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Well it wasn't a simple pull engine and replace spark plugs type of deal. It was done on one of the first convertibles to enter the US. The engine had a faulty recirculation flap which required removal of the intercoolers and supercharger to get to. I ran about 90 hours on it which included everything from R&R engine to replacing the recirculating flap. A lot of the time ran was in diagnosing the car with a tech rep since MBZ wanted to be absolutely sure we had to remove the engine.
I'd say to R&R the engine alone would take around 40-50 hours.
I can't specify what the services cost, but I know that the engine does not need to come out to do spark plugs. At the request of MB, our shop replaced rocker arms on one without taking the engine out. It was one of their cars and it sat for about 2 years without being started, and a couple rocker compensators wouldn't pump up with oil pressure. Nothing serious, just a ticking noise that they didn't like.
Nick
I will see if I can attach the service sheet for an SLR on Monday when I get back to work.
Last edited by nick 55; Feb 7, 2009 at 02:20 PM.
Reason: I'm grammatically challenged
'94 NSX,'99 NSX Z,'12 C63 Black Series (Prior: '07 E63, '08 CLK63 Black Series,'14 E63-S & 16 C63-S)
Originally Posted by glassJAw
Well it wasn't a simple pull engine and replace spark plugs type of deal. It was done on one of the first convertibles to enter the US. The engine had a faulty recirculation flap which required removal of the intercoolers and supercharger to get to. I ran about 90 hours on it which included everything from R&R engine to replacing the recirculating flap. A lot of the time ran was in diagnosing the car with a tech rep since MBZ wanted to be absolutely sure we had to remove the engine.
I'd say to R&R the engine alone would take around 40-50 hours.
With Mercedes priding themselves on engineering, who in the heck designed this so that it takes 1 full work week to just removed and replace the engine, and over 2 work weeks to replace the recirculator flap!?!? That is just stupid.
'94 NSX,'99 NSX Z,'12 C63 Black Series (Prior: '07 E63, '08 CLK63 Black Series,'14 E63-S & 16 C63-S)
Originally Posted by nick 55
I can't specify what the services cost, but I know that the engine does not need to come out to do spark plugs. At the request of MB, our shop replaced rocker arms on one without taking the engine out. It was one of their cars and it sat for about 2 years without being started, and a couple rocker compensators wouldn't pump up with oil pressure. Nothing serious, just a ticking noise that they didn't like.
Nick.
2 years!?!? Did they forget they had it and leave it in a warehouse somewhere??
For that price you are a lot better with a Ferrari or a Lambo
I doubt that. This car could actually be driven daily, without spending $10000+ on a clutch. If you drove any Ferrari or Lambo, you would very quickly realize that those cars, while being semi suitable for daily driving, are still going to rack up serious maintenence costs real fast if you put on 10-12k miles a year. All things considered, the SLR really is cheap to maintain if you were to use it for a daily driver......and you could. I know you can even get snow tires for it.
Nick
Last edited by nick 55; Feb 24, 2009 at 11:52 AM.
Reason: Service sheets attached
I doubt that. This car could actually be driven daily, without spending $10000+ on a clutch. If you drove any Ferrari or Lambo, you would very quickly realize that those cars, while being semi suitable for daily driving, are still going to rack up serious maintenence costs real fast if you put on 10-12k miles a year. All things considered, the SLR really is cheap to maintain if you were to use it for a daily driver......and you could. I know you can even get snow tires for it.
Nick
Ferrari maybe but the lambo has alot of Audi components which make it cheaper to own and maintain.
On another note, that is really robbery that it costs that much to service these cars. I tend to think that anyone who bought one can certainly afford it but what I wonder is are the parts and labor actually that much more expensive or are dealers just taking owner to the cleaner cause they can??? An oil change is and oil change..yes or no?
Its just the same as some dealers wanting to charge more for an oil change on a AMG car. I remember the last time i brought in my C32 to SF benz with a $99 coupon oil change they said the AMG costs extra. WTF? The C320 takes the same amount of oil and same filter as the C32!
I doubt that. This car could actually be driven daily, without spending $10000+ on a clutch. If you drove any Ferrari or Lambo, you would very quickly realize that those cars, while being semi suitable for daily driving, are still going to rack up serious maintenence costs real fast if you put on 10-12k miles a year. All things considered, the SLR really is cheap to maintain if you were to use it for a daily driver......and you could. I know you can even get snow tires for it.
