When you drop off your car for non-routine maintenance, how long does it take them to complete?
I have a few issues that have been bugging me. So dropped the car off Tuesday morning with a laundry list, with items marked in order of importance. I called Thursday to ask how it was going. He hasn't gotten to look at it yet to even determine what parts he might need.
I did tell him up front that it was not my primary driver and to keep it for a few days. And he did say he was busy.
This seems pretty par for the course. This is my third mechanic in a year of Mercedes ownership. They always seem to keep it for a week if it's not routine type stuff.
Anyway, as long as he gets to the items high on the list at a reasonable price, I'll be pretty happy. I'm somewhat optimistic.
Never tell (most) mechanics that you aren't in a hurry because anyone that shows up afterwards that needs a repair will most likely get repaired before yours because they will look at your car as something to fill in time when they are a little slower.
I usually call up my indy tell him more or less what needs to be fixed/is wrong with the car and ask when is a good day for me to drop it off for service. If he say 2 days I'll drop it off in 2 days if he says in a week I'll drop it off then. I'd rather my car be sitting in my garage rather than in his.
I hear you Pete. I did tell him when I dropped off the S55 about the problems with the 500SL. He thought he could fix them. I told him that I would bring the SL in next week. He said fine. I should have pushed him for a day that he thought would be slow.
I feel a little nervous leaving the convertible in that neighborhood. I hope he is putting it in the garage at night locked up. I would much rather have kept it at home until he was ready.
It's a balancing act. If I'm not in a hurry, I'd much rather have my car in the hands of a guy who is really busy than a guy who is ready to dig right in before I've even turned off the ignition.
So yeah, if he's a busy shop and you gave him the green light to take his time, then he will. Hopefully that means he'll cut you a break here or there with a few things, since your car just sitting there means he was able to take in other work. The key to me is whether once he starts on yours, he then finishes it. The worst thing is when they tear them apart for multiple things and then it sits for days, even after the parts arrive. Even an excellent mechanic is going to be more likely to make a mistake at that point.
You might consider dropping by the garage and chatting with him. Express your concerns about security, etc., and tell him you're happy to take it back home until he has the time to start on it. That will let him know you're okay with waiting, but it may spur him to get moving on it, too.
All good indies I dealt with had waiting lists. Almost all of them would keep the car for couple days to properly diagnose complicated problems. If you don't want them to just throw parts at the problem, like dealership does, then you have to be patient.
I'm somewhat intimated to go to the dealer with a 24 year old car. First, the prices will be a lot more. Second, don't want to be laughed at behind my back for driving an old Benz.
I have only taken my car to the dealer once and that was for an alignment. At first they didn't want to do it since it was lowered but after a little convincing they did it anyway. Was minimally more than most alignment places but I knew it would be done correctly.
When you drop off your car for non-routine maintenance, how long does it take them to complete?
I have a few issues that have been bugging me. So dropped the car off Tuesday morning with a laundry list, with items marked in order of importance. I called Thursday to ask how it was going. He hasn't gotten to look at it yet to even determine what parts he might need.
I did tell him up front that it was not my primary driver and to keep it for a few days. And he did say he was busy.
This seems pretty par for the course. This is my third mechanic in a year of Mercedes ownership. They always seem to keep it for a week if it's not routine type stuff.
Anyway, as long as he gets to the items high on the list at a reasonable price, I'll be pretty happy. I'm somewhat optimistic.
They usually have kept mine for 2 3 days....
There is pros and cons to the situation
If you drop it off and say you need it done ASAP , they might not lagg but charge you more.
Some mechanics take advantage when you say "keep it for a couple days"
So if in between a new customer comes to have the car serviced ASAP,.well the mechanic might say," well he said for a couple of days so I might as well make some money now with the new customer and leave his for after since he(YOU) isn't in such a hurry.
Some understand your patience if they genuinely haven't been able to get to your car and might not charge you so much.
This is just what I've experienced.
I'd be kinda pissed if I called today not Thursday and find out nothing has been done since Tuesday..
I'm trying very hard not to call today (Friday). Will bug him again on Monday if he doesn't call. If he fixes what I want at a decent price, I'll be happy.
That's the hard part for me. I just wish they would call daily to give me a status update. It wouldn't take 3 minutes. And, I've noticed, when it is done, they let it sit there until the 5 o'clock traffic starts building and then call to say it's ready. OK, I'm finished venting. I hope you get it back today but it's not 5 o'clock your time yet........
