New brake pads, discs and bushes on a W211

[beaker218]

Can someone help please?

I have just had my 53,000 miles,52 plate W211 serviced at Mercedes of Southend and they have advised me of the following:

Need new front brake pads and discs - 75% worn - cost £364
Need new rear brake pads and discs - 95% worn - cost 396
Torque Strutt Arms and bushes worn - cost £543

Firstly, if the rear pads were worn by 95% would I have not got a warning light come on the dash to advise me they were low?

Secondly, does the worn bushes mean that the car may fail the MOT in 3 months time and is the car now dangerous to drive.

Any advice would be good

Thanks

 

[Dark0]

There is a place on EBAY half that price mate.Discs and pads for my 320 only £139 and they are genuine merc parts.

 

[Adam230K]

Whoever gave u those quotes was probably quoting the labour aswell (which is still a massive rip off).

If the bushes (assuming wishbone bushes) are really worn, you will start to feel the car throwing its weight from side to side when doing a fairly high speed, 60+mph, so yes it is dangerous because of that.

 

[timskemp]

Can someone help please?

I have just had my 53,000 miles,52 plate W211 serviced at Mercedes of Southend and they have advised me of the following:

Need new front brake pads and discs - 75% worn - cost £364
Need new rear brake pads and discs - 95% worn - cost 396
Torque Strutt Arms and bushes worn - cost £543

Firstly, if the rear pads were worn by 95% would I have not got a warning light come on the dash to advise me they were low?

Secondly, does the worn bushes mean that the car may fail the MOT in 3 months time and is the car now dangerous to drive.

Any advice would be good

Thanks

Well, I'd get it to an independant, because I'm tight and refuse to pay main dealer prices...

I've had all the above done in the last couple of years and it sounds to me like there's some price gouging going on there.

And why would one replace discs / pads at 75% / 53k miles, that's another 17k before 100%...

 

[Smiley]

I can guarantee it is the main dealer frightening you into additional work that is very profitbale for them to do (either that or you have sticking calipers on the back). Can you get the wheels off yourself and check the pads and the thickness of the discs alround - dont just check one do them all ? If so then do it.
I remember years ago the main MB dealer told me that the front discs and pads needed changing at the 36k service - I just took their word for it and they changed them. Then I started to pay more attention. The second set of front discs were fitted at 160k miles - so the first set did 36k and the second set 124k - hmmm. And in between at the 126k service the same dealer reported the front discs and pads to be urgent replacement necessary - when I checked them there was loads of life left - up to 160k in fact. And no the pads were not grinding against the disc and the disc thickness was still in tolerance even at 160k.
This is why you are better at a good honest indi than the main stealer looking for profit maximisation.
Careful working on the brakes of your car though - they are the SBCs I assume.

 

[beaker218]

Thanks for all of your answers - it looks like an indie is the way to go. I'm having no problems with the car at the moment though eg. no grinding of discs etc. Does anyone know of an Indie in the Essex area?

 

[Dieselman]

Member MBTECHNICIAN is in Essex.

SBC equipped cars do wear the rear brakes heavily so it would be advisable to get the pads changed before they wear out.

 

[SL300-24]

I agree with dieselman take it to Richard and let him sort it for you

Here a link to his website

http://www.gem-tech.co.uk/

 

[Dryce]

I remember years ago the main MB dealer told me that the front discs and pads needed changing at the 36k service - I just took their word for it and they changed them.

I guess dealers get more company cars than indys and with a lot of companies (even small mean and bitter ones) people just give the nod to suggested plausible extras.