[W126 Coupe] need a new repair shop

[Thomas Oelsner]

Thanks Jim
Do you happen to know his hourly rate? They all seem to be within a few 
dollars of each other at around $90/hr.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Ham" <jimham at porcine.com>
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:00 AM
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] need a new repair shop



> Paul's Mercedes Werkstat

> 939 Terra Bella Ave

> Mountain View, CA 94043

> 650-694-4926

>

> My car is an '85 500SEC. Paul has done all the service on it for two of 

> the three owners during it's life. So far so good - He's not inexpensive, 

> but as far as I know he has never made a wrong diagnosis nor repaired 

> something that didn't need attention. Up until a few years ago he had a 

> partner and called the shop Automotor and Sport on San Antonio Rd, Palo 

> Alto. (or was it Automotor ut Spor?). He's a Swiss-German and I believe 

> that his early training was in Switzerland. He took car of my 230T before 

> I got the 500SEC.

>

> Down side: don't expect a rigorous schedule.

>

> Regards,

>

> Jim Ham

>

>

>  At 07:29 PM 6/24/2009, you wrote:

>>Hi Everybody

>>After 3 years on the California Central Coast, I am back in the Bay Area. 

>>I now need a new mechanic for my '90SEC and 190E. I've been seriously 

>>disappointed in everybody who has worked on the car in LA and the local MB 

>>shop in the town where I lived. For example, after multiple shops and many 

>>hundreds of dollars (in addition to the headwork and new valve guide 

>>seals), the 560 still idles more roughly than it should. The last place 

>>charged me hundreds of dollars to replace the EGR valve, and make a few 

>>adjustments. They then proclaimed that the check engine light that came on 

>>at low speeds was handled, idle was better, although it was a bit rough at 

>>startup and might be a little rough because maybe the motor mounts might 

>>be a source of the idle being a bit rough. Well the check light is coming 

>>on again and the idle is like it was before they worked on it. They 

>>charged hundreds to work on the 190E and it still occasionally blows hot 

>>air when the A/C is on. I am fed up and disgusted with these "mechanics" 

>>who supposedly understand these cars, but don't. Does anybody know of a MB 

>>repair shop in Silicon Valley (San Jose or Milpitas; alternatively 

>>Mountain View) where they know what the heck they are doing besides being 

>>able to do standard work that any mechanic could do on the most basic of 

>>cars? I think I need to find somebody who actually worked for MB when 

>>these cars were made, or was trained by somebody who really understood 

>>them. Thanks.

>>

>>Tom Oelsner

>>The MB Coupes Website!

>>W126 SEC Mailing List

>>Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>

> Porcine Associates

> +1.650.326.2669

> www.porcine.com

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>