CLC200 Wiper Blades

[oversize]

So we got the CLC200 serviced today at a MB dealer and we discussed replacing the wiper blades....  How much do you think they wanted to suply and fit??  Part #A203 820 26 45  The closest guess wins....

[TJ 450]

Around the $300 range?

Tim

[Beastie]

Five thousand? TEN thousand?? FIFTEEN THOUSAND!!

More seriously, I'll guess $240.

[adamb]

I'd guess labour 15min, so AUS$50 plus AUS$100 for parts (if it's just the blades and not the whole arm).

Either way, I hope it's clear that cars are now being sold at cost or even less with profit for manufacturers coming from parts and servicing. They lock you in with a warranty that's linked to service schedules at authorised dealers.

That's a fairly standard business models across many industries. For instance my Galaxy S3 phone is free to me for a monthy tariff of £31 including calls and data. When I go abroad or go over the data limit, they'll screw me again. While pay-as-you-go may be cheaper overall, psychologically it's easier to have a fixed outgoing that's related less to usage patterns.

[motec6.9]

Ok Mark here goes new blades on ebay are $49 or mb probably want about $120 plus labour so i would say about $350 . Ford wanted $290 for the blades on my old Territory which i changed myself after being told the price.  Geoff

[WGB]

Auto1 shops are now starting to sell some of the Euro "Pedestrian friendly" blades at reasonable prices.

I have just changed my ML320CDI blades (all 3 including rear) for $65 while the originals would have been a $200+ investment.

The rubbers can be changed by themselves by prising off the plastic end-piece  that has a small tooth that holds the blade - you guess which end as I don't know.

The agents did in the past sell a pair of rubber blade refills for about $50 but have ceased stocking them (or at least say they have but they were always a little cagey about them) some years ago.

Bill

[Tony66_au]

A hint............  Mercedes workshops charge around the $200 ($210 USD) per hour...........

So im guessing high 200's, Low 300's?

[oversize]

$225 to be exact!  Beastie wins!!   

Highway robbery for something that must cost a fraction of that to make and they're probably paying low rates for an apprentice to fit them.  And it's something that should be done annually.....  We wouldn't mind so much if the service was impeccable, but sadly even that is deteriorating!  Give me USA service any day!

[adamb]

I just don't get it. In UK you can go into EuroCarParts and pick up blades for £8 each. Job done. Perhaps, as they say, "one is born every minute".

[oversize]

It's called freight, taxes and about 1,000% markup!

[Tony66_au]

Its bloody rude is what it is, no wonder MB Aus is jumping up and down about "Grey" Market parts.

Call MB Spares and ask em how much Mark, n order 2 for ron

[john6007]

Recently I had some time to kill while waiting for some Tyres to be fitted (to a VT Commodore) so I walked (looking clean but casual) into (a MB dealer) Westpoint Square on Scarborough Beach Road and asked an indicative price for a 6.9 oil change and filter. (#5628 has a good MB dealer service history)

I'd had good service from the spare parts guys but the service people politely told me to F off and go somewhere else. Now if I was financially reckless I might be able to buy one of almost any car they had but I was supprised at their attitude, even if I was prepared to pay a quoted $210 per Hr.

John

[Tony66_au]

I think this is why the Indy mechanics do so well and there is no reason for a Dealership to be rude.

But they are and cop grief and negative publicity for their efforts, Stealership is one of many often unprintable names used for the Authorised dealers and after my dealings with a few im inclined to feel that half of em deserve it.

I will say though that Brighton Star and Silver Star in Doncaster were always good to me with my aging W126 (The W140 that replaced it was almost at the end of its life sales wise) and they had a good stock of parts as well.

My "Local" dealer was pleasant enough in recent times but were asking $800 plus dollars and a 7 day wait from Stuttgart for a bearing that eventually cost me $120 inc overnight freight from MB Spares in Canberra.

And here is something a lot of you may not be aware of, MB Germany is actively campaigning their OEM suppliers to try and restrict the parts flow outside the MB Family or what is referred to as "Grey Market" parts, some thing the MB Spares newsletter wrote about at length a few months ago.

Should they succeed we will see massive price increases and a  drop in quality parts available.

Article here   http://www.mbspares.com.au/Information/Newsletters/Newsletter-No-125.aspx

[s class]

A hint............  Mercedes workshops charge around the $200 ($210 USD) per hour...........

   

Here in South Africa, standard main dealer rates (MB or otherwise) are around the ZAR650 mark (~ $75/hour).  Good indies get about half that. 

[oversize]

So it's no wonder you're getting some great tradespeople to work on your car!  Even paying top dollar here is no guarantee of good workmanship.....