Outrageous Shop Labor Charges

[BlackenedSVT]

My friend just bought a used 2003 (i think) Mercedes C240. And he is debating between getting Coil-over or just regular Lowering Springs. All the shops that he has called have given him outrageous labor charges. One shop even was going to charge him $700 labor for the spring install....and this is NOT including the price of the springs!

Is there something special that needs to be done to the Merc C240 to install these?? Or are people just trying to rip him off because its a mercedes. He called me up now and wants me to install the springs, which i'll gladly help him do. But i just want to know wtf is up with those shop charges..

 

[imblown-ru]

mercedes forum.

 

[DropTopPony]

is he calling the Mercedes Dealership? They are the most expensive in the industry! Has he tried a aftermarket speed shop for a price comparison? Oh and try and google a Mercedes Forum to see if you can't find some info on that models suspension.

 

[BlackenedSVT]

Yeah i'll look around for the kid. Just wondering if you guys had any expertise (sp?) here. And i think he did call independent shops.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Mercedes dealerships charge even more outrageous prices. I remember when my friend needed to have his belt changed on his S600, the dealer charged him $430!! The belt was $125!!

Foreign cars = $$$$

 

[blackfang]

Mercedes is expensive period if you use the dealership. Yeah some can afford the car, but some can't afford the upkeep.

 

[BlackenedSVT]

Mercedes dealerships charge even more outrageous prices. I remember when my friend needed to have his belt changed on his S600, the dealer charged him $430!! The belt was $125!!

Foreign cars = $$$$

OMG he paid that? I would have laughed at them and left. Seriously. A napa belt is like $20 and it takes less than 30min to install LOL. What are they charging? like $300/hr labor rates? and making a $100 overhead on that part? geeze.....

 

[Mustang5L5]

OMG he paid that? I would have laughed at them and left. Seriously. A napa belt is like $20 and it takes less than 30min to install LOL. What are they charging? like $300/hr labor rates? and making a $100 overhead on that part? geeze.....

Yeah, he paid. I tool a look in the engine bay and there is seriously no room to work in there with the V12 shoehorned in.

He bought an S600 new, so he can afford to just pay.

 

[03ghoststang]

well i use towork for mercedes and they would charge $120 an hr. and to answer your question the front suspension is a true modified Mc pherson strut with the coil on the strut and the rear is independent rear so some people migt find it intimidating to do specially the rear since you hardly have any room to work and have to remove some things to get to the spring

 

[d90212]

pay to play....or do it yourself....botch the job and be prepared to pay double to play!