At what point ...

[EmilysDad]

.... until a wannabe has a go at ATF servicing though, back to the Indie for that.

Mmm! On my Omega I changed around half the volume of ATF in its gearbox while it was on stand on my drive ... the hardest thing was getting it up in the air in the first place. I know there was ATF in the torque converter that I couldn't get out the first change. An auto gearbox specialist will do a better job than me but it aint rocket science.

 

[M80]

Mmm! On my Omega I changed around half the volume of ATF in its gearbox while it was on stand on my drive ... the hardest thing was getting it up in the air in the first place. I know there was ATF in the torque converter that I couldn't get out the first change. An auto gearbox specialist will do a better job than me but it aint rocket science.

True,
I do my 5sp but would be less confident doing the 7sp.
But a mechy that hasn't had the benefit of these forums would give me less confidence than one of us 'enthusiasts'.
Same with a black death repair imo.

 

[flowrider]

Perhaps I should explain my thinking. The only time a service history is of any value is when you come to sell the car on, so given that I plan to keep this one until it or I keel over terminally there is no benefit in having an dealer or specialist garage service record. All of my other cars have been looked after by a local, general garage where I have gotten to know the owner and his family quite well. I have trusted him with everything from a Astra to a Discovery and never had cause to question his professionalism or competence.

Avantgarde in Clevedon have done a sterling job (as far as I know) since I bought the C220 in December 2016 and I don't have a reason not to continue using them - indeed, I regularly recommend him - except to save some money on servicing and repairs. I must stress that I have a well paid job and don't need to make the savings.

An oil change is an oil change who ever does it.

 

[Naraic]

Did I say it was?


I know

Yes you did...in reply to a guy saying he lived in Ireland you said: "...here on the mainland...".

Why would you say that if you know they are different countries?

 

[EmilysDad]

Yes you did...in reply to a guy saying he lived in Ireland you said: "...here on the mainland...".

Why would you say that if you know they are different countries?

 

[Jimbo1959]

If you intent is to run it into the ground, what's the point in wasting money at the Stealers or, even at an Indie?

Do it all youself.

You can find the answers to almost any any question on the 'net.

There are tutorials on You Tube for everything these days.

I only go to an Indie if all four wheels need to be off the ground or, special tools are required for a particular job. Ok, I have a back ground in the motor trade as a parts person and know my way around a car, cars are, and have been, my hobby and passion since I was a child, so, imho as they say, "every day's a school day" and it's nice to save money (I'm a tight ass Scots man, lol), so I'll always have a go.

Being sixty I see no point in buying the special tools anymore as most will be a "one use only" for me, waste of money at my age.

I did the major service on my E350 CDi myself, I changed every filter and the oil and tbh it was one of the easiest most straight forward jobs I've had to do, German engineering, wonderful! I'll tackle brakes, suspension, almost anything really.

There's only one job I won't tackle because afaik it falls into the, full car off the ground, special tools required scenario, the ATF and filter change. Apart from that it's roll up m'sleeves and get on with it.

 

[Brizzle]

Hi Jimbo, I guess you echo my thinking. I'm more than capable of servicing the car and I may well do that after this year.

My thanks to everyone that responded to my original post

 

[A.J.]

If you intent is to run it into the ground, what's the point in wasting money at the Stealers or, even at an Indie?

Do it all youself.

You can find the answers to almost any any question on the 'net.

There are tutorials on You Tube for everything these days.

I only go to an Indie if all four wheels need to be off the ground or, special tools are required for a particular job. Ok, I have a back ground in the motor trade as a parts person and know my way around a car, cars are, and have been, my hobby and passion since I was a child, so, imho as they say, "every day's a school day" and it's nice to save money (I'm a tight ass Scots man, lol), so I'll always have a go.

Being sixty I see no point in buying the special tools anymore as most will be a "one use only" for me, waste of money at my age.

I did the major service on my E350 CDi myself, I changed every filter and the oil and tbh it was one of the easiest most straight forward jobs I've had to do, German engineering, wonderful! I'll tackle brakes, suspension, almost anything really.

There's only one job I won't tackle because afaik it falls into the, full car off the ground, special tools required scenario, the ATF and filter change. Apart from that it's roll up m'sleeves and get on with it.

That's great if you are mechanically minded. I havn't a clue. I do however know what noises they should make and what noises they shouldn't make but that is as far as it goes. I'll stick with my Indie thanks !!

 

[Jimbo1959]

That's great if you are mechanically minded. I havn't a clue. I do however know what noises they should make and what noises they shouldn't make but that is as far as it goes. I'll stick with my Indie thanks !!

Hey Andy, what's it like being rich man?

Just teasing, honest!

I understand that not everyone is mechanically minded/inclined, and feel deeply sorry for those who fall into this category. My legendary Scottish tightness just makes me cringe when I have to pay for something I can/could do myself.

 

[Jim2]

A Good Indie can do Everything a main stealer can .
In my experience once you’ve found a good trustworthy garage your quids in, and can probably justify having extra stuff done.

Most Indy's, would have worked in the Main dealers ( be it MB , Ford, Toyota etc) so you are getting the "Man in the overalls on the workshop floor ". He is the one with "Hand's On" Experience.

 

[Jim2]

Don't lose any sleep over it EmilysDad.....

 

[Mark A]

An oil change is an oil change who ever does it.

But an oil change by someone who doesn’t know what they are. Doing can prove costly.

one of the garages I used to use a lot old me they knew what they were doing when the ATF needed cahanging on the wife’s old W163 ML270 (722.6) and they managed to over fill the box by 2L. I had ATF everywhere made a right mess of the drive and underside to the truck. Fortunately I got away with replacing the main seal, some fresh ATF and a new electro plug (seal was knackered) - all of which I did myself. And they wouldn’t give any money back to cover it. Last time I used them.

 

[A.J.]

Most Indy's, would have worked in the Main dealers ( be it MB , Ford, Toyota etc) so you are getting the "Man in the overalls on the workshop floor ". He is the one with "Hand's On" Experience.

Plus Jim you are getting an MB enthusiast, in the main, working on your car rather than somebody who was able to get himself a job in a Franchised Stealer be it Ford, Vauxhall, Dacia or MB.

 

[EmilysDad]

Don't lose any sleep over it EmilysDad.....

I've not so far ....

 

[Jim2]

Plus Jim you are getting an MB enthusiast, in the main, working on your car rather than somebody who was able to get himself a job in a Franchised Stealer be it Ford, Vauxhall, Dacia or MB.

Not really AJD, like you have said, you can get mechanics who have never worked on other than MB, but I have personally known very good mechanic's, who have changed marques. The bottom line is the quality of the mechanic...any good non-specific MB mechanic can adapt and very quickly to working in an MB workshop...and vice versa. With mechanics, it's really a life long learning process. The apprentice / training time, is only the beginning really.