[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My MIL bought a new Mercedes 280 from the local dealership. She drove it like a typical great grandmother type. At 30,000 miles she came down for me to drop it off at the dealership for a 30K service. The name on the ticket was Bertha, but I dropped it off, and they took me to my office.

They called and said her brakes were shot, and she needed new struts, rotors and brake pads. I mentioned the car had no brake warnings and to not do ANY of that, just the standard 30K service.

When I got it home, I pulled both wheels, and the pads had +80% of the pads left, almost no wear. The rotors were pristine, and the shocks were not leaking and all was perfect. She sold the car at 80,000 miles and it still had the same brakes on it. The Mercedes dealer was just blatantly trying to rip off an old lady. With a name like Bertha, or Florence, or Gertrude one know instantly it is an old lady and an easy mark for a rip off mechanic.

Yep, but you'd be surprised, they'll try to pull that stuff on just about anyone and everyone, doesn't much matter if you're male or female, young or old. I assume the one thing that they assume is that an oldster may better be able to afford stuff and less likely to question things.

I've been to plenty of places for tires or whatever and been told "you need new brakes." It's almost a standard response for them any time they get a car.