Since the XF is pretty much the Mercedes SLK320 I was curious for those who take their XF to get serviced at a dealership, which dealership do you choose to take it to; the Chrysler Dealership or Mercedes Dealership?

 

Mercedes dealers won't work on them here. I would only go to a Chrysler dealer for warranty work. And that has only been one time...for the roof replacement (roadster).

 

Neither if at all possible... If you have a European car specialist near you, I've had better, cheaper, more knowledgeable service from them than either Chrysler or Mercedes.

 

Agreed, both in all honestly dont like this car. I'd find a Euro car specialist who dont have a complex unlike either brand of dealers.

 

+1

 

As has been said, Merc won't talk to you. Chrysler may not prove helpful and probably won't have parts. Go independent. Find one with Mercedes experience. When they open the hood they will feel right at home.

 

A few years back, I made an appointment with the Mercedes dealership in Naples (Florida) for an oil change. It turns out that none of the mechanics wanted to work on my car and I waited nearly 90 minutes before someone finally took pity on me and changed the oil. I swore to never go back there, and now I am barraged with mail asking me to let them service my vehicle. No thanks.

 

The Mercedes dealer in Iowa City IA has no problem working on Crossfires.

 

There is a Mercedes dealership in Bellingham WA that worked on my car several years ago.

 

Here in central Pa. we have a good Chrysler dealer, Fairfield Chrysler, who will work on them and they have competent mechanics. It's a performance oriented dealer who has a dyno and has an inventory that usually includes Mr. Norms Challengers, Vipers, RT's of all kinds and an assortment of used performance cars. So far, I have been able to do all my own work but I would not be afraid to let them work on it. Oh, they also are very good about getting parts for me, they usually give me a discount.

 

You may want to look for an independent MB mechanic.

 

If you really want to take it to a dealer, you need to go to visit them and discuss the matter. As each dealer is independently owned and run differently, there are huge differences in the way in which they treat customers.

 

I am a Mercedes Technician at Mercedes-Benz of Portland and we service Crossfires. Most things are identical to an SLK320. The only problem is that our diagnostic computers will only talk to some of the XF's control modules (if you tell the computer that it's an '04 SLK320). You might get the run around from an uneducated service advisor but the good ones know exactly what it is.

 

Any good service shops in the Seattle area?? And am I the only one who's plastics are shot on everything with a screw in it? Anything with a tab and a screw (console, dash) are brittle and falling apart... Thanks!

 

I stopped by this guy today,....Alpine Motor Werks, in Windsor, Vt.

He said he wouldn't touch the car. He only works on German cars. I said, "you do realize that this is a Mercedes under the hood?" He just repeated, "I wouldn't touch it" I bid him good day, and left. Must be nice to have so much business, you can turn away a potential customer. If I own a MB in the future, I won't go to him.

 

You've got a MB, but some idiots will never understand.

 

Not much of a mechanic if he can't figure that out.

 

Central Florida Chrysler Jeep had NP with an oil change and general service on mine but then I bought my GC there (and they want to sell me another) and I have a business acount.


Since there is no warrenty (over 100k when I bought it) I may take it to the local Tire Kingdom next. Their computer recognises the Crossfire and automagically selects full synthetic oil and adds two extra quarts. OTD about $70.


Havent decided yet whether to take to them or just do it myself. Doing it here takes far less time and effort.


ps if a mech is in doubt that it is german just point to the Karmann badge. Could just say it is a custom bodied 320SLC.


pps doesn't a 320SLK have a Kompressor ?

 

While picking up an oil filter at a Mercedes dealer in Akron, I asked the service manager if they could do a wheel alignment on my Crossfire. He told me their wheel alignment machine was broken at the moment, but he took my name and phone# and would give me a call when it was fixed.
That was 3 years ago.

 

Where is there a Karmann badge on our cars? Our cars are "coachbuilt" by Karmann. Only the AMG32 SLK has Kompressor badges.