I know this may be hard to believe, but in the 30 plus years of owning a Mercedes (this includes cars driven by my wife and two children), I have never had a defective transmission, radiator, water pump, caliper, or brake master cylinder. I attribute this "good luck" to religiously changing fluids and filters related to the engine, transmission, cooling system, and brake system.  O.K.--I agree that most people do get their oil changed, perhaps not consistently at the desired 5k intervals, but they do change it.  According to many customers' thinking, this is the extent of servicing their car.  Some people do understand that transmission fluid should be changed; however, beginning in 1997 Mercedes’ electronic transmission was sold as a “lifetime fill."  The problem is that if you did not change it frequently, beginning at 50k, the life of the transmission was severely curtailed. After 50k I would recommend changing transmission fluid every 30k miles. 

Now to address the two fluids people most commonly neglect to change: first is antifreeze.  I wont get too technical with you, but what one needs to remember is that Mercedes antifreeze is good and most other antifreeze products are bad.  The correct antifreeze will provide lubrication, a coating of silicates, and keep the coolant from cavitating.  Change your antifreeze every two years with Mercedes Benz antifreeze to protect your radiator, water pump, and your mono/heater valve, which is a biggie for many cars. People who own a W140 chassis car can be faced with an expense of about $750 to replace a mono-valve.  Typically this valve will  fail in the closed position and a lot of W140 owners oft to add a heavy coat to their wardrobe rather than replace this valve!  Last but not least, is changing your brake fluid.  Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it will absorb water over time.  When water is in brake fluid it will rust the pistons and the bores, which is what causes calipers to eventually fail.  Rust builds up and once the calipers begin leaking, you must replace them.  Okay, a final review of your marching orders: change your coolant and brake fluid every 2 years, it will cost about $100 for each service, but it will save you money in the long run...          

Even for the well educated, shopping online and simultaneously being an informed consumer can prove quite difficult.  Recently while surveying a Mercedes part's website for air mass meters, I was presented with three different choices.  I assumed one was rebuilt (not a great idea), one was OE (since it was more expensive), and I believed the third to be an aftermarket part.  Bosch of course is the OE manufacturer Air Mass Meters (AMM), and over the years I have bought them in factory boxes, Bosch Boxes, and by purchasing the inserts.  I have also purchased aftermarket AMM with limited success, so buyers beware if you are so inclined...

Recently I received a sales catalogue from the Far East with different electronic components, one of which was an air mass insert.  My cost--$9.00!  The point is, to get a quality product you must trust the vendor, you must be somewhat informed, and you must realize that there is a vast difference between quality and price among parts.  Obviously a part in a Mercedes box is the best, but oftentimes the same quality can be realized from the OE manufacturer.  Today most parts are being manufactured where costs are lower for labor; China (of course), Mexico (large percentage of ML parts), Turkey, Brazil, India, along with others.  We see a lot of suspension components from China and the quality will never be as good as the OE, even though the OE is manufactured to a lesser degree in the Far East.  Among Mercedes parts you generally want to look for manufacturers such as: Bosch, Behr, Bilstein, Lemforder, Siemens, Ate, Girling, Zimmerman, Jurid, Pagid, Hella, and Beru.  There are others, but these are the ones that come to mind at the moment.  SO--what can you take away from this discourse?  In short: price is not the main factor in buying your parts.  Trade with someone who is reliable, service oriented, and has knowledge of the parts.  Make sure you provide your VIN # and deal with a reliable vendor, preferably one you can talk to in person. 

We have a lost generation of people who want to work in this country.  That generation, my son's generation, encompasses the last 25-30 years.  It is a generation of Nintendo, MTV, and doting parents who have spoiled them.  There is no work ethic here.  This was a generation of easy money, instant gratification, and a focus upon whatever "feels good."  We have no workers who want to do the dirty, hot, backbreaking jobs held by previous cohorts and consequently, this void is being filled by individuals who have no training or aptitude for the task at hand.  We live in an era where all decisions are price driven.  The lowest price wins, no matter the qualifications, competence, or experience that is available.  I am astounded at the people who entrust their Mercedes to incompetent individuals based solely on price considerations.  People, not mechanics, are doing repairs now and they have absolutely no qualifications to be doing so.  At The Benz Store we consistently see situations that have been exacerbated due to the incompetence of unqualified "mechanics."  To work on a newer Mercedes Benz, one must have access to the latest diagnostic software along with mechanics who are trained and have experience to correctly utilize and interpret diagnostic information.  These cars are not "tuned up," they are maintained and repaired as necessary.  For every Mercedes Benz owner whose vehicle is out of warranty, it is incumbent that they find a good MB independent who is qualified, honest, and charges a fair price.  If price is not a factor, then take your Benz to the dealer, otherwise find a good, independent repair facility. 

