Price Check on Mechanic Quote on 2003 Mercedes C200K

knobbs on 23/11/2022 - 23:06
Last edited 24/11/2022 - 09:25 by 1 other user

Hi OzAuto,

Before you post about it, yes I have an old European car that costs 6 billion to service and repair.
Recently took my car in for a service and got the following quote on what needs to be fixed in addition

Replace brake fluid & coolant $242.88
Supply & fit water feed line at side of cyl head part only $118.00 labour charge $88.00
Supply & fit vacuum pump part only $367.22 labour charge $176.00
Rear brakes,incl. brake pads ceramic technology ATE,new brake discs ATE & labour charge $453.77
Supply & fit front brake hoses -2 parts only $71.94 labour charge $88.00
rear brake hoses -2 parts only $75.28 labour charge $88.00
Supply & fit front stabilizer bar links -2 parts only $144.44 labour charge $176.00
Supply & fit 2 hydraulic engine mounts parts only $311.55 labour charge $264.00
Supply & fit transmission mount part only $85.15 labour charge $88.00
Supply & fit front lower control arm bushes parts only $91.81 labour charge $264.00
Supply & fit trafficator switch part only $ 221.22 labour charge $176.00

Workshop consumables /environmental charge $19.80

The car is a 2003 C200K. Are the above reasonable figures for the work?

Automotive Mercedes C200K

Comments

  • cashless on 23/11/2022 - 23:22
    -6

    Hoses, rubber mounts, perishables on an old Merc. Probably all need replacing at 20 years.
    As for the price, what were you expecting, charity?

    • knobbs on 23/11/2022 - 23:27
      +2

      No charity needed, as stated in my OP asking if reasonable prices. I don't have any idea what to expect.

      • tonyjzx on 26/11/2022 - 06:32

        you'll find people really aggressive on this forum for some reason… must be what its like to drive a 2003 Camry

        to my liking the above is a tad expensive, however not overly so and about par for what sounds like a specialist

        if i were to talk to my mechanic I would be asking for exactly what needs to be done and what can be skipped given you're paying $3k to service a $3k car (as it were)

        the problem i've found with driving any kind of 15yr old Mercedes or BMW or Audi is that the specialists seem to think that the owners have no issues paying what is dealership charges for an old car because they think everyone still putting up with a shit Mercedes is that they owner is an enthusiast and really doesnt mind paying $3k for a $3k car…

        youre much better off going to a family mechanic who can advise what is critical and what can pass

        i think the above mechanic is taking the piss by charging labour on every item when some stuff comes out at the same time… ie. you bleed the clutch line while changing the clutch and you dont charge labor on taking out both

  • Hybroid on 23/11/2022 - 23:37
    +5

    Parts costs seem reasonable, labour seems high at $176/hour but also don't know how long each item actually takes on your car. Get a second quote from somewhere else and compare?

    Having said that, at $3,500+ in repairs for a 20 year old car… I would be looking to replace it instead. Who knows what else crops up.

    • knobbs on 24/11/2022 - 00:11

      Yeah getting shockingly close to the value of the car

      • lgacb08 on 24/11/2022 - 13:16

        FITY, it's more than the value of the car.

  • altomic on 24/11/2022 - 00:05
    +3

    ebay for the parts, youtube for the DIY instructional video.

    • easternculture on 24/11/2022 - 21:26

      I like this guy already.
      Exactly what i did when i was doing simple renovations to my house.
      Saved thousands of dollars

  • MS Paint on 24/11/2022 - 06:35
    +2

    Is this a routine service or roadworthy?

  • AndyC1 on 24/11/2022 - 07:42
    +1

    Get a quote from another service center/mechanic and compare yourself.

  • pegaxs on 24/11/2022 - 07:48
    +6

    Lol… there is $5000 worth of work for a $1200 car. (InB4: Covid has made this car worth $49,000 and it’s super rare…)

    Most of the prices look pretty on par, but some of the labour costs look a bit bullshit. I mean, $242 to replace coolant and brake fluid? What are they doing? Filling it with an eye dropper? And sway bar links should take about 10 mins each, not an hour. Engine mounts are a pain, so that seems about right, same with lower control arm bushes.

    All in all, I think it’s not too bad considering it’s on a 20+yo euro scheißewagen. Be thankful it’s not costing you part of your house mortgage.

    • MS Paint on 24/11/2022 - 08:24
      +1

      scheißewagen

      Love the German touch here

    • Xistn on 24/11/2022 - 09:16
      +2

      You'll find (and my pet hate about that industry) is the labor charge is a minimum 1hr rate per item.

      • pegaxs on 24/11/2022 - 11:15

        Basically… change light globe.. 1hr. Top up window washer fluid, 1hr.

        But again, I have seen some of these jobs turn to absolute shit.

  • Ocker on 24/11/2022 - 08:02
    +2

    Could be worse - go to a MB dealership workshop and you will be up for about $290 ph for labour.

    • mini2 on 25/11/2022 - 15:09

      Who's charging that much? Last I've paid was $242/hr.

      • Ocker on 25/11/2022 - 16:24

        Silver Star Motors, Doncaster and Burwood (Vic)

  • Euphemistic on 24/11/2022 - 09:34

    Labour for each individual item seems kinda normal, but I’d guess if you added up all the hours and then watched them do all the work it’d be a lot shorter in actual time. Ie if it’s $176/hr there looks to be 8hrs work quotes. My guess is it would take more like 5actual hours to do the lot.

    How much do you want to keep the car going? For how long? Can some of those things wait a bit, ie is the mech making everything top standard now or are they required to pass roadworthy?

    It’s a 20yo car and you could probably spend that coin on upgrading instead. Some poor sucker will buy for the badge and be alog on this forum shortly to post how they got ripped buying a ‘perfect Mercedes for cheap’

  • the Unforgiven on 24/11/2022 - 17:07

    Go to a wreakers that does Merc parts & get a quote from them
    If they rechon it is not worth doing, they will buy it off you,
    and they will more than likely have another Merc there to sell you

  • thesilverstarman on 24/11/2022 - 19:22
    +1

    Euro mechanic here. Those prices look fine to me. The coolant isnt a regular one, so its higher than normal. Labour rate is fine. They may be able to do the job quicker overall so you might save a bit, but its a Benz, not a hyundai. Depending on the km and condition its a 5 to 8k car. If you want to keep driving it and keep it reliable, it costs money.

  • mini2 on 25/11/2022 - 15:10

    Before spending more money on it, how's your timing chain and tensioners looking? It could already be on borrowed time if they haven't been done previously.

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