First off, I know that my Crossfire is not a Mercedes, but I do know that the engine is, for all intents and purposes, identical to those found in MB vehicles. I was in Naples (Florida) arranging for an apartment for my daughter who will be student teaching there this winter. My Crossfire was close enough to needing an oil change that I decided to make an online appointment with MB of Naples to do the work. I explained that I wanted an oil change for a Crossfire and they told me that they could do the oil change but that they would not be able to reset the service indicator. No problem. So I arrived at the dealership 30 minutes before my service appointment only to discover that they had no record of my ever having made an appointment. No problem. The service advisor said that they would be glad to do the oil change. I sat in their waiting room for nearly an hour when I was told that the oil change was done and that they were washing my car and that they would be done in twenty minutes. Forty-five minutes later (and nearly two hours since I had arrived), my car was done. Seems that my paperwork got lost. Additionally, the service advisor told me that none of the mechanics wanted to work on my car because they are all "Mercedes Benz mechanics". Sheesh. My service advisor was very apologetic about the attitude of the mechanics. He seemed genuinely embarrassed by the whole situation. Needless to say, my daughter will not be bringing the Crossfire back to them for service or parts.

Score zero for Mercedes Benz of Naples. I would have given them a negative score if it weren't for their service advisor who bent over backwards to accommodate my seemingly outrageous request for an oil change.

 

Seemingly all grease monkeys are not created equal, at least in their eyes.
Covered in oil and grease they all look the same to me, apparently not though.

 

Must be nice to have a business where one can afford to run customers off. Must be enough easy money fleecing the wealthy MB owners in Naples.

 

I'm not saying count yourself lucky, but most Mercedes Dealerships will not work on anything but Mercedes. Sorry about your bad experience

 

John, they probably took one look at your license plates and figured why worry about you being a repeat customer.

I went to Akrons Mercedes dealer right next to Goodyear on Market St. and asked them if they would do a 4-wheel alignment on my Crossfire. The girl behind the counter reminded me that they were a Mercedes dealer and not a Chrysler dealer. I told her the car was all Mercedes when it came to the mechanical parts.
She got on the phone and asked the service manager if they could do it and he said not right now because their alignment rack was down for repairs. But they would take my name and # and call me as soon as it was fixed. That was nearly 2 years ago and I'm still waiting.
Funny, they have no problem selling me oil filters.

 

The Mercedes dealer here where I live has a bunch of down to earth guys working in the shop i have been there several times to get antifreeze and small parts and every time especially if it nice outside at least one sometimes 2 of the mechanics will come out to check out my car and actually brag about the guts (their term) of the car. always ask how fast have you driven it,, and the service guy always ask hows the srt running.... really nice people ,,the only reason i don't have any work done there is ,,I don't want to pay their rates there too high for my blood .. but they still treat me the same no matter what. its sad that dealers have people employed that have a a&&hole mindset. or are always trying to take advantage of someones misfortune . obviously at the end of the day they don't care what people think about them. they think their as smart and have as much class as the people that buy their cars . one word comes to mind BULLS**T. or is that 2 words

 

I have been to Mercedes of Ft, Lauderdale quite a few times, every time my car draws a crowd,, from the service manager to a 1/2 dozen mechanics , and the entire parts dept. the manager and the mechanics always ask when are you going to let us service that thing. the most requested thing is ,,, can you open the hood,,, can you fire it up and open the exhaust,, and i get all my parts there for about 25% off,, I couldn't ask for more. jim

 

I think Jim has a very unique car with that in mind, I think you need to break the ice with the service mgr first, then a mechanic or two. If they still have their noses stuck up in the air, then move on to another dealership. I was needing someone closer to work on my car, only because heading to Chicago for the "real" experts has it drawbacks from a "time" standpoint. Long story short, I will be driving to Chicago, well worth the 3 1/2 hrs to have it done right by people who want to work on my cars. Most dealerships aren't into modding your car, they want the quick service money, and won't want to take responsibility for altering your car. Find yourself a shop willing to work with you and for you, not for the quick $$$$$$$$$$.

 

Try the independent MB service shop on McGregor Ave in S. Fort Myers the next time it needs service. They've been there forever and the lot is always jammed with Benzes and Bimmers.

 

And this comes from a guy who knows his dealerships, so I would follow his advise....

 

I have tried several MB dealers and were turned away at all of them. finally I found one that will do oil changes but no mechanical work. He took the time to explain that their computers can not "see" the Crossfire 3.2 even though it is the same engine and there for will not take the responsibility to do engine work.

I have found a local independent MB/BMW guy that will work on the car but he is so busy he is usually 2 weeks out. I am sort of a NOW kind of guy.

The best experience I have had is with Rudy and Speedriven in Palatine IL. Rudy has no problem "seeing " your 3.2 on his computer and the results are dramatic. If you are any where with in driving distance of that shop you will be doing your car a great service to make that trip.

 

X 2 Ru^^dy Ru^^ dy Ru^^dy,,,like that jim,,,jim

 

Thanks for the referral. I cannot fault the MB dealership for not wanting to work on my Crossfire, but I had made an appointment online and had called the service department to make sure that they understood what I was asking for. I had email communications from the dealership confirming my appointment. And if it weren't for the service advisor who approached me as I pulled into MB of Naples, I'm not certain that the oil change would have happened. As I think I originally stated, he was a gentleman and treated me and my request with the utmost respect.

It just irks me that they had a Smart Car in the showroom and they didn't want to work on my Crossfire.

Hopefully the car won't need any service while wintering in Florida, but if it does, I really do appreciate the feedback.

 

now that i think of it ,,,maybe you should check to make sure you got a new filter and oil... not saying they would do such a thing but with the way you explained everything,, i would have stood right next to my car as they were doing the service. jim

ps don't take any chances check the oil try to make sure you got the correct stuff.

 

Smart is a Daimler Benz brand, Chrysler is not.

 

Many Mercedes-Benz cars are still being serviced under Chrysler warranties... I see mention of it all the time over on MB-World.

So, who's servicing who? Seems we're all getting "serviced".

 

Some benz dealers will work on our cvars , other are to "elite " and "High brow" to do it.

I have never understood the mind bent that does this. A question I ask the local dealers around here is this: Since they don't build these anymore, when mine wears out would I not be interested in replacing it with a Benz product? With the service enthusiam and insults I have received so far, not likely.

Whatever car I am driving onto their lot, insulting it does not entice me to buy one of theirs. Refusing to work on my Benz because it has a Chrysler Badge does just that.

I have had plenty od them , and I do love 'em but chances are I ain't buyin another Benz product.

 

The relationship between Smart and Diamler is no different than what was between Diamler and Chrysler when our cars wer designed and built. They should honor that.

But ours is a redheaded step child orphaned by a bad divorce. Daddy is doing well with the High brows and Moma is now stuck with a low rent Italian. Having gotten what he wanted, Daddy wants nothing to do with her anymore.

Some things never change.

 

****............I have ******* children...

 

Score zero for Mercedes Benz of Naples. I would have given them a negative score if it weren't for their service advisor who bent over backwards to accommodate my seemingly outrageous request for an oil change.[/quote]

The MB dealer in Salt Lake City refuses to even change oil on a Crossfire and told me, in a snooty tone, that they don't work on anything but MB.

There's way that you can tell someone less-than-helpful news and not destroy your band or credibility and they failed.