2009 SLK brake pipe renewal costs

[Mazzo]

My SLK200 needs a new subframe. It's covered under warranty so the cost is zero to have it replaced (all paid for as goodwill by Merc). The brake lines and fuel line were identified as needing replacing, so I agreed to this because, if the subframe is out, it makes total sense to do it now.

What doesn't make sense is the labour costs. The parts costs are actually fine and I've no problem with that but the labour send excessive:

4 hours to replace the two brake pipes
2 hours to replace the fuel line
This includes bleeding etc.

It seems very steep if the subframe is already removed and they've told me I am not being charged for any labour on that at all.

Anyone got any idea on timings for this? I queried it and was told that, despite the subframe being removed, is a tricky job!

If that's normal, I'll go for it but I don't want to find myself paying for something that is making up for the "goodwill" aspect.

 

[grahamcol]

Op l think you're right to question this. I'm not an expert, but like you l question the labour times being quoted as they certainly seem rather a lot to me also.

 

[rf065]

I'm no expert, but it seems to me the timings are being taken from Mercedes own book which would assume the rear subframe was still in place. I think that is what they are quoting from in a "computer says no" scenario.

 

[Mazzo]

Thanks.

I think they are charging me for things that they would have to do whether I was having the brake lines replaced or not. If they replace the subframe, they have to remove brakes, pipes, flexis and stub axles. They would therefore have to bleed the brake come what may. So that should not be included in my charges.

I think you were right about "computer says..." I'm told that to change brake pipes is a 10 hour job of which 6 hours are for removal/replacement of the subframe. So the calculation of 4 hours is based on that. However I imagine that the 6 hours for removing and replacing the subframe are exactly that - getting it off, putting back on. That's not going to include the reassembly of the brakes. More to the point, dropping a subframe is not the same as completely replacing it and everything that is attached to it. So I would assume that the work included in a new subframe is going to include all that, so the additional work required is more or less just changing pipes!

Hopefully someone will know hours but it does feel very steep indeed.

 

[sonic]

If you cant get the hours down with MB get a quote from an independent, for the fuel & break lines.

 

[mioba]

Sometimes I get the gut feeling that when companies do this goodwill work (which must cost them a
fortune) they look for other work
to negate the financial loss. Maybe its just my scepticism.