Just gleaned this from the MBCA forums: " I am pleased to report that Mercedes has reimbursed me for $500 I spent (back in January 2013!) on the first (of three) replacement monovalves (all of which cracked and leaked). The first replacement was purchased directly from Tom Hansen of the Classic Center. When it failed, he sent a replacement. The third was installed by MB of Santa Rosa (Smothers European). When that one failed, I glued the original and it has worked properly for almost 3 years.
This combined monovalve/aux pump (001-830-40-84) is unique to the 1995 E300D (and a very few, very late production 1993 300D2.5 Turbo). The reimbursement happened when the local service manager, Nick Stauer, of Mercedes-Benz Santa Rosa (California), spoke to the new factory rep for our area. The rep agreed to put in a request for a "reimbursement for leaking monovalve" (her words) and it was honored. I got the check yesterday. This was on top of replacing the monovalve once themselves at no cost to me. Their replacement lasted less than a month but it confirmed I wasn't doing anything wrong when I did the work. The actions are definitely above and beyond what one expects from car dealerships. I am pleased. All hail Nick Stauer and Mercedez-Benz of Santa Rosa (aka Smothers European). That it took three years is unfortunate (better for them if I had sold the car or died or moved away). Once I had patched the original monovalve (stopping the leak) the pressure was off and I didn't push as hard as I might have. It also suggests that the factory has no intention of getting their subcontractor to build a new, non-cracking part. This I expected from the beginning; why go to a lot of work to re-design a one-off component used in only 3,000 cars 20 years ago? BTW, a new monovalve/pump (001-830-40-84) is now $900 or so I've been told." -- Max Dillon Charleston SC '87 300TD '95 E300 On February 12, 2016 6:12:00 PM EST, clay via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >The Seattle dealer sale ended up gutting the staff and installing his >own screw ups. Guy purchased the BMW/Honda/Toyota franchises as well, >then plopped them all on the same side of the block. All new buildings >for each store, but I suspect he is sharing the tech staff to save >money. The idiots running around the Benz floor do not look like they >ever had training the way real mechanics had in the day. The tech >and parts staff from the former owner have dispersed. Many starting >their own or joining other enterprises. Now, the magic has leached >out of owning a Benz. > >clay > >On Feb 11, 2016, at 7:16 PM, Curt Raymond via Mercedes wrote: > >> I'd have responded with "You'll be speaking to my solicitor!" that >always strikes fear into their hearts. ;) >> Seriously, his lawyer is going to have a field day... >> -Curt >> >> From: Dan Penoff via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> >> To: Mercedes List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> >> Cc: Dan Penoff <d...@penoff.com> >> Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2016 10:10 PM >> Subject: Re: [MBZ] Cruise Amp Source >> >> My dealership is owned by a huge conglomerate, Asbury Group, based in >Atlanta. There is no local ownership any more around here. >> >> Fortunately, they appear to have left the worker bees in place for >the most part, so it has no effect on my business with the place. >> >> I will say that people keep telling me about how there is no longer >anyone on the shop floor with a brain in their head, and anything that >is more than 5-6 years old is looked at as some sort of alien intruder. >A fellow R129 owner I know in the area took his 1999 SL500 in to have >the brake system flushed. His car has staggered AMG Monoblocks on it, >as it’s an AMG edition. One of the gorillas in the shop used a rattle >gun on the lug bolts, and cross threaded one so badly that it can’t be >removed. >> >> He found this out after the fact. >> >> When he returned to the dealership to confront the service manager, >they flat faced lied about not taking the wheels off. Thing is, >because of the Monoblocks and how deep they are you can’t get to the >bleeders on the calipers without taking the wheels off. >> >> When he challenged them to try it, they told him to leave and take >his business elsewhere. >> >> Dan >> >> >>> On Feb 11, 2016, at 8:43 PM, clay via Mercedes ><mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>> >>> The owners are not only the low end folks. Lots of SUV or at least >E class people. Very popular with the Asian and African population. >Not many Latino in a Benz. We do not have many rich latins, so it is >economic discrimination. The Owner of the Stealership downtown and to >the north is Arab, and peddles his wares to the Asian market (main as >well as South). He purchased the shop from a long time White family >business who had the BMW concession as well. The old guard was