20 Months with my w124 300D

[Sorry Pete]

Hi all, this is just an update on my experience with buying and running an old merc

I only do 3-4000 miles a year, and use the w124 to save the 300SL for summer top-down cruising.

It starts on the button all the time, (see it starting-up here!)has never let me down, changes are smooth and I personally love the I6 rumble on accelleration and clack-clack at idle. Takes all sorts I guess! The front wings had been localised repainting done just on the lips of the arches, the jacking points are rust free, and I purchased it with a FSH and 98,000 miles.

Purchased for £1995, cloth interior as-new and it's first test was to get me back to London from just outside Glasgow. No problems at all. I did think the exhaust was a little noisy and suspected blowing somewhere, but when I took it to George Fraser (W.London indy), everything checked-out ok with the exhaust. It had a new down-pipe fitted in 2003 sourced from Eurocarparts.

I'd budgeted for first year expenses, so wasn't surprised that the gearbox oil cooler pipe was corroded and duly replaced along with the poly v-belt and front pads. Then it failed the MOT on a cracked front spring. Fine, fine, it'll ride better on new ones, change them. Only advisory after that was a chip in the windscreen out of line of sight.

So:
Service including all parts replaced as described = £680

I found a leather interior for it @£150 so have put that in, need to get the driver's bolster repaired though. I'll give it a once-over with leatherique come summer.

One year on and I take it to Colin Ferns in Richmond for a gearbox oil change and an MOT yesterday. Here's what they found:
All 4 brake disks corroded
Front downpipe holed
2 new tyres
Quoted me c. £1100 Eek indeed.

The breakdown of work sounds fine, but what I'm concerned with is the corroded disks. I mean, they're cast iron right? They do corrode- isn't it a matter of doing a few high-speed stops to clear them up? I noticed no squeeking, juddering or any problems with them up till now. They pull-up straight and strong. I'm going to have to bite the bullet I guess, but it was a bit of a shock.

Anyway, I do want to keep the old thing. I'll get some pics up after I Collinite it and maybe put a rag around the engine bay. w124's + w126's Rock

 

[verytalldave]

Only replace them if they will fail the MOT. I would suggest getting further INDEPENDANT advice.

 

[flango]

That quote seems extremely high but having no experience of W124's or London prices maybe it is right, but it shocked me.

 

[SilverSaloon]

dont know how much of a DIYer you are, but you could do the discs yourself very easily. ask to see the brakes and why they have failed exactly.

you could also try one of the exhaust repair patches on the downpipe - may keep it going for another few months and you can source a good part in the meantime. fitted a patch from halfords to wife's picasso to save buying a new exhaust and cat - has been fine months on!

EDIT - agree with advice above - try and get another opinion. i took my wife's car to Kwikfit to double check on a couple of things that sounded wrong on an MOT at another garage. they were good and helped a lot. they cant/wont charge unless its specced on their sheet. i bought the guy some beers to say thanks as he saved me £300.

 

[BlackC55]

Weld the downpipe.

Depending on how bad the discs are they may need just a rub down or a light skim.

All can be done for a much less than £1100

 

[Sorry Pete]

Thanks guys, I thought it was high. Calling them now to see what the deal is

 

[Smiley]

If someone tried to stiff me for £1100 for that they would not be seeing me ever again, my advice is find somewhere else to do your work - or DIY.

As SS says the discs are not hard to replace. Have a look yourself; measure the disc thickness. If they are not worn beyond the min thickness and the surface in contact with the pads is clean then leave them; they will not fail an MOT because the edge of the disc is rusty.

Rusty discs sir - ooo er that sounds dangerous........I reckon it is garages finding easy and profitable work to do.

 

[Sorry Pete]

Cheers guys, I've asked them to weld the exhaust, and Brian there is getting back to me with a measurement of the disc thickness.
In fairness, when I pulled him up on rusty discs yesterday, he did say they aren't an MOT failure.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Cheers guys, I've asked them to weld the exhaust, and Brian there is getting back to me with a measurement of the disc thickness.
In fairness, when I pulled him up on rusty discs yesterday, he did say they aren't an MOT failure.

i'd leave the discs then for now and then. and then get a 2nd opinion. any guarage will be able to do the discs easy

 

[nick mercedes]

All 4 brake disks corroded
Front downpipe holed
2 new tyres
Quoted me c. £1100

A1244903819 £292.10
A1244211312 £62.34
A2014231212 £50.60

4 discs and one front pipe from Mercedes (no discount)

Continental Conti-Premium Contact x 2 from Kwickfit £125.28

Total £530.32 (less if you shop around for tyres and parts)

The labour to fit 4 discs, 2 tyres and a front pipe £570???