 

How many times over the years have we heard these wonderful words: “Of course everything works”!  Until of course, it doesn’t…and when it comes to vehicles that are 15 years old and not well serviced; things are particularly prone to quit working.  It seems to happen oftentimes when the car is brought in for service and ironically when the car is picked up.  I don’t know how much of this is contrived or coincidence, but I would be willing to bet on the former.  The last instance occurred when a 1993 Benz was brought in for an erratic high idle.  An air mass meter solved the problem, but when the customer picked the car up, he complained that the oil pressure gauge was not working. We quickly pointed out that a defective starter harness was noted on the repair order and was most likely the cause of the gauge malfunction.  Regardless, the customer was adamant that the gauge had been working and that the performed repair had somehow fried the gauge.  The burden of proof is always on the repair facility and it is therefore incumbent that a shop notes all possible defects (although the customer may not be paying for the extra time) and brings these concerns to the owner’s attention to avoid any problems or issues of liability. This portrays the customer in a somewhat negative light, but it unfortunately happens more often than not.  I contend that there is a direct relationship between the socialization of this country and what the customer believes they are entitled to for free.  Today, for example, a customer for whom we had recently replaced a blower regulator called the shop because her check engine light came on 2 days after the repair.  Despite having noted that this light was on when her vehicle came in originally, she continued to insist that it must have been a result of the work we had done!  I tried to convey that these two events were unconnected; however, I may as well have been beating my head against a wall.  I suppose you have to be tough to survive—keep the good customers and cut your losses with the dysfunctional ones.  I’d rather count inventory…

Mercedes had wiring harness problems from 1993-1995 on ALL models.  If you own or are considering the purchase of a model that falls within this time frame, please be advised to do your due diligence.  Exactly why these problems were present and why Mercedes would not acknowledge them in a recall is still a mystery to me.  I have heard rumors, but none seem to make sense.  The insulation on the wiring of the engine harness, the starter harness, and the wiring for the throttle actuators seem to be the most affected.  It appears this problem is catalyzed by heat since we do not see the same problem occur on the chassis harnesses.  However we do see this problem in mirrors and headlight assemblies for later year models.  Obviously Mercedes Benz of North America realized this was an issue early on from the large number of harness and throttle actuators being replaced prematurely as a potential warranty issue (i.e. a car with less than 60K and/or less than 3 years old).  I bought a salvage 1995 Mercedes Benz wagon with 10K and these harnesses were defective.  In my opinion, this poses a major safety issue, one necessitating a manufacturer’s recall, but one was never issued.  If you own one of these cars and the harness is original, be prepared to buy a new one in the near future—a purchase that is not cheap by any means! Most cars from this generation have already had these harnesses replaced, but do not assume so.  Get a good, independent shop to perform an analysis as part of a pre-purchase inspection.  Sometimes the insulation, especially on the ETA, must be cut through in order to inspect the wiring.  

If you are buying or considering purchasing a used Mercedes Benz, it cannot be stressed enough to do your due diligence regarding the car you are buying in order to reveal all potential problems beforehand.  It is amazing how many people want their car inspected after it has been purchased, oftentimes forcing us to break the bad news.  Especially given the current economic environment, I am a firm believer that if an individual owns a good car that has been properly maintained and has very little needed repairs then he (or she) will keep it!  If you are interested in purchasing a used vehicle, please get a CARFAX report and get a reputable, non-biased Mercedes repair facility to do a pre-purchase inspection.  As a repair facility we will perform an inspection for $80, which includes a test drive, full visual and short test via the Mercedes Benz diagnostic system.  Mercedes specialists know what to look for, so you must take it to them!  This can be the best money you will spend, so make arrangements with the seller to do so.  Individual shops want to do the PPO because they have the potential to acquire a new customer.  With the knowledge acquired by you, the potential buyer, a pre-purchase inspection can prove an excellent bargaining chip in negotiating price with the seller.   