huge on >local support for charities and causes. Boy Scouts, childrens >hospitals, economic development in many neighborhoods. They even >commissioned a mural that made it onto the cover of of the MBCA rag. >New owner destroyed the mural and has had no involvement with any local >issues. They advertise heavily in the Asian language rags and in the >land of the Lotus Flower. >>> >>> Our local section is actually really superior. We have traded the >overlord position from provincial PDX to VAN. Now all the PNW sections >play well together and support each other with interesting events for >various tastes. Sometimes there is a drive, or a meal date, if not a >tech session or visit to a real hardware heavy event. I am not big on >the social events, which the dames like. The interesting drive or >shop/collection visit are my cup of tea. We are lucky to have many >independent shops that work on our cars, as well as some car loving >types who collect interesting examples. There is bound to be something >to do between BC/WA/OR/ ID and MT. >>> >>> Earlier in the SLK era there was a bunch of female interest in the >brand. Now this population has evaporated. That leaves the old farts >and their wives. The white boys get together to visit wrench twisters >and lifts. We have no trans members that I know, but AC/DC boys just >love getting their cars on a lift or getting to drool over an >interesting collection of cars. The women are more interested in >social events like a drive or visit to a place to gobble victuals. >For some reason these events do not appeal to the ethnic of family >friendly owners. The few kids that show up are eyeball glued to >electronics, so gain no value or love for the marque or hobby. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> clay >>> >>> 2002 s430 - Victor, a Stately & well tailored chap >>> 1974 450sl - Frosch - Two tone green >>> 1976 300D - Blei Vanst - it looks silvery >>> 1972 220D - Gump - She was green, simple and ran >>> 1995 E300D - Gave her life to save me against a Dame in a SUV >>> POS 1987 SDL - Beware Nigerian Scammers >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Feb 11, 2016, at 2:53 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote: >>> >>>> Interesting that you say that about new owners, as I never thought >about it until now, but you’re right - most of the owners I see at my >dealer are not WASPs nor Anglos. I hadn’t really thought about that, >but now that I do, you’re right. >>>> >>>> However, in all fairness, with the Cheap Class being well within >the average car owner’s price range, especially when leased, it doesn’t >surprise me. >>>> >>>> As for the local section, that has always been the issue with the >Tampa Bay Section. It’s the geriatric crowd who thinks a cool >get-together is a drive to Mount Dora (central Florida small town known >for antiques and quaint houses) for brunch. They have no interest in >the cars themselves, especially older stuff with the exception of the >occasional R107 owner amongst them. It’s a purely social club, you >could pretty much hang anything on a shingle and take the cars out of >it and it would appear no different. >>>> >>>> No “Cars and Coffee” events, nothing with any of the local >dealerships, nothing tying in to service or technical stuff. >>>> >>>> When I got MBoT to try and set up a cars and coffee event, they >were really pumped and were going to assign a couple of techs and 3-4 >service bays for free inspections. The marketing guy I worked with to >make it happen was stunned when they ignored him. I wasn’t. >>>> >>>> Dan >>>> >>>> >>>>> On Feb 11, 2016, at 3:18 PM, clay via Mercedes ><mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Not sure how many of the newer owners actually join the club. >MBCA. From the many hours I wasted at the stealership over the past >month, the brand has become aspirational. The bulk of the service >center users were ethnic. It could be that shop's marketing, but I am >thinking it covers the regional dealers. There are four within a 30 >mile radius. Most in well paid (tech) ethnic areas. Could be Lease >car, but probably CPO owners. On the road the drivers are many shades >of cafe in the newest models, and sun challenged in the older examples. >>>>> >>>>> The club events make the Oscars look like Ellis Island. AARP has >nothing on our membership. And our selection of vehicles are past >warrantee. We have taken time to learn and know our cars, unlike those >who just came to the brand and show no excitement in owning fine >examples of German Engineering. Then, again, it could be the cars they >are driving are far less than exciting to own and drive. The current >crop of models are more Asian with a star than German magic >>>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> > > >_______________________________________ >http://www.okiebenz.com > >To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
