Outrageous Shop Labor Charges

BlackenedSVT

Active Member

Jan 18, 2004

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Apr 22, 2006

#1

• Apr 22, 2006

• #1

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

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Dec 6, 2005

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Apr 22, 2006

#2

• Apr 22, 2006

• #2

mercedes forum.

 

DropTopPony

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Apr 22, 2006

#3

• Apr 22, 2006

• #3

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

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Jan 18, 2004

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Apr 22, 2006

#4

• Apr 22, 2006

• #4

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

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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#5

• Apr 22, 2006

• #5

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

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Dec 17, 2001

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Apr 22, 2006

#6

• Apr 22, 2006

• #6

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

 

BlackenedSVT

Active Member

Jan 18, 2004

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#7

• Apr 22, 2006

• #7

Mustang5L5 said:

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 = $$$$

Click to expand...

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

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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Feb 18, 2001

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#8

• Apr 22, 2006

• #8

UDTBadkarma said:

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.....

Click to expand...

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

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Jul 16, 2005

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Apr 22, 2006

#9

• Apr 22, 2006

• #9

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

 

D

d90212

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Jan 17, 2000

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kailua, hawaii

Apr 23, 2006

#10

• Apr 23, 2006

• #10

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