Since I do not have a lift, or access to one, I have to have certain work outsourced. I wonder if anyone can give me a ballpark idea of what it might cost to have a auto trans fluid change and new filter done and a fuel filter/regulator replaced. I have a 2005 Limited Coupe with the NA engine and auto trans. The car has 77,000 miles and this is preventive maintenance work. The car is running fine and I want to keep it that way. Days were that I could do this work myself but, not anymore. I live in the northern Kentucky area and there is a import car shop near me who specializes in Mercedes work. Before I call him I'd like to know the approximate cost of the two repairs so I will know if he's treating me right. Know what I mean? I can get the parts from Rob at Needswings or the local NAPA or Autozone store. It's the labor that I need to know about.

Your input will be much appreciated.

Jim

 

just guessing at the average $100/hr current shop rate
fuel filter = 1/2 hour
tran oil/filter = 1 hour

so, somewhere around $150 labor

 

Fuel filter is 1/2 hour and that is what most shops will quote you. When it comes to dropping the pan and changing the filter for the transmission, most shops will quote you 2 hours. You were talking about spark plugs in another thread, shops will quote you 1.5 to 2 hours for that.

 

OK, thanks. 2 hours for the transmission seems a bit excessive if you have a lift.

 

Just yesterday I reviewed my MVP HealthCare charges for the past month. My quarterly visit to my Rheumatoid Arthritis had a nurse take 10 minute BP, pulse, and weight. The RA charged my Insurance $250 for 15 minutes conversation where no weighty decisions or med changes were discussed. $30Copay. $280 total. ..........At most 25minutes.

Find a good mechanic with a reasonable rate (shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to canvas area) and make him your friend.

when you put yourself into someone else’s hands Trust matters.....it makes no difference what they do.

 

I agree but that is what everyone always quotes me/charges when they look it up on Alldata, chilton, etc. For example when it comes to the downstream oxygen sensors some shops say it is a 1/2 hour and others say 1 hour and it literally takes 10 minutes or even less with a lift.

 

Keep in mind the lift and the building it is in weren’t free. There are also other expenses they incur that we working under the shade tree don’t.

 

It's not just the applied hours that drive cost. He has overhead of the building (e.g., heat, light, insurance) and the time it takes to fetch your car in, jack it up, lower it after the work, and prepare the bill.

There is an old story about a power plant engineer. The power plant was having a turbine problem and no one knew how to fix it. They were down for days. Finally they called in a wily old engineer who spent 15 minutes listening to the turbine, then took a hammer and tapped a spot on the housing. The problem went away. He presented a $1000 invoice and the company objected. They said all you did was tap the housing. He agreed, but said "you pay me for knowing where to tap".