Nick
Thanks for posting this. There is nothing on here that should take enough labor time to warrant thousands of dollars for an A service as some are suggesting.
Thanks for posting this. There is nothing on here that should take enough labor time to warrant thousands of dollars for an A service as some are suggesting.
How would you know? Have you worked on one?
I have performed dozens of services on SLR's and can TELL you (not suggest) that is does take that much labor to properly perform a service on the car.
With Mercedes priding themselves on engineering, who in the heck designed this so that it takes 1 full work week to just removed and replace the engine, and over 2 work weeks to replace the recirculator flap!?!? That is just stupid.
No exotic car is engineered with ease of maintenance and repair in mind. Race car engineers make the car fast, that's it. It's up to skilled mechanics to repair them by any means necessary.
It did not take 2 full work weeks of hands on labor to replace the recirc flap. The repair was made on one of the first convertibles to enter the country. As you can imagine, it takes some time for MBZ to authorize the removal of an engine on a $500k with 150 miles on it. The hours I stated included the diagnosis and authorization time I spent with MBZ reps.
I have performed dozens of services on SLR's and can TELL you (not suggest) that is does take that much labor to properly perform a service on the car.
Ok, well if you read the service sheet there is nothing on there that takes that much labor. There are a lot of individual items, but nothing that complicated for a regular A service. I can't comment on anything more complicated, because you are right I haven't worked on one.
Ok, well if you read the service sheet there is nothing on there that takes that much labor. There are a lot of individual items, but nothing that complicated for a regular A service. I can't comment on anything more complicated, because you are right I haven't worked on one.
Absolutely shameful of MB. Not surprising considering how they handle other after sales items where there is little in it for them and they can take advantage. Lease transfers for example.
My understanding is that they simply price everything relative the original MSRP on the car. That is a bit questionable when the car is new--and outrageous when they go for a fraction of the MSRP in the after market. Bottom line: MB is not supporting their customers and there are absolutely no excuses.
For those who say Ferrari is more to maintain---no way!! I have owned two. Annual services are from 1-2K. Carbon ceramic rotors are 8K (that is if you can't source them cheaper). Regular rotors much much less. Also, services are much less if you are willing to go to a specialist non official dealer. Not sure if that is possible on the SLR.
If you want a funny one---ask how much a replacement hood is on the SLR. It is an almost comical figure--unless you need one. Wish MB would wake up a little on the idea that they actually do have competition that provide good after purchase service. It is a shame because I like many MB models--but not enough to get killed as soon as the warranty is up.
cool story and thread revival bro. Im sure enzo's are daily driveable, reliable, easy to service. services on it are cheap and the brakes are too.
Do you really think the SLR is comparable to an Enzo? Enzo's are going for around 1M+..you can get an SLR for under 200K...
I would compare it to a 599 (which has the same engine as the enzo basically). And yes, "bro", service is much cheaper on a 599, or a Lamborghini LP640, or a Ferrari 16M, or a McLaren MP4...and on and on.
AND FYI, annual service for an enzo is just under 2,800 US...So you still going to defend the SLR service cost?
The reason why its so much money is because its labor intensive. I've done services on these cars. Have not done a major service on one yet, but the motor does have to come out to do spark plugs, or any components on top of the motor. I have pulled the fuel tanks on one and its about 9 hours of work. The under body has over 140 bolts that hold the under paneling in place, they are all bolted into the carbon fiber body so no power or air tools allowed. And all have to be torqued because the under body is part on the vehicles frame structure.
Just an oil change alone will easily take 2-3 hours.
Service is stupid money.It's like they see you coming.1st service on the 722 was around 5k.
i had rear rotors and pads replaced under warranty.Guess how much? 35k in parts before labour and taxes. Absolute theft
Lets just cut to reality guys. The most of use cannot afford nor maintain such expensive toys.
The people that can afford it don't scoff at the price because they know the status of their car reflect the status of who they are.
If maintenance was cheap a few of us would be able to afford them thus making those people feel less important. Yes there is reason why the parts can be so pricey. The bells and whistles added to something common like brakes justifies the inflated price.
I feel its about keeping these cars out of the hands of the regular.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
