Mercedes specialist auto-electricians - Manchester/Leeds

[Orb the Impaler]

Hello all,

Can anyone recommend a really, really good auto electrician who can sort my SL500 relay problem? I live in Rochdale and work in central Leeds, so local to either is fine.

Requirements...
- must be honest
- must know their stuff - I don't want to end up with the default MB dealer fix for this type of problem which will be to start replacing little black boxes at 1000 pounds a throw until they find the right one.

I'm not a happy bunny :-(

[David911RSR]

Try Merc Care in Pudsey, Leeds. I have not used them for years but they were very good when i ran a 190E a while back.

[Gazzab]

Have you tried this place to find a solution?

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/

[sneijder]

This fella : http://www.hotfroguk.co.uk/Companies/L-D-Thornley used to work at my dealers, he set up as an indy a few years ago and knows his onions.

[Orb the Impaler]

Gazzab said:

Have you tried this place to find a solution?

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/

Yup. No joy

I've got a ballacher of an electrical problem - I thought it was sorted and it isn't. I am, quite frankly, terrified of taking it to MB who usually just throw start replacing parts. I realise that the fix for this is going to cost me at least a thousand quid if it means replacing a control box (which it will) - what bothers me is them replacing a box. Doesn't work. Replace another etc etc etc.

[phumy]

Orb the Impaler said:

Gazzab said:

Have you tried this place to find a solution?

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/

Yup. No joy

I've got a ballacher of an electrical problem - I thought it was sorted and it isn't. I am, quite frankly, terrified of taking it to MB who usually just throw start replacing parts. I realise that the fix for this is going to cost me at least a thousand quid if it means replacing a control box (which it will) - what bothers me is them replacing a box. Doesn't work. Replace another etc etc etc.

I know that hindsight is a wonderful thing, but did you never think about these sort of things happening when you bought the car?

What normally goes wrong with this model?
Is it a bustard to fix?
How much to fix?
Is there an Indi near me?
Am i going to be terrified at getting a bill?
Can i afford the bill?

Perhaps i shouldnt buy it!!!!!

Sorry it doesnt help you, It might help someone else

[Gazzab]

Just read your posts on the merc site.
Could you not ask an auto elec to find a was of ficing the symptomns rather than the prob (if it is too difficult and expensive) eg some form of auto shut off for the elecs ?

[wazza]

Try giving my business partner Ian a call at Leeds Car Audio on 01132328777. He knows a really good self employed autoelectrician who has his own unit in Leeds. The guy's name is Darren and he is exceptionally good at diagnostics.
Warren

Edited by wazza on Sunday 28th September 20:21

[MZ]

Try SPR Autos in Stockport. They are on 0161 480 6095.

[Parrot of Doom]

Greenvale in Whitefield will know someone. Just down from where the bus station used to be.

[Orb the Impaler]

Thanks for the replies chaps.
I've actually decided "sod it", and booked it into Merc Leeds on Friday.

Only the blasted thing is behaving itself now. Grrrr!

[Parrot of Doom]

That may be a mistake. I'd still go to an independent rather than a dealer.

By the way if they replace any control boxes or expensive bits, insist they return the old bits to you. They can be repaired and resold.

[sneijder]

... unless it forms any basis for a warranty claim, including goodwill, where failure to return the offending item to MB means the dealer has to foot the entire bill. A pain in the butt for the dealer esp. if they didn't sell the car originally.

Luckily this new procedure has put a stop to the old main dealer method of changing everything under warranty without a proper diagnostic and crossing their fingers.

Mercedes did try a new idea where we'd try to diagnose a problem over the phone, and order everything to cure it. Anything not used we could send back under this 'Fixed First Visit' scheme. Control units and anything obscure weren't covered, unfortunately it was wide open to abuse and most dealers just cleared all the cr@p off their shelves after the dust was blown off.

[Orb the Impaler]

Parrot of Doom said:

That may be a mistake. I'd still go to an independent rather than a dealer.

By the way if they replace any control boxes or expensive bits, insist they return the old bits to you. They can be repaired and resold.

Oh yes! I'll be getting the control boxes back, and no mistake.

The clicking has returned, so at least it'll be there for them to locate. The reason that I decided to just go to MB was that I feel I've got a little more come-back with them should they do something, charge me 500 quid (or whatever) and that turns out not to have done the job. Or am I being naive

[Gazzab]

I agree - I would be happy to, for example, tell a merc dealer that I wouldnt pay for work that didnt fix the problem. Then threaten them with legal action if they tried to keep my car etc.... With indies I wouldnt dream of doing this.