Originally Posted by
pinpull
Early in the lockdown I had a couple of rear tyres replaced on my SLK at my local Kwikfit. On my way home and within 5 miles, my dashboard lit up with a selection of warning lights, telling me that the abs, asc, cruise etc, were inoperative.
First thought was to head back to Kwikfit to check if they had disturbed anything during the tyre fitting. They said no, but ran a diagnostic check on the car which reported that there was a fault with a front wheel sensor. All Mercedes dealers/workshops/parts stores were closed, but Kwikfit said they could fit a new sensor if I could locate one.
I got on the phone to available Mercedes helpline, to explain the problem and the diagnosis, and to try and order the part, but the service manager simply quoted me £249.60 to have the job done once the dealerships reopened. This cost broke down as follows: ABS Wheel Speed Sensor @ £71.40 + Labour @ £178.20
With no idea when that reopening might happen, and getting increasingly annoyed at the Xmas lights display in front of me, I decided try and locate the part. I eventually sourced it in Germany. This was an ABS Wheel Speed Sensor, which was in fact the Mercedes OE part.
This cost £10.98, it arrived within a week, and I returned to Kwikfit who duly fitted the part then gave the car a test drive. From handing them the key, to getting it back, took 40 minutes.
All in all, this little exercise cost me less than £50.00.
I do understand from experience that having work carried out at a Mercedes AD will be expensive, but due to this huge cost difference and what I considered an obscene parts mark up and a ridiculous overestimation of labour time, I made a point of running through all this with the Mercedes manager I originally spoke to, and suggested that I would take far more interest in any quotes from them in future!
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