No Doug. Not yet. They are open today (Saturday) until 5. But I'm sure he has to order parts and hasn't called me yet to say what. I told him to tell me before he does anything big.
I'll call him Monday and try to let him know that I don't want it sitting there forever.
It's a beautiful day out and I would drive the SL with the top down if I could.
Not the dealer. Plus we have 2 extra cars now so didn't need a loaner.
Tried calling yesterday and mailbox full. Left message today. Waiting. As long as he does a good job at a fair price, I'll be happy. They all seem to keep it for a while down here for non-routine stuff.
It's now the following Friday and he is still working on it without any diagnosis. At least I talked to him today. Before, the calls went over to voicemail.
Hang in there Scott. Remember, it could be worse, I'm not sure how but someone will probably chime in here and tell you. You never did say what the car was in the shop for. If they had to order a part from Germany it may take awhile.
Doug
For me 10 days and still no diagnosis would make me unhappy unless you gave him the impression you were in no hurry whatsoever and that is the reason I would not mention that to a mechanic unless you work out an agreement beforehand that he will cut you a break on the price.
If there is no diagnosis I doubt he has ordered any parts from Germany, and if he had I think he would have mentioned it.
Anyway good luck and I hope he just didn't pull that "next Friday" out of his rear end, which IMO if he has no diagnosis, he did.
I gave him a laundry list. But two main things I wanted fixed was that it starts hard after sitting for an hour and a small transmission leak. I gave him some ideas from the forum about the starting issue. Most people thought it was fuel pressure related. Norman said there was a diaphram that holds hot fuel that may leak. Someone else thought fuel injectors.
Some other issues that eventually I'd like done that were on the list.
Have to turn off car and back on to clear speed sensor after driving to get top to go up and down. Klaus at Top Hydraulics seemed to think that it had something to do with the speed sensor wire in the radio.
Door locks only work with the key. I can hear the pump going. Could be tubes not attached. Haven't looked at yet.
3rd brake light doesn't work. I read online that the wire can break near the trunk hinge. Just haven't looked at yet.
Turn signal doesn't turn off all the time. Maybe just needs some wd40 but have to disassemble steering column to get at I think.
The steering wheel goes in and out but not up and down. Not sure if the motor is bad or disconnected.
Intermittent wipers need to be greased up. Sticks sometimes, especially at lower speeds. Saw the fix for that but haven't had time.
Windshield washer fluid plug to stop leak
Window squeek
I'm sure he will have to order some parts. If he fixes at least those two things and doesn't charge me that much, he still will be alright in my book. If it's $500, I'd be thrilled. $1,000 would be a little high but acceptable, especially if he fixed some of the other things. Don't want to spend more than that right now.
This is actually my third mechanic in a year. They all seem to take a couple of weeks and work it in.
I think $500-$1000 might fix the two main issues but doubt it will cover the rest of the stuff. I think a lot of the other smaller things if you have patience you can do yourself especially greasing the wiper, fixing the leak in washer fluid reservoir, 3rd brake light fix, finding the vac leak and the squeaky window as there are threads explaining how to go about fixing these issues. You will save a ton of money that you can then use to fix the things you were unable to.
Wow, that is quite a list. I hope you've let him know of your cost expectations. With that list I'd keep in touch with him at least every two days even if I had to drive by the shop. Good luck and I hope he's able to repair everything, but I suspect it won't be for $1,000. Hope I'm wrong.
Doug
No don't expect it all done for $1,000. I just gave him my wish list. I know I can handle some of the items. This is my slow time of year at work so should have the time. Really just the two and I'll be happy. I told him not to order any major parts without telling me first. I don't think he's done much of anything to date other than drive the car in and out of the shop when they open and close.
For me, the hot start issue (actually cold start) was the fuel pump integrated check valve.
I got a bunch of water in the fuel and it corroded the delicate seal in the check valve allowing the fuel rail to depressurize between starts. I actually replaced the fuel pump twice as I thought that was the only problem, but then the remaining water (quite a bit in the tank) damaged the new pump in short order. Had to change the pump AND completely drain the tank and fuel filter.
Turned out to be a good time to change out my crack checked, garden hose sized main fuel supply line to the tank.
If your issue is really a hot non-start, then it might be the CPS.
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