My First Mercedes, C class w203

[arzaam.bhatti]

Well I am an MB fanatic well I guess everyone is, but I havent got one yet is because of the price tag on the newer/zero meter ones and the old ones for maintenance....

In my book one should only buy a benz when he is able to maintain one properly.

Currently I have a corolla which was bought zero meter and its been 8 years since and every single work is done from toyota dealer, genuine oils, filters everything... spend around rs5500 every 5k km and every 40k costs me around 45k.. It is being maintained by book on what ever is recommended by toyota.
Due to this I havent faced a since problem yet and I am confident that if I get in my car and leave for a 1000k trip constant 10-15 hr long drive I will face No problem and yes I have done such trips in the past.
Basic Idealogy is Preventive maintenance.

Now since I have been following this thread keeping a benz turns out to be a tricky concept as mechanics who work on them are as good as Monkeys and some being trained monkeys.

As per me buy a shahnawaz maintained benz and keep sending it to them and paying 100k bills your life is tension free but it turns out its not.
As there is a possibility they might screw up something and not fix the real problem and I end up paying for both anyway.. so this is what I meant by ''nightmare'' or should I say atleast my nightmare

your ideology is correct, however when it comes to mercedes the owner just have to be knowledgeable himself and should not blindly trust what the shahnawaz or anybody other mechanic says, follow all preventative maintainence and just keep a eye on shahnawaz preferably or INH it would not cause a issue, however rs45k for 40k km doesnt apply here, more like the whole value of the car in the time you keep it 4-5 years lets say:P

a beautiful wife can cause trouble and you wouldn't blindly trust any male person with her, moreover she might be high maintainece in her shopping but a beautiful wife is beautiful wife you'll never get bored nor ever have a need to look at another women, same here, if you find a good mercedes and just spend that little bit extra you keep it for a long time or certainly buy another one after it

[Xulfiqar]

what if i give you the number of INH, just call them and ask them, as i don't know any other reliable place to check from, oh and prepared to give a explanation to them in desi terms as well believe it or not, they don't always understand par no,

shahnawaz would be useless in this regard as even i gave them part no for fluid and tell me to check if available but they wouldn't tell me like that, they say its company policy not to reveal part now of products they have, i would have to come in person, they only gave a loose description of product on phone

tell them that they are representing MERCEDES BENZ, not hero motorcycles, MB part numbers available on public retail shelves should be easily accessible by the dealer (shahnawaz ltd)

they usually said that to me - to which I asked questions and their idiocy escalated and then someone would call me from their office with apologies. I strongly think that the droids who look up the parts catalogs have no idea what they are looking at.

[arzaam.bhatti]

tell them that they are representing MERCEDES BENZ, not hero motorcycles, MB part numbers available on public retail shelves should be easily accessible by the dealer (shahnawaz ltd)

they usually said that to me - to which I asked questions and their idiocy escalated and then someone would call me from their office with apologies. I strongly think that the droids who look up the parts catalogs have no idea what they are looking at.

true, however i know for a fact from some relatives in UK that some Mercedes Dealerships over there also don't tell part no over phone so that instead of buying from them you don't get the part from somewhere else or equivalent part for cheaper and they especially wont tell if its a electronic or theft relevant part

but shahnawaz is too stuck up and gives a orthodox interpretation

[Xulfiqar]

my experience is a bit different because my labor cost is free of charge and I enjoy working on them because they are such fascinating pieces of machinery. e.g. take apart the 5 spd NAG1 gearbox and how it operates to get 5 forward gears and 2 reverse gears from 2 planetary sets - I really want to meet the guy who initially thought it up - but then I also am currently trying to wrap my head around the new zf 9 speed automatic transmission - its "confusing" to make it easy for you.

now back to MB.

people think that MB are cars that will work for decades without maintenance at all, this is not the case, it does require maintenance but at different intervals. Its parts are a bit more expensive because they are made to a higher level of quality and workmanship. Thats why it drives so different than any japanese or american car.

The other problem is that some repair shops amp up their charges as soon as they see MB roll in. when I was in Karachi I met a guy who paid about Rs 10,000/- for front wheel bearing service on his W210 - I was shocked to hear that, it uses regular wheel bearings that are also fit in a lot of other cars and are packed by hand - I could not understand how it ended up like that. The poor owner was given the reference that civic wheel bearings are Rs 5000/- so naturally expect 10,000 for MB ones. .... SHOCKING.

