Service Fraud
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,514
Likes: 392
From: ON/NY
There was seemingly no abuse of the vehicle. It gets dicey with the so-called drain/fill v. flush etc. Much of the complaint is how little time the vehicle spent on the lift.
There's no footage on what's happening underneath the vehicle. So if we pulled your vehicle in to do a microcabin fitler change @ $160, and we gave the car back to you in 4.5 min., the dash cam may show that it took me 4 min. to do the service, and the rest of the time your car was sitting, idling, or parked. Really depends.
There's no footage on what's happening underneath the vehicle. So if we pulled your vehicle in to do a microcabin fitler change @ $160, and we gave the car back to you in 4.5 min., the dash cam may show that it took me 4 min. to do the service, and the rest of the time your car was sitting, idling, or parked. Really depends.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 2
From: Ontario
This was part of the local Global news broadcast last week, It's legit, no denials from the dealer. This does not seem to be a MB corporate dealer, but franchise one.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere
Happens all day everyday. There are a lot of gooofs for every good, honest hardworking service tech. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory with having someone else handle your vehicle. In addition those who are honest and good get driven out of dealership bays eventually since good people never meet quotas while goofs create surplus quotas. Thankfully the good mechanics open their own indys so Support em!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 381
Likes: 2
From: The Plateau
As long was we can keep them from mating, we should be ok. 
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,514
Likes: 392
From: ON/NY
It’s a fair question I was asking. No doubt the dealer seems shady. But I would like to see MB’s findings or explanation. I also would like to know if video is edited short in any way.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 11
From: TX
I'm not usually one to accept a "free keychain" or "free oil change" when a dealership has done wrong. The BMW dealer offered me a free water pump job ($1,200 retail) and at first I said ok, then I said I never want any of your techs to touch my car again, not ever. And I meant it. They sent me a free oil change letter admitting no wrong, hah, ripped it up and threw it away.
I have to admit if given a E63s AMG wagon, I'd probably cave in.
I have to admit if given a E63s AMG wagon, I'd probably cave in.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,583
Likes: 392
From: PA
Again, when I watched the video outside of the forum, I was expecting some sort of joyride, as I've seen before with Subarus, a M2, a new M3 in a parking garage, pushing the car when there is no need. The Subaru one the tech even talks to his buddy saying he's testing out a car (when they get back the mgr notices the dash cam and says get this the **** out of here what are you doing?). Then there's another where a crew goes to Timmy Horton's, I mean these are things that are unquestionably not appropriate. But to take 9 mins to do a tranny drain/fill? Maybe it's not like Toyota where there is no dipstick (who knows what year the car was it was old), and it was a 9 minute job. Again, I thought the hang up was with how quickly the work was performed, and how long the car idled/sat. There wasn't any abuse.
This says MB trannys (again do not know what year the car was, nor what year this is either) can have the fluid checked with a dipstick, unlike most modern Toyota products. So could the fluid be exchanged in 9 min? Why not when there's a lift?
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/how-to-...mercedes-benz/
This says MB trannys (again do not know what year the car was, nor what year this is either) can have the fluid checked with a dipstick, unlike most modern Toyota products. So could the fluid be exchanged in 9 min? Why not when there's a lift?
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/how-to-...mercedes-benz/
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
From: CA
Again, when I watched the video outside of the forum, I was expecting some sort of joyride, as I've seen before with Subarus, a M2, a new M3 in a parking garage, pushing the car when there is no need. The Subaru one the tech even talks to his buddy saying he's testing out a car (when they get back the mgr notices the dash cam and says get this the **** out of here what are you doing?). Then there's another where a crew goes to Timmy Horton's, I mean these are things that are unquestionably not appropriate. But to take 9 mins to do a tranny drain/fill? Maybe it's not like Toyota where there is no dipstick (who knows what year the car was it was old), and it was a 9 minute job. Again, I thought the hang up was with how quickly the work was performed, and how long the car idled/sat. There wasn't any abuse.
This says MB trannys (again do not know what year the car was, nor what year this is either) can have the fluid checked with a dipstick, unlike most modern Toyota products. So could the fluid be exchanged in 9 min? Why not when there's a lift?
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/how-to-...mercedes-benz/
This says MB trannys (again do not know what year the car was, nor what year this is either) can have the fluid checked with a dipstick, unlike most modern Toyota products. So could the fluid be exchanged in 9 min? Why not when there's a lift?
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/how-to-...mercedes-benz/
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 52
From: AZ
This says MB trannys (again do not know what year the car was, nor what year this is either) can have the fluid checked with a dipstick, unlike most modern Toyota products. So could the fluid be exchanged in 9 min? Why not when there's a lift?
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/how-to-...mercedes-benz/
http://www.mercedesmedic.com/how-to-...mercedes-benz/
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,583
Likes: 392
From: PA
It comes down to the job. Lexus gets I think almost $300 for a drain and fill whereas an indie charges $84. One could say the indie takes a lot longer, because imho they are more careful.
