ISO Foreign Car Mechanic

[Longermonger]

Originally Posted by Graceutr

Right the first time

My problem isn't so much the mechanic its more the parts. Was hoping someone knew where I can buy discount Benz parts.
The dealership/ "discount" import parts place here in Wichita quoted me $1,000 (dealer) and $1,200 (discount lol) for my headlight assembly.
I've even checked the salvage around Wichita but unfortunately there's just not a lot of benz's around here.

Sorry, I have a no sympathy policy for anyone with an S-class and a Maser. Pay up, and have the repairs done right.

[Guest092813]

Originally Posted by Longermonger

Sorry, I have a no sympathy policy for anyone with an S-class and a Maser. Pay up, and have the repairs done right.

Lol. If only the dealership would fix the car right, I might not have such a problem with them doing my car and paying the dealership prices.
Last time (a month ago) it went to the dealership I had them fix my window that was off track. Yea, they fixed it. Now it goes down when I hit up and up when I hit down.
And its off track again.
And I had them install a new taillight. Problem was they put a taillight for a 2000 S500 on my car and didn't see a reason for me to be mad. Said my VIN # pulled up that light in their system.
I like cars the way some women like to shop for clothes. At least in the long run, I have something to show for...
I didn't save the money to buy both cars by spending frivolous, so if I can save a little money fixing them, I can save up for the new car I want

[royamcr]

Only car I'm looking at is Tesla. :-)

[Longermonger]

Originally Posted by royamcr

Only car I'm looking at is Tesla. :-)

Roadster? Model S? Model X? Or waiting for 3rd gen "Project Buestar?

Tesla has the best product in the entire automotive industry. Not bad for their first clean sheet attempt.

Acceleration: instant, seamless, 0-60 in the low 4's.
Braking: like everything else it is on par with Tesla's benchmark, the BMW M5
Cornering: like braking, the low CG helps it but the LRR tire hurt it
Handling: RWD and handles well
Exterior: design borrowed from Aston Martin...a good thing. Low drag because no grille and flat underside
Interior: best in the world center stack/nav/HVAC
Sound: quieter than any luxury car because of no engine and 0.24 Cd.
Quality: Holy shit this thing has aluminum everything! The rear subframe/motor/gearbox/suspension is worth more than most cars.
Transmission: No need for silly dual clutch 8 speeds when you have a wall of torque and a 16,000RPM motor! A simple reduction gear will do. NO EXPENSIVE CLUTCH JOBS because there is no clutch.
Range: 300 miles @55, less as you increase speed
Charging: everywhere there is a outlet, quicker with a home charger, and about 20 min for a 100 mile charge at a Tesla Supercharger station (free for life w/ premium model)
Battery change: Tesla has demonstrated a fully automated battery change that takes about two minutes. Future upgrades should take about...two minutes.
Upgrades: The Model S upgrades wirelessly just like your smartphone. So your car can get better than when you first bought it.
No dealership, no middlemen.
Comfort: Program your car to a preset temperature so you just walk into the garage, unplug, and get into your cozy seat.
Gas stations: Never stop at them ever again nor care about the price of gas.
Long distance travel: That's why we have jets!

[royamcr]

Model S is the most practical now. Model X is gonna be more than the Model S I think so it will be even less practical cost wise. Hopefully after Model X they will be focusing on a car for everyone instead of "supercars". By 2015 they should have a much better supercharging network. Cool stuff going on in that company. Just hope oil/car companies don't get their way and have the government find a way to run them out of business. I am sure they are hating Tesla. It's amazing stuff that the other car companies should be taking note of.

Almost to the year 100 years ago something similar was happening. Rockefeller's Kerosene was being replaced by Edison's DC power grid. However Tesla's AC power eventually won out. Rockefeller hated this but eventually refined his product, and made gasoline.

[Doc Savage]

Try the little shop on 1st and Hillside. There is also Stutgartt autohaus on 2nd st by Washington. I bought a 75 300D from the Autohaus and they treated me right. They do all european makes.

[royamcr]

Don't forget about the possibilities with a Tesla. Free road trips to Dallas. If we all get one some of the gals in KC might need to find a new line of work. LOL

[BigMikeinKC]

http://www.cartalk.com/mechanics-files

I've always had good luck when researching through this source.

Had one garage who found the problem, but couldn't work on the particulate issue. No charge. Also they have attended to issues that were relatively minor, again no charge.

[bartipero]

Europa Garage, Topeka, is well known. The owner grew up in Belgium and worked in a Benz assembly plant there before immigrating here. Knows these cars inside out, but cheap you likely won't find. People come from far and wide to him. There used to be a similar talent in Lawrence, who was good and inexpensive, but I've lost track if him, and he would be pretty old by now, so probably is gone.

As for what you're experiencing, Longermonger is on track. I can say from experience Mercs are some of the finest road cars ever made. They are hard to give up, but I did because they flat fall apart at a certain point. You can almost hear the parts dropping on the pavement as you go, they are hard to find and when you do--as you've found--are expensive.

Try Autowarehouse online for last ditch, but good luck.

[bartipero]

Originally Posted by royamcr

Model S is the most practical now. Model X is gonna be more than the Model S I think so it will be even less practical cost wise. Hopefully after Model X they will be focusing on a car for everyone instead of "supercars". By 2015 they should have a much better supercharging network. Cool stuff going on in that company. Just hope oil/car companies don't get their way and have the government find a way to run them out of business. I am sure they are hating Tesla. It's amazing stuff that the other car companies should be taking note of.

Almost to the year 100 years ago something similar was happening. Rockefeller's Kerosene was being replaced by Edison's DC power grid. However Tesla's AC power eventually won out. Rockefeller hated this but eventually refined his product, and made gasoline.

Tesla is most likely smoke and mirrors for some time, and probably all time.

[Longermonger]

Originally Posted by bartipero

Tesla is most likely smoke and mirrors for some time, and probably all time.

Put your money where your mouth is and short some TSLA stock.
hahaha

[royamcr]

LOL, ya, I was looking at Tesla stock several months ago when it was hovering in the 20ish range. Then had other things on my mind, work related and didn't pay attention. Was looking around the other day and saw it better than quadrupled in 4 months to 120 range. Damn.

[deacon]

sell them and put the money towards the 8 grand it was going to cost to repair and buy a good used car..8 grand buys a great used vehicle