my weekly rant.....MB alignment.

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brelandt

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Jul 12, 2009
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patterson, CA
So this customer has a 97 MB with 318K on it and a major coolant leak that he doesn't seem to even care about wants 2 new front tires and a alignment.
It was an S280 I believe? I use V.I.N. only and rarely the model numbers.
So he has the usual sagging left front suspension. The LCA are adjustable but I just can't take out the neg camber. So I even it out on both side to keep it from pulling right.
I finish up and explain to the customer what I found and what I did for them. His reply was are my tire going to stop wearing. I replied no sir. He come back with I do not care if my car is pulling or why the car company places my alignment for whatever reason. I want longer tire wear! Sir there is only so much I can do until you replace the worn parts. I will not. How can I make tire last longer? Sir I just explained. not good enough! So you blame mercedes!
UGH!
 
I hear ya!

There are a lot of S-class MBs parked in the lots of various Navy bases around here...young sailors buy a "MERCEDES"...and don't have the means to maintain it...they blow off routine maintenance, after all, it's a "MERCEDES"...and then wonder why it is so, so expensive to fix...

They find out that a cheap Mercedes is the most expensive car you could ever own...
 
Wow your customer cares about having tread on his tires! That's a step up from some of the troglodytes out there.
 
About 15 years ago. I remember putting cheap re-treaded tires on a Jaguar that a customer brought in. The tires were wrapped in plastic in the back of the Jag and I thought it weird.

As I jacked up the car I thought it was a very nice car, but I soon discovered that all the tires on it were bald. I don't know how that guy felt safe driving that car, and I don't know how we were allowed to put a vehicle on the road with almost no tread left on 2 tires.

I guess Desperate times call for desperate measures.
And this is kind of a sign of the times.
 
The funny thing is that an MB isn't more expensive for most non-electric stuff than any other car. My MBs are not electronic so I cant say there, but the electric repairs on my BMW are no more or less than any other car either.

Was a spreader bar used in the alignment? It is likely required per the FSM. Rarely do non-dealer shops use them, and then the alignments aren't right.
 
I've been seeing lots of Jaguar X-types in the lower income neighborhoods (mine) lately; I guess they've dropped in price enough where the image conscious can now get a 'jag'.
same with any older 'luxury' cars. the high mileage, ill-maintained ones are cheap enough for people for whom the cars were never intended can now purchase them.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The funny thing is that an MB isn't more expensive for most non-electric stuff than any other car. My MBs are not electronic so I cant say there, but the electric repairs on my BMW are no more or less than any other car either.

Was a spreader bar used in the alignment? It is likely required per the FSM. Rarely do non-dealer shops use them, and then the alignments aren't right.


Nope no spreader bar. I have spent the last year asking for one but management insist it isn't necessary! In fact almost no tools are necessary to do any job, LOL! UGH!

my sister has a 98 XJ8 L. Nice car but even with 88K they stole it. Dealer only wanted $3000! So far it has been a good car. But runs through tires fast.
 
Originally Posted By: brelandt

Nope no spreader bar. I have spent the last year asking for one but management insist it isn't necessary! In fact almost no tools are necessary to do any job, LOL! UGH!


We must work for the same company LOL!
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The funny thing is that an MB isn't more expensive for most non-electric stuff than any other car. My MBs are not electronic so I cant say there, but the electric repairs on my BMW are no more or less than any other car either.

Was a spreader bar used in the alignment? It is likely required per the FSM. Rarely do non-dealer shops use them, and then the alignments aren't right.


Agreed. Fleece oil filter for my w210 is $9 and according to M-B it is good for 11k, and air filters, tires, brakes are all within normal price range. Even my struts were $300 for a pair of Bilstein's, and $150 for a pair of genuine M-B springs. Not cheap, but not horrific either.
 
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Originally Posted By: Astro14
I hear ya!

There are a lot of S-class MBs parked in the lots of various Navy bases around here...young sailors buy a "MERCEDES"...and don't have the means to maintain it...they blow off routine maintenance, after all, it's a "MERCEDES"...and then wonder why it is so, so expensive to fix...

