[W126 Coupe] Did I get my $'s worth?

[Sam Sisic]

Ken,

There is only one way to know...
Do the work yourself...
After bruised knuckles, trips to the emergency room for a shot of
penicillin to treat an infection caused by a stubborn rusty bracket,
search and purchase of proper tools and parts  to do the job right...
etc.

After all that, sit or lay down and make a bill out to your self for the
work described and see what you end up with.

A "good" mechanic is worth every penny! They are few and far between...
If you find one, consider yourself lucky! A good one will never
overcharge you. That's part of what makes one "good" aside from his
expertise in the craft, he will have a conscience.

I have worked on my own cars and I have worked with many mechanics. I
could count the "good" ones that I've met using only one hand of fingers
and have a few fingers left.

These automobiles deserve the best... Don't cheap out on them. No one
could afford that.

It sounds like you were treated fairly here. Your SEC will tell you
otherwise after some use following the maintenance/repairs. You should
be set for a while.

Regards,

Sam
Chicago, 88' 560 SEC, 78K


Message: 25
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 23:31:03 -0500
From: <airedale at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Did I get my $'s worth?
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID: <002001c5c0c0$c6681190$210110ac at JCH>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Are you happy? Do you have the peace of mind knowing nothing else needs
to be done? Those go a long way, you can always find someone to do it
cheaper.
John
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ken Cribbs 
  To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com 
  Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 11:19 PM
  Subject: [W126 Coupe] Did I get my $'s worth?


  I just had the following work done on my 1988 560 SEC, at 54,400
miles: 
    a.. remove/replace coolant expansion tank, replace coolant level
sensor 
    b.. remove/replace leaking power steering low pressure hoses, power
steering filter and container cover gasket 
    c.. change air and fuel filters, replace fuel accumulator and fuel
pump check valves 
    d.. remove/replace front and rear drive shaft flex coupling 
    e.. change brake fluid, blow out drain hoses 
    f.. lube door seals, lube linkages 
  The itemized parts were: 
    a.. coolant expansion tank                    $61.25 
    b.. coolant level sensor                        38.75 
    c.. 1 gallon coolant                                     10.00 
    d.. power steering low pressure hose                   25.00 
    e.. power steering filter                       11.00 
    f.. 1 cover gasket                                  4.95 
    g.. 5 hose clamps @ $1.95                          9.75 
    h.. air filter                                            38.00 
    i.. smog ___ filter                              12.20 
    j.. fuel filter kit                              39.00 
    k.. 44K injection filter cleaner               19.50 
    l.. fuel accumulator                                    197.00 
    m.. 2 fuel pump check valves @ $22.50           45.00 
    n.. 2 drive shaft flex couplings @ $112.00   224.00 
    o.. brake fluid                                   10.50 
    p.. [illegible]                                      4.15 
    q.. radiator cap                                     7.95 
    r.. shop supply charge                             25.00 
    s..         TOTAL PARTS/SUPPLIES:   $758.00 
  The total labor charge was $595.00, for a grand total of $1,378.00.

  Is this MB-only shop charging fairly for the parts and services
provided?  

  --Ken 


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