99% of MB in Pakistan are owned by "bhai alhamdulIllah sirf aail badli karata hoon" baaqi sb jenyan hai - set gaari hai" - the car is usually beat to death and is requiring all sorts of maintenance. The ride quality and performance of any worn out MB is still better than most cheap econoboxes hence people think that as long as its moving its "AASUM" - never buy such a car at asking price. It requires a big purse of money to repair.

then come the driver hazraat who screw it up further and the low percentage of "rim shim deck sheck" guys who pay no attention to the effects of their "awesome street cred mods"

Best buy a car in reasonable amount and bring it to control specification - then proceed to run it like it should. It will work for an insanely long time - remember that these are favorite for taxi purpose - taxi operators are the cheapest bunch in the world.

[arzaam.bhatti]

^^Excellent summary for those who are forever asking questions on owning mercedes and maintainence

[haroon_1]

steering rack of this vehicle is far cheaper than of kompressor one. This vehicle is not equipped with a rack having sensors.

A friend recently imported a w210s engine the same m111. It costed only 80 k type while if u import a 271 engine. It will cost around 400k.

So if u need any part of engine like cam sensors crank senosr etc etc. They are far expensive if u consider 271. This vehicle use w124 oil filter which is cheaper. The air filter is also cheaper. N yes all body parts suspension parts etc are the same as of other w203. But the electronic etc dont need to changed so often

[Xulfiqar]

true, however i know for a fact from some relatives in UK that some Mercedes Dealerships over there also don't tell part no over phone so that instead of buying from them you don't get the part from somewhere else or equivalent part for cheaper and they especially wont tell if its a electronic or theft relevant part

but shahnawaz is too stuck up and gives a orthodox interpretation

I never have problems with it - doesnt matter if the part is theft detterent, because a TD part can only be sourced by a dealer - you can try looking for that part no. but will always fail to find it anywhere else than a MB dealer. Ask your relatives not to go to such an idiotic dealer.

the problem with shahnawaz ltd is "nawaab harkaat" - they think that because they deal in MB for the military etc they are 20 rungs higher than any peasant/customer who comes up driving one of their sold products.

[Haroon_Tarar]

Mercedes comes with a price. Maintaining her also requires a solid owner.
Diagnosis may be wrong sometimes. Mistakes are part of life. We must learn to accept them.
No one can do everything. We as car owners sometimes become annoying to the mechanics as well. Har bat ka hum KO pta hona chahiye. Hr chez hamare samne honi chahiye.
Give some space to the mechanic as well pls. Show some trust in him.
You have gone to a mechanic and it means you cannot get the job done yourself. Let him do it.
Yes it is heavy to maintain if anything comes up. Pant coat mall road se 3k main milta by aur branded company ka start hi 5-6k se hota hy.
The quality speaks for itself brothers. Merc was expensive and will always remain expensive.
But, let me assure you this the drive quality is far far superior and there is no match even with a C class.
I have been driving jeeps and JDM for the past year. About 15 days ago I drove a W203 for a couple of days and it was a hell of an experience.
No one comes close to a Merc and for that there is a price which is supposed to be paid

[arzaam.bhatti]

Mercedes comes with a price. Maintaining her also requires a solid owner.
Diagnosis may be wrong sometimes. Mistakes are part of life. We must learn to accept them.
No one can do everything. We as car owners sometimes become annoying to the mechanics as well. Har bat ka hum KO pta hona chahiye. Hr chez hamare samne honi chahiye.
Give some space to the mechanic as well pls. Show some trust in him.
You have gone to a mechanic and it means you cannot get the job done yourself. Let him do it.
Yes it is heavy to maintain if anything comes up. Pant coat mall road se 3k main milta by aur branded company ka start hi 5-6k se hota hy.
The quality speaks for itself brothers. Merc was expensive and will always remain expensive.
But, let me assure you this the drive quality is far far superior and there is no match even with a C class.
I have been driving jeeps and JDM for the past year. About 15 days ago I drove a W203 for a couple of days and it was a hell of an experience.
No one comes close to a Merc and for that there is a price which is supposed to be paid

Well said

[Xulfiqar]