 

Just as the apparel industry has left this country and most manufacturing jobs are gone, because we can no longer compete against cheap offshore labor, the position of the good independent mechanic is soon to go by the wayside. Technicians who are competent and conscientious and who want to do a good job are slowly, but surely, disappearing from the automotive scene. They are being replaced by individuals who do not have the training, the tools, or the desire to do a professional job. Their main objective is a quick buck, no matter the outcome.  Day after day, we see the results of incompetence, malfeasance and just wanting to rip off the customer.  Most of the blame can be directly placed on the shoulders of the individual consumer, those who take their vehicle to a shop without performing due diligence.  All jobs are price driven (i.e. how much), but there must be a positive outcome from their experience, or money is simply being thrown away.  My advice: develop a positive relationship with a good independent shop, one that will stand behind their repairs, and trust them. By developing a relationship of trust there will be no need to haggle with estimates, especially since good shops will not negotiate fair prices.  Don’t ask to use parts you have purchased online or on eBay, because good shops will not do it as they have no legitimate means to ensure these parts!  If you do not feel you are being treated fairly or that you have been overcharged, I suggest speaking to the service writer and getting an explanation.  If you are still unsatisfied, then you may want to look for another repair facility that you feel confident in both their technical competence and fair pricing. 

It is often perplexing why customers would ask this question.  Being able to discern the reason for a particular problem with a car is arguably the most important ability a technician possesses.  To do this accurately, he (or she) must rely upon years of experience, deductive reasoning, the correct diagnostic software, and intuition.  The diagnostic equipment alone costs thousands of dollars rather than the $100 scanners used by most automotive chains.  The technician must be able to retrieve the fault codes, interpret them, and run the appropriate diagnostic tests in order to confirm the validity of the fault.  We have seen numerous attempts by mechanics to throw parts and labor at a particular problem in an effort to quickly solve it, but to no avail.  I guess these mechanic diagnostic charges were free...and after all, you get what you pay for. 

I am amused by people who think computers fix cars and expect that simply hooking it up to the vehicle will indicate exactly what is wrong and how to proceed.  Computers do not fix cars, qualified technicians do.  Being a good technician is not easy; if it were, anyone could do it, but it seems that does not deter everyone from trying!

  

Back in the day when I started this business, Mercedes Benz had about 5 models. These cars were made to last, the resale was great, and owning one was a true sign of status. These were cars people bought to keep for a lifetime. Of course, at this time, most of the sales were from diesels: the iconic 240D, the popular 300D, and the venerable 300SD. These cars were true investments, made like no other car in the world, and they had a loyal following. You would never see an ad in print or on TV for the sale of a Mercedes – they did not need to. No MB was manufactured until there was an actual order for a specific car, either by an individual or by a dealer. Owning an MB was a true status symbol. If you owned an MB you truly made a statement of your success. Today, the market has become truly segmented. There is a car for every price point and for every economic situation. These cars are engineered to last 60k miles, and then tough luck. All cost considerations are factored by the bean counters. The Germans cannot compete with the Japanese (or Koreans) as far as price, durability and longevity are concerned. The Mercedes marque still has its mystique and brand, but for reliability, value and longevity, I think I would look elsewhere.

 Approximately 3 years ago MB of North America initiated its “TRP” program. To the uniformed, “TRP” is an acronym for “Theft Related Parts.” This is arguably the death knell for all independent MB repair facilities, because it takes away the incentive and the ability for the independent to repair the customer’s car on a timely and cost effective basis.  So what is a “theft related part?” I suppose this is a part that an individual who has the intention of misappropriating someone else’s car should not have the ability or the right to obtain. From what I can understand, this program was initiated with keys, and then with electronics. This was completely understandable for obvious reasons. These are items for which Mercedes has a completely captive market—the dealers are the only ones who can supply these if you need another.  So bend over if you need one. If you are an individual who needs a replacement key, you must provide proof of ownership and identification – and the two must match. However, the key must be picked up by you in the car, or it must be delivered by MB to the car for an additional charge. If you are a repair facility getting the key for a customer, there is another layer of documentation from signed repair orders, with shop documentation, etc., et al.

  Ok, I can understand the key thing, but this has morphed, at least in my mind, to other items, for which I cannot understand the theft relationship.  Virtually all control units that need to be version code, from some trans shifters, transmission control units, engine control units, and alarm and central locking units. The last trans control unit we purchased had to be version coded by the dealer even though we clearly had the ability to do so! If you need a transmission for a newer MB (722.9) Mercedes has virtually made it so that only a Mercedes dealer can do the repair because of the coding that must take place after the transmission is installed.  The end result is that the repair environment will be less competitive, TRP will be whatever MB says it is regardless of application, and it will not make sense for the consumer to own a newer Mercedes once it is out of warranty. The heritage of Mercedes has always been longevity at a reasonable cost. The independent repair facility has always had its role in realizing this concept, but this is no longer the case. If you want reliable economical transportation in the future, you will have to place your trust in another manufacturer.