Mercedes Benz at Tire Kingdom for engine problems

[wavinwayne]

That's cheap!

My local trusted BMW shop charges $160/hr.

 

[goblin]

My local trusted BMW shop charges $160/hr.

Trusted indie or trusted BMW dealership ?
Because if it's a dealership - wow. That's not much.

My local indie(s) are $175 and $195, with a booking list long as Anna Falchi's legs in the 1996 Max calendar.

 

[wavinwayne]

Trusted indie or trusted BMW dealership ?
Because if it's a dealership - wow. That's not much.

My local indie(s) are $175 and $195, with a booking list long as Anna Falchi's legs in the 1996 Max calendar.

Oh, sorry. My trusted indy. My guy usually books about a week out.

 

[Dave Hess]

They have a gazillion positive reviews, and many of them specifically state "They fixed my /fill German car here/ ". Fairfield county, CT.
Once again - I was very unhappy with the diagnostic they did on mine, but I'll consider my case an outlier. I wasn't there to speak with them, it was a drop it in the evening, drop the key in the box, get it back the next night after work with the key under the floormat, etc. So maybe there was some miscommunication involved.

Something like that I want to speak to shop face to face and explain what exactly I want them to do.

 

[Dave Hess]

That's cheap!

Very reasonable but that’s here in Florida @ Tire Kingdom (Mavis).

 

[CKN]

My local trusted BMW shop charges $160/hr.

That's not bad. Ford dealer here charges way more than that.

 

[Hall]

They are not. If you find one that has full diagnostic tools for MB, BMW, etc., it would be a surprise!
Autel and other stuff, regardless "how sophisticated," does not count.

Pretty sure I addressed that part in my comment....

That said, are they likely more familiar with domestic and Japanese brands vs Euro brands ? Most likely, yeah.

 

[wavinwayne]

That's not bad. Ford dealer here charges way more than that.

I would imagine that the average price for everything is higher in your area than mine.

 

[BHopkins]

What year Benz is this ?
I only saw the CLS 500 badge on the trunk.



View attachment 268228

That is a first generation CLS, model years 2006 - 2008. In 2009, they got a facelift, which could be identified by different side view mirrors, and a different bumper and grill.

Depending on what is causing his problems, I wonder if it could be more economical to drop in a used engine. From a quick search on ebay, it looks like an M113 can be picked up for $700 - $1500.

You can overbuy a Ram or Super Duty just as easily as a Mercedes or a Bentley. I don't know how many times I've seen tricked out trucks, with oversized wheels and off road tires, and the tires are worn down to the point that they could soon be mistaken for slicks. I've always speculated that they guy can't afford to buy new tires, because he is still paying off the original wheel/tire package.

I love the CLS. The body style is very elegant.

 

[Chris142]

My local trusted BMW shop charges $160/hr.

That's cheap too. We are $250+... Even pep boys and Firestone are close to $200 for what they do .

 

[Dave Hess]

That's cheap too. We are $250+... Even pep boys and Firestone are close to $200 for what they do .

I’m sure much higher overhead in California with more rules, regulations, city ordinances, etc… compared to other parts of the country.

If I lived in your area I would take my cars to you for work.

 

[goblin]

They are not. If you find one that has full diagnostic tools for MB, BMW, etc., it would be a surprise!
Autel and other stuff, regardless "how sophisticated," does not count.

That's a bit elitist to say the least.
They might not be able to virginize a DMEs or do stuff even a BMW dealership won't do, but they surely have whatever tools of the trade they need to exercise their trade.

Diagnostic does not automatically mean repair. Any advanced scanner from a reputable manufacturer will fully diagnose pretty much anything on any car it's certified for. Whether a tire shop will actually be able to, and want to, fix what they diagnosed, is another story.

A full ProTool license with cables is $250, and requires a $50 android phone and some courage to use. And it does more than what a tire shop would want to dive in. I doubt that a $3k pro scanner won't be able to do that.

 

[John105]

I am not familiar as much with MB diagnostic systems as with BMW. @The Critic might give you more info.
It is not only OBD reader, it is access to the network. BMW for example, has live access to engineers in several locations around the world when they hit the wall; it is called the PUMA case. I would say MB is probably doing it similarly. Some things could be easily diagnosed, but there is always danger of shop misdiganosing it, and then you end up throwing parts at the problem until something works out. That is how these cars get bad reputation.

