it. Hard to explain. Nothing wrong with her X3 SUV at all and its a 2022, but I can tell a difference when cruising and just driving in general. The feel of it when riding around etc.just doesn't compare to the SL . The SL is another class. Now my car when new and as optioned was 118k, so that could be the difference. The SL was just a much more expensive car, so everything may just be better. Her SUV is much newer, so the tech and features are all current and up to date, but my car just feels better and like it cost more, if that make sense.

Now I understand that an SUV and an SL are two different things, but my former Range Rover was much more buttery and high end feeling than her BMW. Again, nothing wrong with her BMW at all, but I can feel a different in the level of quality. It could also be that if she had an X7, or X5 maybe I wouldn't feel that way. She has an X3. Anyway maybe its just because I am bias towards the SL? Let me try this one more time, for example I have had rental cars that were literally brand new. Like a 2023 with 200 miles on them in whatever 4 door sedan. Had all the tech, and whatever, but they car felt 10 steps down from my 15 SL even though it was much, much newer. Does that make sense. Anyway, I am rambling, so let me get some coffee. Have a great day! lol.

 

Yes, Rambling Man. I felt the same way with my 2004 SL500, but sticker on it was $99,900 in 2004!!!!