Quote:
Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy
This. Dealerships normally are not the elite and experienced mechanics - seems like most of those guys jump ship after a few years and open their own shop. The average dealership mechanic is straight out of tech school and only knows how to swap parts based on the computer diagnostics, and doesn't apply any real troubleshooting logic to repairs. If he replaces the wrong part, why should the customer pay?
Definitely find a good indie to take care of you. You'll probably save 50% and get far better treatment.
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This is completely incorrect information, at least around here in the car capital of the world. The Porsche dealer where I worked in the 1980s has techs that have been there since before my time and they are gooood, plus the service manager has 30+ years running the place. How much experience do you want? Independent shops are extremely hit-or-miss, some that used to be good are not anymore because their one great tech is gone and they cannot replace him for anything, some just turn out incredibly mediocre work and hope for the best, etc.
Same thing in the Mercedes-Benz world. I personally know of some extremely talented and factory trained technicians working at the dealer, including guys who have the latest AMG certifications to work on the SLS, etc. and guys who are wizards at trouble-shooting the overly complicated new cars. My long time friend owns a really good indy MB shop and he's honest and competent as the day is long but he does not have the training and/or diagnostic equipment to do anything complicated on some of the newer cars.
Some of the independent Porsche shops in SoCal with the big reps charge more than the dealer, and that's really saying something. Others are shops that do one or two things really well but of course take any and all jobs in regardless if they have anyone who actually knows WTF he's doing on it.
YMMV in Kansas but that's what it's like here in the belly of the beast.