I’ve owned a BMW for 18.5 years purchased new. A dealer finally got me Dec 2024 during a state inspection, for $950. Until then I did pay $280 for a battery and that was the most. They are not as bad as GMC, but close. And my car had 4/50 free maintenance. My DSC Hydro aka abs pump did fail and $4200 was not an option so I DIY for about $450 as I needed software, line wrenches, the pump repair, fluid, a Motive, and misc items. But at least the support network exists, unlike say Toyota.

Imho ymmv these cars one must either DIY or have an indie who will install customer parts. Routinely parts are sold over list today. Really a trusted indie is needed for all cars nowadays.

 

[97prizm]

What about MB software and diagnostics ?

I’m sure few tire shops have this for troubleshooting emission problem(s)….

Suspension and air ride system they could work on.

When I worked as an emissions Inspector we had one come in. We couldn't turn off the traction control. The owner had to take it to a Mercedes Benz dealership to have it turned off. Apparently the tech was surprised that it was that complicated as well.

 

[John105]

…I wouldn't set foot in a Midas, but that's just because my local ones thought they can feed me the usual BS on what I need to replace. Now, I love to be lied to as much as the next guy, BUT I want some effort to be put into it.

Long Midas story, read on if interested

my Maxima had a lifetime warranty but I decided to do my own investigative reports so I went to 3 Midas and didn’t mention the lifetime warranty. 3 quotes from $450 to $800. Same car, same issue. Now, why would I spend all my time doing that? I am always curious and want to know. I didn’t do the work and went to a 4th and said I have a lifetime warranty and it still cost $300.

Flash forward to 2025. Lexus LS 430 has a y pipe leak. I’m thinking oh s*** $1500+?

So I did the unthinkable. Took it to Midas, the $450 location above. They tell me $430–$200 labor, $230 part, lifetime warranty. I’m thinking this is a pipe not a muffler. Anyway I say let’s do it. But I had to go back as they needed to get the part. I know it’s gonna be a cheap crimped pipe that will fail in 12-18 mos but I want my car quiet again.

Friday before Super Bowl I drop it off and stay of execution! They call really apologetic can’t get the part anywhere not sure what happened. WHEW!!!!

I bought a mandrel bent part that the forum guys used and liked. $324 rockauto plus $23 shipping. $208 to install. Imho it even looks like it’s quality. Transferred old O2 sensors.

Again indie ftw. The end.

What a cheap crimped setup looks like. Mine’s shape is like OE, more of a U than a Y.

 

[goblin]

At least yours apologized.

I went in for rear brakes on my Santa fe. I knew the pads were bad, and the rotors had a lip so expected that as well.

Store manager came to me and half disdainful, half angry, half patronizing (I know that's three halves but they were too big to be just thirds ) informed me that he can't let me leave the shop for liability reasons unless I replace the rear calipers as well, because - quote - I drove the car with bad brakes for so long that the caliper pistons overextended so far that the calipers are now damaged.

He'll do me a favor and replace them for $1300, on top of the rotors and pads.

I told him that I'll pay him more than that, as long as he puts that same statement, with the technical explanation as it gave it to me, in written, stamped, on their letterhead.

I might have mentioned to him that in a previous life I worked at a tire shop in Europe to get me through college, along with my other odd jobs. I was all smiles, positivity and love.

He then mentioned they might be able to retract the pistons back, but that I should have them checked by my dealer.

I was so thankful that I keep advertising them as the amazing source of positive vibes that they are. Midas on Main Ave in Norwalk, CT. Across from the stop'n shop. Tell them I sent you.

PS: I did indeed mention this at the dealer and told the story, they got a good laugh.

 

[edyvw]

That's a bit elitist to say the least.
They might not be able to virginize a DMEs or do stuff even a BMW dealership won't do, but they surely have whatever tools of the trade they need to exercise their trade.

Diagnostic does not automatically mean repair. Any advanced scanner from a reputable manufacturer will fully diagnose pretty much anything on any car it's certified for. Whether a tire shop will actually be able to, and want to, fix what they diagnosed, is another story.

A full ProTool license with cables is $250, and requires a $50 android phone and some courage to use. And it does more than what a tire shop would want to dive in. I doubt that a $3k pro scanner won't be able to do that.

