Brake Caliper Repairs

[picross]

Any recommendations for places to get work done on a 1961 190SL?

It has been sitting in the garage for the last ten years and we would like to get it running again. Seems like most of the places around here don't work on models that old anymore.

[gjmagnus]

Brown Mercedes in Charlottesville, VA hosts our Tech Session year after year. Great dealer and wonderful techs. Highly recommended.

[ed-E300DT]

I've been pleased with Busch in Herndon.
I have more confidence in their expertise with older models (my son's) than my newer one.

http://www.buschforeigncars.com/

[dan holm]

Mike, the service manager at Brown knows I work on my cars, and at times will diagnose over the phone and send me to the parts dept for shipping proper parts. He also worked with me to get MB to cover an out of warantee wiring harness.

Good place and nice environment.

D

[dan holm]

Mitch Carr didn't work out so well for me a few years ago.

I had a 81' 240D, and the motor didn't sound correct at times. He diagosed something under the motor like a mount or something and removed it, said it wasn't neccessary. Two weeks later the timing chain broke and trashed the motor. After bringing it to Euromotors they asked a few questions which directed the noise to being a weak chain slapping.

Oh Well.

I went back to Mitch with a 86' 190D 2.5. The A/C wasn't working. He replaced compressor and a bunch of stuff for close to a $grand. Still didn't work. I went to Euro Motors, and the tech diagnosed it in the parking lot as a temp sensor, Sent me to the parts department and for $40. it was fixed.

This all was a few years ago, and I know Euromotors has changed a lot, maybe not for the better, hopefully Mitch went in a more positive direction.

[marlinspike]

I find Euro to be very mechanic dependant. But yeah, they do have some (well one IMHO) very good techs. The savings of Mitch over Euro though are large, plus I think mechanics just make mistakes (I just fixed a leaky injector seal, turned out the problem was that the tech at Mitch had put in a new seal without removing the old one, on the other hand the tech at Euro that I think is very good once left a screwdriver in my engine bay). To their credit, Euro does have the best parts department I've ever seen, but $450 labor to replace 4 pads and the front 2 rotors (and that's my discounted price, usually it's a little over $500) is just too much.

[Rey]

I've been buying parts from dealer parts departments since the 1950s, and Brown's is the best yet. Mark Filippi is the genial one I usually deal with. On things not in stock, delivery is usually the next day or day after.

I have a different take on Mike Huff, the service writer. A friendly enough guy but he ducks phone calls and won't respond to messages. Very frustrating to try to get a service appointment. Mike's unresponsiveness sent my business to the guys down the hill when my 89 needed a hood pad and a year later, a radiator.

[Mercenary]

can Anyone Reccommend a good shop in the Newport News area of Virginia to treat my 2000 CLK 430

[permit]

Looking for a good mechanice in the virginia beach / norfolk area to service my 1987 420SEL.

[Rey]

On Sept. 12, 2006, we had the seats rebuilt in a 1980 450SL. The M-B dealer echoed other recommendations we had heard for Bobby Breeden at Charlottesville Auto Upholstery. The dealer, Brown Mercedes, sends its cars to him. Breeden proved to be knowledgeable and experienced with M-B interiors. We set a work appointment for two weeks away and at the appointed time he was ready when the car arrived. I supplied new cushions and springs, he did the labor, and the car was ready in under 6 hours. $250 and a beautiful job. It feels like a Mercedes again.

Breeden is at 923 West Street, Charlottesville 22903. 434-293-5093
The hair cushions came from Adsitco and were in the trunk when I bought the car
Rebuilt springs @ $425 each from World Upholstery

Breeden recommended against using the "pool noodles" as stuffing between the springs. Said they aren't needed with rebuilt springs, and won't last very long in any case. If anyone wants noodles just the same, you are welcome to take my 4. I live about two miles from West St. (Last June I found noodles in a toy bin at a supermarket.)

Yes, you can do the seat rebuild yourself. On a scale of 10 the job is a 3. Complete instructions are a few bucks on eBay. You can have my booklet with the noodles.

[2nutz]

Does anyone have any recommendations for reliable shops to repair or rebuild brake calipers on a '65 300SE? Help out an old guy who just joined.

[Don350SDL]

White Post Restorations in White Post VA. They have a web site, it's easy to get a quote from them.

They bore out the caliper and insert a brass sleeve, then clean it all up.

I had them do some work for me 20 years ago, it was not very expensive and the work was way better than excellent.

Don

[vahan]

Manassas Virginia hosts one of the best Mercedes mechanics in the area in the person of 'Iraj' of Luxus Motors (ower and head mechanic).

This is an only mercedes shop. I have seen benzs of all vintage here.

Iraj has serviced three of my diesels and I am really happy with his technical expertise and good prices. Plus he is really honest.

My neighbor has an onder 240D, and another local shop once told her she needed a new diesel pump (parts labor 1200 bucks.) I told her to take it to Iraj and he simply adjusted the pump and my neighbor's kid is still driving the car 4 years later without issue.

The best part about Iraj is that he diagnoses problems fast and fixes them by replacing parts only as necessary. His clientele is not the highend benz owners that live in Bethesda or Potomac, but Benz owners like me who don't have unlimited cash to throw into their vehicles.

I highly recommend.

LUXUS :

703 361 0666

[Rey]

I've been buying parts from dealer parts departments since the 1950s, and Brown's is the best yet. Mark Filippi is the genial one I usually deal with. On things not in stock, delivery is usually the next day or day after.

I have a different take on Mike Huff, the service writer. A friendly enough guy but he ducks phone calls and won't respond to messages. Very frustrating to try to get a service appointment. Mike's unresponsiveness sent my business to the guys down the hill when my 89 needed a hood pad and a year later, a radiator.

Responding to myself here, "the guys down the hill" did only an OK job mounting the hood pad, but the radiator job was good.

Whatever made Mike Huff hard to reach is history, and that problem is gone. We're back to using Brown's for nearly everything.

[Rey]

I've been buying parts from dealer parts departments since the 1950s, and Brown's is the best yet. Mark Filippi is the genial one I usually deal with. On things not in stock, delivery is usually the next day or day after.

I have a different take on Mike Huff, the service writer. A friendly enough guy but he ducks phone calls and won't respond to messages. Very frustrating to try to get a service appointment. Mike's unresponsiveness sent my business to the guys down the hill when my 89 needed a hood pad and a year later, a radiator.

Responding to myself here, "the guys down the hill" did only an OK job mounting the hood pad, but the radiator job was good.

Whatever made Mike Huff hard to reach is history, and that problem is gone. We're back to using Brown's for nearly everything.