Mercedes comes with a price. Maintaining her also requires a solid owner.
Diagnosis may be wrong sometimes. Mistakes are part of life. We must learn to accept them.
No one can do everything. We as car owners sometimes become annoying to the mechanics as well. Har bat ka hum KO pta hona chahiye. Hr chez hamare samne honi chahiye.
Give some space to the mechanic as well pls. Show some trust in him.
You have gone to a mechanic and it means you cannot get the job done yourself. Let him do it.
Yes it is heavy to maintain if anything comes up. Pant coat mall road se 3k main milta by aur branded company ka start hi 5-6k se hota hy.
The quality speaks for itself brothers. Merc was expensive and will always remain expensive.
But, let me assure you this the drive quality is far far superior and there is no match even with a C class.
I have been driving jeeps and JDM for the past year. About 15 days ago I drove a W203 for a couple of days and it was a hell of an experience.
No one comes close to a Merc and for that there is a price which is supposed to be paid

If I am repairing it and the customer wants to be there watching over - sure he can, he must help too then - like handing me tools and holding stuff for me.

[Haroon_Tarar]

If I am repairing it and the customer wants to be there watching over - sure he can, he must help too then - like handing me tools and holding stuff for me.

IF they would only JUST do that

[Xulfiqar]

IF they would only JUST do that

try it - it shuts them up real quick. literally ask them to hand you some part, bolt or tool from your service cart.

Then they are customers who want to know why a repair is performed and what are its symptom manifestations, causes and preventive measures.

First thing to ask them is what they "DO" for a living. Then explain the procedure to them in their own trade way. If they say its too technically blinding then ask them what exactly they want to know - usually they want to feel pompous (typical Pakistani red blood) that they are doing a favor to you by letting you repair their car. Shoot that down, there are no favors being exchanged here.

Then drill into their heads that the person needs to learn to respect hard work - another trait is that while being told how something works they will nod their heads in agreement even if they dont understand A from alif - best teach them like a physics or chemistry interactive class.

Usually it happened only as first time interaction with me, then never again.

[syncview]

Nope it doesn't

[Xulfiqar]

Nope it doesn't

dheet?

[umarkhan1]

If I am repairing it and the customer wants to be there watching over - sure he can, he must help too then - like handing me tools and holding stuff for me.

try me.me to kahon ga k me karon.shock ki bat hti ha

[syncview]

dheet?

I dont know
Some people like to learn and share information

But for sure i don't like when someone makes fun of me when I pull out a torque wrench to tighten valve cover bolts. .
Some chaps also display a funny facial expression when i torque spark plugs on their vehicles

[margallar]

lack of knowledge probably causes that, i have been wanting all my suspension and steering components to be torqued ever since i found the service manual

they probably think k humay bewakoof bana raha hai

[arzaam.bhatti]

been though my fair share of these, when i was fixing the pajero i used to bring a mechanics from gawalmandi to my house and ask their opinion, if i found them correct according to vehicle specs and answers form forums then used to carry on , otherwise use to tell him to not say anything and do as i say and used to give all my own tools to him for work, the car never ever went to any workshop all the work was done at home by bewildered mechanics who at the end used to get surprised at the outcomes themselves, oh and i used to pay them very good and above normal rates for their very hard work of not being a chaurdry themselves and not talking while i directed them.

[arzaam.bhatti]

when i got the mini pajero the viscous coupling fan was welded direct, i called a mechanic at home and told him to make it automatic, he thought i was stupid, he said its driven by pulley, engine seize hojaye ga ye aisa hi hota hai, later he watched in amazement as i got another fan and installed it and it would work as it should and engine didn't "seize"

[devils_smile]

If you cannot find them easily let me know
I'm awaiting a 'shipment' mid December, will order those too along

osama bhai, wasnt able to get a hold of them. if you can arrange them, i would appreciate it. here are the part numbers for the spring bump pads.

Front:
201 321 09 84 (8mm)
201 321 09 84 Coil Spring Shim Front Mercedes 190D 190E 260E 300CE 300D 300E | eBay

Rear:
201 325 09 44 (8mm)
Mercedes W201 190E 190D Rear Coil Spring Shim 8mm Lemfoerder 201 325 09 44 | eBay

I sent you a message on ur cell phone. would like to give you a call and discuss somthing. thankyou.