Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I think its funny the absolute disdain the service guys have for owners who do their own work. Doesn't bother me, I sell parts to both. Plus if the customer isn't a complete jerk I will print out the section of the shop manual for them.
Not all share that disdain...
The service writer at my local Mercedes dealer is a Vietnam-era Army helicopter pilot. Good guy.
We first met when I was on Active Duty, and I was wearing a flight suit when I dropped off the car.
I brought the car in a couple of years ago to have the techs do a suspension level calibration (the active body control suspension isn't like conventional springs - it's controlled by computer, and operated by hydraulics). I had replaced ball joints, lower control arms, a strut, hydraulic accumulators, and rebuilt the valve blocks.
Not only was he supportive of my work, he was surprised to find out that you could clean/rebuild the valve blocks in the S-class hydraulic suspension system (new valve block: $1,650. Set of o-rings: $12), prompting the response, "Mr. XXXXX, you're not like most S-class owners!"
No, I'm not. Most folks that own a car like mine are far better off working for an hour (lawyer, doctor, etc.) and paying the tech to do a couple hours of work.
The A service, by the way, includes a whole bunch of checks, and filters (cabin, air, oil) and 10 quarts of Mobil 1. On my car, it's under $300, and it's a reasonable price for all that's done. If I were a lawyer, it would be a lot easier to stay in my office, nice and clean, and bill for an hour, while the techs spend a couple hours crawling under my car, changing the oil, filters and checking brake linings, etc.
I think its funny the absolute disdain the service guys have for owners who do their own work. Doesn't bother me, I sell parts to both. Plus if the customer isn't a complete jerk I will print out the section of the shop manual for them.
Not all share that disdain...
The service writer at my local Mercedes dealer is a Vietnam-era Army helicopter pilot. Good guy.
We first met when I was on Active Duty, and I was wearing a flight suit when I dropped off the car.
I brought the car in a couple of years ago to have the techs do a suspension level calibration (the active body control suspension isn't like conventional springs - it's controlled by computer, and operated by hydraulics). I had replaced ball joints, lower control arms, a strut, hydraulic accumulators, and rebuilt the valve blocks.
Not only was he supportive of my work, he was surprised to find out that you could clean/rebuild the valve blocks in the S-class hydraulic suspension system (new valve block: $1,650. Set of o-rings: $12), prompting the response, "Mr. XXXXX, you're not like most S-class owners!"
No, I'm not. Most folks that own a car like mine are far better off working for an hour (lawyer, doctor, etc.) and paying the tech to do a couple hours of work.
The A service, by the way, includes a whole bunch of checks, and filters (cabin, air, oil) and 10 quarts of Mobil 1. On my car, it's under $300, and it's a reasonable price for all that's done. If I were a lawyer, it would be a lot easier to stay in my office, nice and clean, and bill for an hour, while the techs spend a couple hours crawling under my car, changing the oil, filters and checking brake linings, etc.