When I bought my Crossfire in November, I knew the air conditioning wasn't working.
A few days ago I picked the car up from a garage that only deals with air conditioning repairs.
They replaced the corroded dryer, air conditioning condenser, and cabin filter, cleaned the ventilation ducts, and filled the system with 850g of R134a gas.
I wanted to do this repair before the summer season, when temperatures in Poland exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
The air conditioning repair cost me $520. Out of curiosity, how much would it cost in the US, for example?

 

Depends a lot on what part of the USA the repairs are completed. Large cities are going to be more expensive than rural areas as the price of labor is different and the overhead to do business is a good deal less in rural as compared to cities like New York or Chicago.
I wouldn't be surprised if the parts alone cost $500 at some repair shops.
A few years back I paid $170 just to evacuate and then recharge the system; No parts involved.

 

@zip439 Thanks for the feedback.

 

Here in the USA, there is NO WAY you could have the dryer and condenser replaced and system recharged for $500USD. Two to three times that, maybe.

 

@pizzaguy Thanks for the feedback.

 

In my opinion, I think the reason that you're getting a better price is probably the parts cost. Many of the parts are being re-manufactured in places in Europe, such as Germany, Latvia, Czech and others.
None of the major parts in the U.S. are made here. The mechanic's labor price has a big effect as well. Especially if done at a dealership. Even a Mercedes specific independent shop, would probably charge more than a regular local shop.
You have found good mechanics, that is very fortunate!

 

@M60A3Driver I agree, if I had my car repaired at an authorized Mercedes service center, the costs would be much higher.

In April, the same garage will also replace the blower resistor regulator in my car.
Every now and then, the fan simply turns off by itself when I try to change the blower speed.
Apparently, this is a common fault in Mercedes.

 

That can be the "Resistor" but it is often the potentiometer in the climate control module. Iv'e replaced no less than 40 of them for owners here in the states.

Any electronics/radio shop can change the part, and I can tell you where to order one, if it comes to that. No garage is likely to be able to change it, as it involves circuit board level de-soldering and soldering.

 

This regulator/resistor is this part: MAHLE ABR 24 000P.
The garage owner said he had replaced many of these blower controllers in Mercedes cars.

 

I've replaced the Blower Motor Resistor, but it didn't resolve the issue that I was having. My car was blowing warm air constantly. Also my fan speed was erratic.
I have sent my Climate Control unit to pizzaguy, he was nice enough to offer to repair it. This will solve my erratic fan speed issue.
He also helped me find out that a blown fuse was causing the Duo Valve (heater control valve), to not get any voltage.
This makes the car default to blowing warm air. I'm pretty good with the mechanical aspect of cars, however I'm not as good with the electronics.

 

 

Today my mechanic Konrad replaced the blower regulator/resistor and everything indicates that the problem has been fixed.
Currently the fan works properly, it does not turn off by itself.
Thank you for your advice.