Reasonable Mercedes Parts/Service in DC area?

[Arya Ebrahimi]

My mom has an '02 E320 that she has serviced at Euromotors in Gaithersburg and after they quoted her $302 to do a simple front brake pad service, I'm thinking we need to find a new place to get service done.

They told me "it's the parts that cost, the labor is only $120!" So I asked what made these brake pads so awesome that they should cost $180 and the guy told me "Welcome to Mercedes Benz." I could see him looking down his nose at me through the phone

Anyway, anybody got any recommendations for me?

Thanks!

Ary

[jhaha]

Go to http://www.club202.com and register, then go to http://www.club202.com/forums/showth...&threadid=7035.

Then you will see the light.

MAF sensor - dealer 479 discount - 250

Still expensive, but better.

Just did all new brakes and rotors for 168 dollars. All OEM

[jhaha]

Just looked up your brake pads, 66-78 dollars for the set then you have to buy 2 4 dollar sensors.....

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Awesome! I appreciate the parts hookup and will definitely put it to go use when I am available to work on the car.

In the meantime, do you know of any good reasonable mechanics? I don't trust taking a MB to just some local garage, but at the same time I don't like being ass-raped by the dealerships either.

I'm at school for one more year, and then I'll be around to work on her car after that, but until then I will have to have her take it somewhere.

Thanks!

[reffug]

Drive the fawker off a cliff and collect the insurance.....................

I h8 overpriced german shit.

[Blue77FJ40]

Doesn't help the man, Jamie.

[jhaha]

I have heard good things about American Service Center in Arlington on Glebe, but I have never personally taken my car there.

One thing that is weird there is that they WILL NOT give out MB parts numbers.

Good Luck

[John Smith]

Call me crazy but what is so out of line with that quote? If their labor rate is only $60 an hour which I am guessing it is based on the $120 labor quote, that is cheap for this area. Most shops generally make near a 100% profit on parts and shop supplies so you can't fault them there. My local Toyota dealers all charge $85 an hour for labor and as we all know the OEM parts are not cheap.

If she has a good realationship with them I would continue to have the vehicle serviced there. The only private MB only shop I know of is in downtown Silver Spring. If you want I can get you the name and contact info from my Benz buddy. He is very happy with their work and they have been there for years with a lot full of MB out front so they must be doing something right.

[fjman]

I know a parts guy over at American Service on Glebe. Ask for Phil Greenwood if you call over there and tell him Andrew from GMU sent you, if he doesn't give you a discount, call him a bitch and hang up....

Seriously though,
I don't drive a Benz but I have always heard good things about American Service Center.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Originally Posted by John Smith

Call me crazy but what is so out of line with that quote? If their labor rate is only $60 an hour which I am guessing it is based on the $120 labor quote, that is cheap for this area. Most shops generally make near a 100% profit on parts and shop supplies so you can't fault them there. My local Toyota dealers all charge $85 an hour for labor and as we all know the OEM parts are not cheap.

If she has a good realationship with them I would continue to have the vehicle serviced there. The only private MB only shop I know of is in downtown Silver Spring. If you want I can get you the name and contact info from my Benz buddy. He is very happy with their work and they have been there for years with a lot full of MB out front so they must be doing something right.

$180 for brake pads!?!?! That's what gets me really. If they said $80 for brake pads, or even $100 for brake pads, I'd chalk it up to being a MB, but $180!?!?!

Also, the last time I did a brake pad swap on anything, it took me no longer than 45 mins in my driveway! So 2 hours of labor in a shop with a lift and air tools seems a bit excessive to me.

Anyway, thanks for the tip on ASC, I'll tell her to check them out. I had forgotten about them. My little brother went to elementary school with the owner's son or daughter. He was always bringing home ASC paraphanalia(water bottles and shit) that they had given out in class.

Ary

[John Smith]

I agree that $180 is crazy money for brake pads. Most all shops go by the "book" these days so it does not matter how long the actual work takes. You will be charged the hours their system says it should take even though most techs can finish the job much sooner.