mercedes specialists prices

[japimport]

hi there,im in a bit of a dilema,my w202 has a head gasket leak just above the timing chain tensioner,in going to ring a mercedes specialist tommorow to get a price to do the job,what im going to get done is the head gasket and the timing chain, as it rattles sometimes on start up from cold,the oil leak from the gasket leaks a lot more than it did before so its time to get it fixed,how much do yous think itll cost me,my car has 125,000 miles on her,if you where in my position would you get it done or just buy another car its a 95 car,

 

[LTD]

I'd let the specialist have a look first and give you an estimate.

Bear in mind that there may be additional work needed that is unseen before it is opened.

Only then can you truly decide.

 

[chord]

There have been quite a few threads on this in the past, here is one that should be what you are looking for:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/72508-head-gasket-whats-good-price.html

 

[japimport]

i got a quote of 2,000 euro to do my head gasket and timing chain,and water pump , does this seem llke a fair price

 

[BlackC55]

That seems a bit steep. How much was the chain?

 

[japimport]

he didnt say how much the timing chain would be,he said itll take 3 days to do it,he also said itl have to be skimmed,its only an oil leak on the front left corner of the engine,but its geting worse

 

[Tony Russell]

Hello,
Mabe this isn't applicable to this engine, but I had a head gasket and skim done a couple of years ago on my Audi and it was done in my driveway (not the skim) for £270.
I know the skim was £50 from a firm that sent a van round and picked up the head
and returned it next day. They advertise in all the auto trader type mags.
The bits were pennies, so the rest was labour. The mechanic was a neighbour who worked professionally from home, so I know it was less than I'd pay in a street garage, but nowhere near what you're saying.

Would anyone advise against using a vanilla garage as opposed to a merc specialist for this type of job ?

 

[LTD]

Maybe worth contacting a company that reconditions engines ?

 

[stevesey]

Would anyone advise against using a vanilla garage as opposed to a merc specialist for this type of job ?

There was a post a while back about a non-merc specialist setting the tensioner incorrectly resulting in a broken camshaft a little later. Poster was fobbed off when he asked about the squealing noise, a little later the camshaft expired.

 

[neilireland]

2000 euros is off the wall.
Was that priced from a main mercedes dealer???

 

[japimport]

it was just from a mercedes specialist,so i can imagine what mercedes will charge

 

[neilireland]

Was the garage in dublin???

 

[Smiley]

it was just from a mercedes specialist,so i can imagine what mercedes will charge

less than €2000 probably.
Did the guy who gave you the quotation have a cowboy hat on?

 

[neilireland]

Smiley....

 

[IanT]

less than €2000 probably.
Did the guy who gave you the quotation have a cowboy hat on?

I thought **** Turpin always wore a mask?

€2000 sounds very excessive for what would take a DIYer about a day to do, assuming no special tools are required. The point about getting the chain tension set correctly is definately worth being cautious about - you'd be gutted to have a cheap job done and then suffer chain or camshaft failure.

Can anyone give a more realistic / authoritative estimate of the number of hours this job should take? If I was guessing, I'd say a professional would be completing it in maybe 4 hours from start to finish.

Ian.


EDIT: Darned swear filter... **** = D i c k

 

[neilireland]

more like 7hrs

 

[Ian B Walker]

Mb book the time at 8 hours. It is possible to do it in 6 if everything goes to plan and no stubborn fasteners are encountered. Price wise you would be looking at between £650 and £800 depending on engine type.

 

[neilireland]

The joys when everything gos to plan......

 

[Ian B Walker]

The joys when everything gos to plan......

Yup and when it doesn't.

 

[IanT]

Mb book the time at 8 hours. It is possible to do it in 6 if everything goes to plan and no stubborn fasteners are encountered. Price wise you would be looking at between £650 and £800 depending on engine type.

Fair enough, I knew it would take me a dawn 'til after dusk day if I was to attempt it.

It says C200 in the OPs profile, so I'm guessing the lower figure then.

Ian.