They find out that a cheap Mercedes is the most expensive car you could ever own...


In the San Diego area it is Beemers with the sailors.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I've been seeing lots of Jaguar X-types in the lower income neighborhoods (mine) lately; I guess they've dropped in price enough where the image conscious can now get a 'jag'.
same with any older 'luxury' cars. the high mileage, ill-maintained ones are cheap enough for people for whom the cars were never intended can now purchase them.



They wont have them long, #1) it is VERY hard to find a good jag mechanic in our area. And I doubt they would have the funds to go over to Bennett. #2) Their first major repair bill will do them in.
 
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I don't know that model Mercedes.
Is there a subframe that can be shifted over? This is a great technique to even out camber.

Unless camber is 2deg or more, wear should not be a problem. Toe is the tire eater by far!
And if someone drives aggressively, neg camber can INCREASE tire life!
 
Originally Posted By: brelandt
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The funny thing is that an MB isn't more expensive for most non-electric stuff than any other car. My MBs are not electronic so I cant say there, but the electric repairs on my BMW are no more or less than any other car either.

Was a spreader bar used in the alignment? It is likely required per the FSM. Rarely do non-dealer shops use them, and then the alignments aren't right.


Nope no spreader bar. I have spent the last year asking for one but management insist it isn't necessary! In fact almost no tools are necessary to do any job, LOL! UGH!

my sister has a 98 XJ8 L. Nice car but even with 88K they stole it. Dealer only wanted $3000! So far it has been a good car. But runs through tires fast.


Lol glad I don't go to your shop. You sure sound like a competent, knowledgable person, butbthevshop doesn't want to do a quality job...
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
... Was a spreader bar used in the alignment? It is likely required per the FSM. Rarely do non-dealer shops use them, and then the alignments aren't right.

When I worked for Sears they refused to buy a new one when the one we had broke because a manager thought it was for hanging stuff on in a doorway... To get around it every Mercedes that came in that required a bar I said we couldn't align it and pointed to the special tool required printout and sent the customer to the dealer. I would rather not deal with it than do the job incorrectly.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I've been seeing lots of Jaguar X-types in the lower income neighborhoods (mine) lately; I guess they've dropped in price enough where the image conscious can now get a 'jag'.
same with any older 'luxury' cars. the high mileage, ill-maintained ones are cheap enough for people for whom the cars were never intended can now purchase them.


This is an interesting point. My wife and I were recently car shopping and I noticed a lot of "luxury" brand cars on the used car lot. We didn't bother looking at them, I guess in part because we know they come with a "luxury" cost of maintaining (and insurance?). Unfortunately, not all buyers stop to consider that. I guess we'll be seeing more "luxury" cars draining the pocketbooks of those who can't afford it and breaking down on the side of the road.
 
Originally Posted By: brelandt
How can I make tire last longer?


Tell him not to drive it.
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I've been seeing lots of Jaguar X-types in the lower income neighborhoods (mine) lately; I guess they've dropped in price enough where the image conscious can now get a 'jag'.
same with any older 'luxury' cars. the high mileage, ill-maintained ones are cheap enough for people for whom the cars were never intended can now purchase them.


This is an interesting point. My wife and I were recently car shopping and I noticed a lot of "luxury" brand cars on the used car lot. We didn't bother looking at them, I guess in part because we know they come with a "luxury" cost of maintaining (and insurance?). Unfortunately, not all buyers stop to consider that. I guess we'll be seeing more "luxury" cars draining the pocketbooks of those who can't afford it and breaking down on the side of the road.


Supposedly the x-type has lots of ford stuff like window regulators and of course the 3.0 V6 engine block. It's not as blatant as the "Lexus Camry" (ES300) but still seperated some trophy wives from some one-percenter money.

OTOH I'll repeat a rant I overheard about "ford volvos": instead of fixing a $10 u-joint like the old 240s took you now have to replace a whole $1000 driveshaft b/c they're not seperately repairable.

I would respect someone driving an 80s Jag or earlier: they would obviously have some mechanical and electrical ability.
lol.gif
 
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