Good Benz Mechanic?

[JustJunMC]

I was planning on also copping a benz, used. Any info regarding a good benz mechanic?

[Recon604]

use the search button please...

http://www.revscene.net/forums/59646...-mechanic.html

[JustJunMC]

Originally Posted by Recon604

use the search button please...

http://www.revscene.net/forums/59646...-mechanic.html

i searched benz mechanic and nothing came up

thanx though

[Recon604]

Originally Posted by JustJunMC

i searched benz mechanic and nothing came up

thanx though

i searched tat same phrase... and I found tat...

[k3mps]

lol no more 540i?

[JustJunMC]

LOL No I am looking at it still.... the 540i is nice... but someone offered a benz at a good deal, like a hella good deal, so I figure I'd check it out

[JustJunMC]

Originally Posted by Recon604

i searched tat same phrase... and I found tat...

the board search?

I tried and it didnt give me nuthing... I will give it a try again though

[gearshifter]

henneken auto, near oak bridge. honest mechanics with very good service.

[Supafly]

I use SpeedSyndicate....

I also use the dealer.



You're in for a major surprise if you want to own a used benz; maintenance is prob far worse and more expensive than BMWs.....

[Cman333]

I used to bring mine to Richmond Motorworks

Richmond MotorWorks Ltd.

Very helpful and honest. They specialize in Benz/BMW. Had an ML which randomly wouldn't start. Wasn't a typical mechanical issue that a general mechanic could fix. So I towed it to Benz and they quoted me $6-7k. I did some research online and ended up bringing it Richmond Motorworks. They spent ALOT of time trouble shooting, took almost a week to figure it due to process of elimination. They had a beater as a courtesy car, but figured it out and ended up costing $750.

Like others have said, Old Benz's are expensive to maintain and frequently have little issues that arise.


There's also Salish Autohaus
http://www.salishautohaus.com/

Great guys there too, but it was too far from where I lived.

[JustJunMC]

Originally Posted by gearshifter

henneken auto, near oak bridge. honest mechanics with very good service.

Thanks brother

Originally Posted by Supafly

I use SpeedSyndicate....

I also use the dealer.



You're in for a major surprise if you want to own a used benz; maintenance is prob far worse and more expensive than BMWs.....

LMAO at use the dealer... I dont think we eating as good as you to take it to the dealer

On a serious note, the Vancouver Police use Benz vehicles now too... I personally feel they are well built and I got a hook up with some small indie dealers who said they would hook me up with deals on parts

Originally Posted by Cman333

I used to bring mine to Richmond Motorworks

Richmond MotorWorks Ltd.

Very helpful and honest. They specialize in Benz/BMW. Had an ML which randomly wouldn't start. Wasn't a typical mechanical issue that a general mechanic could fix. So I towed it to Benz and they quoted me $6-7k. I did some research online and ended up bringing it Richmond Motorworks. They spent ALOT of time trouble shooting, took almost a week to figure it due to process of elimination. They had a beater as a courtesy car, but figured it out and ended up costing $750.

Like others have said, Old Benz's are expensive to maintain and frequently have little issues that arise.


There's also Salish Autohaus
salishautohaus.com

Great guys there too, but it was too far from where I lived.

Damn at the 90% savings LOL

Are Benz's maintenance the same as BMW, or is it every 6500 for oil, and every 24000 or so for tranny fluid, etc?

[Geoc]

What benz are you buying? Depending on the model, they can either be bulletproof or fix-a-thons.

[AstulzerRZD]

Originally Posted by JustJunMC

Thanks brother



LMAO at use the dealer... I dont think we eating as good as you to take it to the dealer

On a serious note, the Vancouver Police use Benz vehicles now too... I personally feel they are well built and I got a hook up with some small indie dealers who said they would hook me up with deals on parts



Damn at the 90% savings LOL

Are Benz's maintenance the same as BMW, or is it every 6500 for oil, and every 24000 or so for tranny fluid, etc?

When did VPD start using MB vehicles? Specifically which models?