I just look at it this way, how quickly can one drain and fill motor oil, 9 minutes? Very likely.
I have no clue about the $700 price. Would BMW charge $4,200 to fix an ABS/DSC module, when I DIY'd it for under $500, to include buying a Motive, DOT 4 brake fluid, line wrenches, and the same software that the dealership uses with a special OBDII cable? Of course they would. And BMW could do it in I think 60 min or less, when it took me 5 weeks.
Again, the issue seems to be centered around the short time on the lift. Microcabin filter takes <7 min. if one takes their time, and it costs $160, which is the part plus 1 hr. labor. Nobody knows, the video can't tell, but as mentioned, I would not go to that dealership esp. with an older AMG. Go to an indie.
I just look at it this way, how quickly can one drain and fill motor oil, 9 minutes? Very likely.
I have no clue about the $700 price. Would BMW charge $4,200 to fix an ABS/DSC module, when I DIY'd it for under $500, to include buying a Motive, DOT 4 brake fluid, line wrenches, and the same software that the dealership uses with a special OBDII cable? Of course they would. And BMW could do it in I think 60 min or less, when it took me 5 weeks.
Again, the issue seems to be centered around the short time on the lift. Microcabin filter takes <7 min. if one takes their time, and it costs $160, which is the part plus 1 hr. labor. Nobody knows, the video can't tell, but as mentioned, I would not go to that dealership esp. with an older AMG. Go to an indie.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,583
Likes: 392
From: PA
I can't remember what youtube it was where they went to Timmy Horton's, and it wasn't just one tech either. Can't remember if it was a fancy car or plain one...
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 590
Likes: 26
From: Indiana
It comes down to the job. Lexus gets I think almost $300 for a drain and fill whereas an indie charges $84. One could say the indie takes a lot longer, because imho they are more careful.
I just look at it this way, how quickly can one drain and fill motor oil, 9 minutes? Very likely.
I have no clue about the $700 price. Would BMW charge $4,200 to fix an ABS/DSC module, when I DIY'd it for under $500, to include buying a Motive, DOT 4 brake fluid, line wrenches, and the same software that the dealership uses with a special OBDII cable? Of course they would. And BMW could do it in I think 60 min or less, when it took me 5 weeks.
Again, the issue seems to be centered around the short time on the lift. Microcabin filter takes <7 min. if one takes their time, and it costs $160, which is the part plus 1 hr. labor. Nobody knows, the video can't tell, but as mentioned, I would not go to that dealership esp. with an older AMG. Go to an indie.
I just look at it this way, how quickly can one drain and fill motor oil, 9 minutes? Very likely.
I have no clue about the $700 price. Would BMW charge $4,200 to fix an ABS/DSC module, when I DIY'd it for under $500, to include buying a Motive, DOT 4 brake fluid, line wrenches, and the same software that the dealership uses with a special OBDII cable? Of course they would. And BMW could do it in I think 60 min or less, when it took me 5 weeks.
Again, the issue seems to be centered around the short time on the lift. Microcabin filter takes <7 min. if one takes their time, and it costs $160, which is the part plus 1 hr. labor. Nobody knows, the video can't tell, but as mentioned, I would not go to that dealership esp. with an older AMG. Go to an indie.
the fluid alone is over that
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,922
Likes: 4,123
From: Maryland
We've discussed this here before. These guys were having a conversation where they had an expectation of privacy, inside a closed car. People say stuff about their customers, their property, etc all the time. This was TAME. I'm in the real estate business and you should hear what people say about their clients and their homes. "How much is that dump you have over on Main St?" And much, much worse lol. When you deal with the public and customers, ESPECIALLY high end customers...you need to blow off some steam, and people do that with their coworkers.
As for the "joyride", again, tame. Would I prefer they didn't take my car to get frosties? Yeah. Does it happen all the time? I'm sure.
To me the only thing "damning" about the video was that it appears the customer didn't get their service they paid for...
One thing I noticed, the complaint about the car "idling for 5 minutes while he dried it off" my reaction was "The guy dried it off?!?" and from the looks of it dressed the tires and all. When I get my car back from Lexus they don't even bother to try and dry it...they just give it to me dripping wet.
As for the "joyride", again, tame. Would I prefer they didn't take my car to get frosties? Yeah. Does it happen all the time? I'm sure.
To me the only thing "damning" about the video was that it appears the customer didn't get their service they paid for...
One thing I noticed, the complaint about the car "idling for 5 minutes while he dried it off" my reaction was "The guy dried it off?!?" and from the looks of it dressed the tires and all. When I get my car back from Lexus they don't even bother to try and dry it...they just give it to me dripping wet.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 116
From: CA
One thing I noticed, the complaint about the car "idling for 5 minutes while he dried it off" my reaction was "The guy dried it off?!?" and from the looks of it dressed the tires and all. When I get my car back from Lexus they don't even bother to try and dry it...they just give it to me dripping wet.