Give me a break.
1. Dealership, good dealership, will absolutely tackle any issue.
2. ProTool is just INPA and ISTA translated into common language. It does not even cover most of the things from ISTA +, ISTA P, and ISTA D. Then, you are not networked.
No, an advanced scanner won't diagnose everything, nor will it have the same functions. I tried at my buddy's shop, Autel, which I would say is the most advanced one. It cannot actuate ABS, DSC, etc., in a way that, let's say, ISTA+ can. It is the generic procedure. I gave him job of replacing the subframe when I hit the curb doing donuts with my daughter, and he just could not push the air out of the lines properly as Autel did not have the correct procedure that BMW specific software has. In the end, I managed to do it with ISTA+.
Whether they can repair the same as others is even more questionable. If they can tackle anything that CLS550 throws at them, they are not working for a tire shop; they own their shop! Another friend who was trained in Munich, in BMW in 70's, came to the US in 1996, started to work for a local mechanic here. After a year, he went to the dealership, and two years later, he had his shop. He retired with a house in Europe and two houses in the Bahamas. BUT he was the go-to Euro guy here in this region. He could tackle any issue. Tire shop? No.

 

[edyvw]

I’ve owned a BMW for 18.5 years purchased new. A dealer finally got me Dec 2024 during a state inspection, for $950. Until then I did pay $280 for a battery and that was the most. They are not as bad as GMC, but close. And my car had 4/50 free maintenance. My DSC Hydro aka abs pump did fail and $4200 was not an option so I DIY for about $450 as I needed software, line wrenches, the pump repair, fluid, a Motive, and misc items. But at least the support network exists, unlike say Toyota.

Imho ymmv these cars one must either DIY or have an indie who will install customer parts. Routinely parts are sold over list today. Really a trusted indie is needed for all cars nowadays.

That is true. The support network for Euro cars is unmatchable.

 

[edyvw]

Pretty sure I addressed that part in my comment....

They cannot be 100% full-service if they cannot tackle some stuff. Problem with that is that they will take complex vehicles, try to fix it and most likely screw over customer. I mean, some things are common on all vehicles.
I see that on the neighborhood Facebook page with comments: "I took my BMW to Christian Brothers 4 times, and still have issues."

 

[goblin]

What I wrote was that with a good aftermarket scanner they will be able to do diagnostic. They might be able to provide valuable guidance. And that diagnosing an issue doesn't mean they'll be able, or willing, to repair it. I don't see a tire shop in their right mind spending labor on dropping engines and chasing German-speaking gremlins when they can change tires for the same labor rate.

...
1. Dealership, good dealership, will absolutely tackle any issue.

Not that they can't. That they won't. Virginizing used modules to fit, vs installing new ones, etc.

2. ProTool is just INPA and ISTA translated into common language. It does not even cover most of the things from ISTA +, ISTA P, and ISTA D. Then, you are not networked.
No, an advanced scanner won't diagnose everything, nor will it have the same functions. I tried at my buddy's shop, Autel, which I would say is the most advanced one. It cannot actuate ABS, DSC, etc., in a way that, let's say, ISTA+ can. It is the generic procedure. I gave him job of replacing the subframe when I hit the curb doing donuts with my daughter, and he just could not push the air out of the lines properly as Autel did not have the correct procedure that BMW specific software has. In the end, I managed to do it with ISTA+.

The first google search I did on Autel + BMW returns "Replicates capabilities of BMW ISTA-D and ISTA-P systems for coding, programming, and diagnostics" on the very first result on top of the page. Not sure what Autel your guy has. Now, does every Autel has every car module loaded ? Don't know.

As for ProTool - not here to argue. It will not do flashing, will do diagnostic and coding, which is already quite ahead of what a tire shop or a brake shop might need. I haven't dug deep enough into mine to check if it does ABS purges - I know it does have a whole ABS sub-menu.

Whether they can repair the same as others is even more questionable. If they can tackle anything that CLS550 throws at them, they are not working for a tire shop; they own their shop!

I agree

Another friend who was trained in Munich, in BMW in 70's, came to the US in 1996, started to work for a local mechanic here. After a year, he went to the dealership, and two years later, he had his shop. He retired with a house in Europe and two houses in the Bahamas. BUT he was the go-to Euro guy here in this region. He could tackle any issue. Tire shop? No.

Sure.