[AstulzerRZD]

Originally Posted by Geoc

What benz are you buying? Depending on the model, they can either be bulletproof or fix-a-thons.

^This. First-Gen ML was a quality disaster, as well as the W210 (96+ E-Class) and W220 (~2000 S-Class). Early w202 models (~2003 C-Class) had the famous Valeo radiatior issues which would take the transmission with it. Most 5 speed transmissions of the late 90's, early 2000's had poorly sealed shift by wire modules, meaning that a drink spill over the shifter gate would result in expensive repairs

Most major W124 (Late 80's early 90's E-Class) components are fine, except for

- occasional valve/timing cover leak
- AC [common, and expensive]
- disintegrating wiring harnesses that are common to all Benz's of ~94 vintage (MB tried to use an Eco-friendly insulating material - didn't work too well, with most harnesses cracking and causing electrical gremlins)

On a side note, take a look at Lexus LS400 and 430 - They priced cheaper than Honda Civics [LS400 ~14,15k, LS430 ~20k] and should be rather reliable

[Phil@rise]

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

^This. First-Gen ML was a quality disaster, as well as the W210 (96+ E-Class) and W220 (~2000 S-Class). Early w202 models (~2003 C-Class) had the famous Valeo radiatior issues which would take the transmission with it. Most 5 speed transmissions of the late 90's, early 2000's had poorly sealed shift by wire modules, meaning that a drink spill over the shifter gate would result in expensive repairs

Most major W124 (Late 80's early 90's E-Class) components are fine, except for

- occasional valve/timing cover leak
- AC [common, and expensive]
- disintegrating wiring harnesses that are common to all Benz's of ~94 vintage (MB tried to use an Eco-friendly insulating material - didn't work too well, with most harnesses cracking and causing electrical gremlins)

On a side note, take a look at Lexus LS400 and 430 - They priced cheaper than Honda Civics [LS400 ~14,15k, LS430 ~20k] and should be rather reliable

Amen. Engine wise they're great if maintained. But it's everything else that goes.

3 years of owning ML430 (purchased with 65k on odo)
-Transmission failed ($3k)
-Power window module failed ($800)
-Fuel Gauge failed (didn't fix, but estimated at $2k)
-Immobilizer system failed ($750)
-CD Changer failed (replaced with aftermarket stereo)
-Illumination lights worked off and on (didn't fix)

On top of having to buy new tires, brakes, suspension, cat converter, air filter, battery and usual maintenance.

Money pit.



I opted for something more reliable, better on gas, and easier on maintenance.

EDIT: Whoops, Phil didn't log out

[JustJunMC]

Originally Posted by Geoc

What benz are you buying? Depending on the model, they can either be bulletproof or fix-a-thons.

1999 CL500

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

When did VPD start using MB vehicles? Specifically which models?

They recently started using Benz cars. I called and asked but the operator doesnt know. But if you are ever on Granville, you will see VPD Benzs

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

^This. First-Gen ML was a quality disaster, as well as the W210 (96+ E-Class) and W220 (~2000 S-Class). Early w202 models (~2003 C-Class) had the famous Valeo radiatior issues which would take the transmission with it. Most 5 speed transmissions of the late 90's, early 2000's had poorly sealed shift by wire modules, meaning that a drink spill over the shifter gate would result in expensive repairs

Most major W124 (Late 80's early 90's E-Class) components are fine, except for

- occasional valve/timing cover leak
- AC [common, and expensive]
- disintegrating wiring harnesses that are common to all Benz's of ~94 vintage (MB tried to use an Eco-friendly insulating material - didn't work too well, with most harnesses cracking and causing electrical gremlins)

On a side note, take a look at Lexus LS400 and 430 - They priced cheaper than Honda Civics [LS400 ~14,15k, LS430 ~20k] and should be rather reliable

I heard Benz are fairly reliable, and quite a few are driven to millions of miles...