 

[Seamster15]

A1244903819 £292.10
A1244211312 £62.34
A2014231212 £50.60

4 discs and one front pipe from Mercedes (no discount)

Continental Conti-Premium Contact x 2 from Kwickfit £125.28

Total £530.32 (less if you shop around for tyres and parts)

The labour to fit 4 discs, 2 tyres and a front pipe £570???

I'm in the wrong business....

 

[Sorry Pete]

This doesn't get any better.

Brian has just called me to say the car is ready for pickup. I say what's the damage?

£1200

This isn't even a joke. Oh, and that's with a 10% discount. They've changed the discs and fitted a new downpipe. Briefly ask what the deal is with going ahead with the unauthorised work that's been done. He said he didn't remember my call yesterday where I asked whether he'd ordered parts/done the work.
Yesterday he said no parts ordered, no work done, and begrudgingly said he'd weld the downpipe and get back to me with the disc thickness.
Today he doesn't recollect the phone call. When I mention my mobile phone bill will remember both calls I made yesterday, he says he got confused between my car and a G-class they have there with similar problems. He also can't take the parts off and is looking for some solution.

And the MOT hasn't been done either.

What recourse do I have? Anyone? I'm not prepared to pay £1200 on it. All that for what was originally an ATF change and an MOT...

 

[Sorry Pete]

Any ideas? I need some ammo for when he gets back to me.

 

[johnsco]

Did your heels in.
Stand your ground and tell him you're not paying for unauthorised and unnecessary work.

I am really sorry to hear about this sort of thing.
Every time I log into this forum I am reminded of why I do my own work on my vehicles.

Comiserations !
Johnsco

 

[crammy69]

I had a similar experience with my first trip to a MERC Independant one man band. He called me for permission to replace a £60 oil sender unit but failed to ask for permission for £500 of other stuff, I went in for a £250 job, came out with a £1011 one!. In the end I just swallowed it, but wont ever use him again.

However in your case, given you actually had a discussion, I think it might be reasonable to say you'll pay the cost of the replaced parts, but not the labour on the un-authorised work. Its probably not realistic for him to reverse what was done, so I reckon thats the fairest solution. However, not sure yourman will see it that way...

 

[Big_Jon]

Any ideas? I need some ammo for when he gets back to me.

Get straight onto your local authority trading standards giving a full and accurate description and any evidence.

This guy is a crook and people like him give the likes of us a bad name.

Is the garage a member of the RMIF, if so they have a code of conduct and you could contact them.

If that fails, go to the local paper. amazing the power of the press.

 

[Sorry Pete]

Nice one, went along the lines of crammy69's route - paying parts, not labour.

Upon pickup, took it lock to lock at slow speed and there was a nasty rumble/grinding mid-way through left handers. Something rubbing on the mounting?

It's staying till it gets sorted. I wish I could say I had a more positive experience with the garage. I went to Colin Ferns' on the basis of favourable reviews here of their work, and as it's marginally easier for me to get to c.f. George Fraser's.
In the end, there was no drama re: settling the bill, but then again, there wasn't an MOT to pick-up either. It's being sent through the mail.

My lowly 300D was certainly the least glamourous car there. There were a handful of pagodas, same again R107's, a 190sl, and a nice late TE. I did notice that one white R107 was having its discs changed all round. Is this a ploy in these hard times for easy revenue? Pure speculation, but not implausible.

I'll keep you posted. I need a drink.

 

[shorty]

I would refuse to pay for the unauthorised work and parts. Tell them to refit the old parts and if they have not still got them that you will still not pay for the new ones . Your car had these parts before they worked on it and they decided to remove them , there fore they owe the parts . I would also report themn to trading standards , and post there name here to warn others of the dodgy practices

 

[PhilG]

I'd agree that brake disc scaremongering is easy profit for garages. Its an easy job and most people who don't know any better could be made to think that perfectly good discs are only fit for scrap.

That said, life is short and since there's nothing written down they could make your life hard so I'd agree with trying to to pay trade price for the parts and nothing else.

 

[compress ignite]

Specifically Unauthorized Work Performed,For Free!

Tell him to go "Pound Sand"
(It does not matter what you tell him...
He's either CRAZY and/or thinks you're Stupid)
[expects you to BUY all that "Horse Puckey" about a G and a W124 being
interchangeable?]
He "Put you off" yesterday so he'd have enough time to "Ram the job down your Wallet"...He knew the "Jig was Up",when you started asking questions.

You've got yourself a really reprehensible Thief.

I agree ,"Stand YOUR ground"
Offer to "Go before the Local Magistrate"
(With your Mobile Phone Bills in Hand.)

Pay this Highwayman and He'll only be incited to take even worse advantage of the next trusting citizen!

By the way the motor sounds strong on startup,I especially like the "No Buzzer" Pre-Glow Cycle!