W211 - An MOT tale

[mct_cars]

My father took his car in for MOT today - a 2004 E320CDi with a paltry 47k on the clock. It's been looked after all it's life (we both take pride in our cars!)

The car failed for the first time ever on:-

2 x Snapped rear springs
1 x lower front arm dust covers perished (needs new lower front arm).

Total cost from Mercedes (it went into Merc Newcastle for the MOT) to repair - £800.

Total Cost when he told them where to go (discounted parts labour etc.) - £525

Total cost using perfectly good aftermarket parts and a very good Mercedes trained indy (who used to work at this very garage!) = £280.


The stupid thing with the front arm is that the genuine Merc part needs a new bush pushing into it - half an hours labour, where as the aftermarket is made with the bush in place. For half the price!

Not surprised dealers are struggling.

 

[mercmush]

Well done for beating the dealer!!

 

[John]

Dealers, as with a lot of businesses like insurance etc., rely on lazyness.

If you can't be bothered - they clean up.

It's a sad reality it has to be like that in the first place really. Had MB quoted a fair price to start with (and they demonstrated that by dropping as much as they did), you might not have shopped around.

 

[David Bird]

I do just wonder how often people get ripped off not only with ludicrous pricing but failing to do the overpriced jobs they are being paid for - eg wiping oil filter so as to make it look new .

 

[mct_cars]

It's a sad reality it has to be like that in the first place really. Had MB quoted a fair price to start with (and they demonstrated that by dropping as much as they did), you might not have shopped around.

Half the reason he didn't give them the business was because of the stupid first quote. That and they made him wait two hours for his MOT!

Ironically, he came out to the car this afternoon and one of the front springs has snapped in the garage. The other one did the same a couple of years ago, so that all four springs!!