Pretty much the only issue with my car is just the electric mirror has lost some controls, and the electronic seatbelt button needs to get fixed, needs a new light, and needs a new air pump

other than that it drives

Originally Posted by Phil@rise

Amen. Engine wise they're great if maintained. But it's everything else that goes.

3 years of owning ML430 (purchased with 65k on odo)
-Transmission failed ($3k)
-Power window module failed ($800)
-Fuel Gauge failed (didn't fix, but estimated at $2k)
-Immobilizer system failed ($750)
-CD Changer failed (replaced with aftermarket stereo)
-Illumination lights worked off and on (didn't fix)

On top of having to buy new tires, brakes, suspension, cat converter, air filter, battery and usual maintenance.

Money pit.



I opted for something more reliable, better on gas, and easier on maintenance.

EDIT: Whoops, Phil didn't log out

I am pretty handy, so some of the things I can fix myself, as long as I have the blueprint of how to take it apart.

The dealer said he would give me a deal on parts so its a non issue...

its a great car though... it could be a money pit but at the same time its nice to have for a while

I dont think it has as many maintenance issues as you proclaim though... Benz gives out awards for cars that have many mileage on it...

[Cman333]

The dealership parts are more expensive. That's basically everything I went through for 3 years of owning an ML430. That'll be my last Benz unless I can afford brand new with warranty.

Great car, You're paying for the name. I bought it hoping it would be good to me, but it wasn't. You obviously like the car, so might as well keep it awhile. Like others have stated, expect to pay a bit more on maintenance and repairs.

But where the ML-class totally flopped was in the reliability department. These trucks were plagued with lots of bugs right from the start. Over the years, the major issues involved fuel delivery (or a lack thereof), electrical and power-operated components (not uncommon for newer German vehicles), suspension and brakes. The sum of all these problems is that you’d better at least have a reliable mechanic who you can count on to keep your truck on the road.

While none of the German car manufacturers are known for world-class reliability, the verdict here is that just about any other European car or SUV will likely be more dependable than the ML. If you love all that the three-pointed-star stands for and you have an incredibly high tolerance for frustration, then maybe the ML’s propensity for problems would be an acceptable compromise, but the truth is that the ML is simply best avoided.

Used Vehicle Review: Mercedes-Benz ML-Class, 1998-2005 - Autos.ca

[HondaGuy]

Had a family owned c230 and a c320 and dealer maintenance was so expensive.

[JustJunMC]

All dealers, no matter the brand, charge more than the indie shops, by at least 2 x more...

I used to own a dodge caravan... changed the heater core...

dealer asked for $1200

the indie shop asked me for $400

so I will use a non-dealer..

[JustJunMC]

If you ever get a chance, drive and own a Benz... its actually a great car... it costs more than others but its already hooked up... the system in my car is pretty dope

[Geoc]

I would check the tranny on those, it's not common, but it's also not uncommon for either for those to start acting up. The big problem when it comes to tranny issues with those kind of cars is that it is super expensive to fix.

So check do a inspection on the tranny, if it is fine, do a tranny flush on it and also check the pan gasket magnet for any metal shavings.

[JustJunMC]

I dont know how to do the pan gasket...

any recommended manuals?

I have checked the car over by a mechanic and he said that the car is good tranny wise

[freakshow]

After you cop dat dope benz, you can take it to John at Advance Automotive in Richmond. He's had an S-Class, works on my SL, and has worked on many others as well.

[Geoc]

Originally Posted by JustJunMC

I dont know how to do the pan gasket...

any recommended manuals?

I have checked the car over by a mechanic and he said that the car is good tranny wise

Metal shavings in the tranny pan will indicate if tranny would fail soon. I would still do a flush on it regardless as a preventative measure, and you can check the magnet if you are going to do a flush.

I mean tranmission pan magnet, not tranmission gasket magnet,

[Engotski]

No benz knowledge here but my gfs 07 ML320 CDI died twice today. Had 3/4 tank of gas. My body guy said it drove a little rough. Oil change recently done and there are no codes being thrown. Any ideas anyone??