SAVING A CUSTOMER £2750! COMMON FAULT! MERCEDES SL 500 ABC BALL JOINT REPAIR.

[@sprautos]

Hope you enjoy this one, saving the customer a small fortune! Thank you for everyone’s support with the channel without that we couldn’t continue so you guys keep it going. All the best everyone. Enjoy.

[@renildmahmutaj78]

i have enjoy every video you have upload.a proper car mechanic with huge skills and sharp brain.i am a mercedes lover too.i need your advice for 320 w208 avantgarde what shocks to use to keep original please.i wish i was near to you to change them but i am in maidenhead.thank you.i wish you the best.keep up the good jo.

[@richardwatts20]

This is class lad!! I have a w204 2012 C63 and just had to replace the whole front lower control arm because one of my ball joints in that assembly went bad... Cost me 475 for the part alone, not as bad at this but still insane - do you guys have ball joints that will fit this part? Thanks and subbed

[@wivory81]

These guys are on a different level when it comes to car mechanics. They don’t cut corners to reduce labour time on the job, don’t use cheap replacement parts, and look to keep costs to the customer as fair as possible. I recently bought a new Mercedes as the one I owned was 10 years old, and though it only had 55,000 miles on the clock, my Mercedes dealer was flagging up future high cost repairs to keep it on the road. In fact, I had to pay £800 for repairs so they would give me the agreed trade in value. They have you backed into a corner. If I had these guys on my doorstep instead of 400 miles away, it would be a no brainer, I would still be running around in my old C class. Keep up the exemplary work guys.

[@KnowPorcelain1]

I think every SL driver should be thanking you for that one.

[@cliffludo6860]

Nice to see a true professional doing the job correctly!

[@jjimmyrjagger]

Nice to see someone doing there uppermost to save customers a lot of money rather than ripping them off and it's also nice to see these cars on the road rather than in a scrap yard because people haven't got the money to repair them , top man loving the channel 👍

[@stevenbennett3922]

That's why it is important to find a good independent MB specialist.

[@grenvillephillips6998]

I salute whoever makes the ball-joint replacements: an absolute Godsend!

[@steveclement9815]

Top notch work again and saving the customer a fortune. Excellent as always.

[@Conservator.]

Very satisfying to see that you don’t have to replace the whole strut which is technically not at all needed outrageously wasteful and expensive. Excellent!

[@LondonCarnaval]

Nothing more satisfying than watching a MASTER 💪using his skills to move a mountain 👌👍🙏💯 ✌❤☘

[@sprautos]

🙏

[@hemtet5500]

really enjoyed that and the customer has filmed proof of how much you saved him brilliant

[@stephenpoessl5464]

Your what I call a mechanic not just a fitter of new parts .have watched about four of your vids since I became a subscriber and love them with your smiley face.

[@sprautos]

Thank you 🙏 😃

[@djwarren5081]

Excellent job, and saving the customer money. Top work Sam.

[@alextripp1230]

Nice repair that... massive saving quality job.. Alex.

[@sprautos]

Thanks 👍

[@joshd9454]

Top work sam 👌thanks for looking after us mate with all the work you do!

[@sprautos]

No worries buddy. 🙏

[@amair381]

Top professional mechanics

[@PB200559]

Excellent job

[@qitexas2516]

a master mechanic!

[@robertthrossell4321]

Quality SPR 👌

[@sprautos]

🤝

[@RobertMckenna-s8u]

Craftsman at work, a delight to observe, keep these videos coming.

[@JohnSilcock]

Your chanel is going to be massive!! As soon as I get my e63 ( not long ) you will have me a customer for life. Your camera presence and vehicle knowledge is by far the best I've ever seen

[@sprautos]

Wow, thanks! Really kind of You to say so. All the best 🙏

[@adriansweet3359]

Cleaver repair saved £££ for owner enjoyed watching process

[@NomadJRG]

Good specialists like these guys are worth their weight in gold. Top-notch content as always!

[@michaelburdon5540]

I very much appreciate how much money you saved me ! Keep up the good work !

[@sprautos]

Thanks Michael You are welcome! Lovely car 👌 hope you like the video.

[@Gizmo5h1t3]

As usual, top work Sam. So refreshing to see a mechanic not rising customers where he could quite easily have done. Great content, keep it up pal.

[@trakmeister]

Great job.

[@lordhenry6040]

You guys are amazing your work is incredible and it’s not expensive for what you save customers

[@sprautos]

Thank you very much!

[@markbradford4569]

Brilliant ! On a maintenance heavy car like the SL 230, that has to be appreciated

[@julesviolin]

Brilliant Sam 😊 It's absolutely criminal the huge subassemblies we are all forced to buy these days. And the powers that be go on & on about saving the planet. It's engineers like us who are saving landfill and the planet. Manufacturers are persistently destroying the planet. We have a right to repair instead of replacing huge assemblies so we salute you Sir 👏 I've specialised in Rover 75 and MG ZT'S since the demise of MGR in 2005. I do similar stuff often saving our customer's £1000 in one visit by upgrading their short life Radiator fans and fuel pumps with much better components which last 5 times longer. Winning at life 😊

[@sprautos]

Keep going, keep saving them. All the best and thanks for the support

[@dino69xsx]

Nice job, 👍

[@alitalla4733]

Great work 👏

[@kevinjones7732]

I'd be overjoyed with that amount of money saved.

[@macmorgan6685]

I spent 40+ years selling MBs here in the states and saw just about everything go right and WRONG! Recently a friend with a 500SL had a hydraulic line on a rear damper strut go bad. Luckily a local MB mechanic was able to replace the line but now the specter remains regarding future problems with the rest of the system. By the way, MBUSA just acknowledged a rust problem on about 6-7 different models. About 4 years ago my wife’s 2010 C300w4 had a strut bracket rust out and break loose from the rear subframe. MB declines the claim and I spent about $4,000.00 for the replacement subframe by a local certified MB body shop. A class action suit ensued and after 3 years I was able to get reimbursed for my repair. Great KZbin site, keep up the great job. Mac Morgan, Yorklyn Delaware

[@LH17578]

Once again, another great post on getting around a problem job and saving the customer a load of money. 👍

[@sprautos]

Thanks 👍

[@1234minster]

Hope the customer appreciates that amazing saving and returns for the service work.

[@Dave-in-France]

As with the ML video, I'm delighted to see a fair deal for your customer; quality, innovative working practices and a "good job done". It's a real pleasure to watch someone doing a good job and getting the recognition they deserve. Well done.

[@sprautos]

Thank you very much!

[@Paul-ue8tn]

Great that you are helping to keep these old SL's on the road. Genuine parts could easily write one off.

[@qc2731]

Amazing work. You guys are smashing it and rightly so 👌🏾👌🏾

[@sprautos]

Thank you 🙌

[@garyquartley1084]

Well done you! Nice to see an honest garage!!

[@parkecorepersonaltrainingp2601]

Amazing I have a cl500 with the abc system and that's a great way to save some ££ proper engineering 👍

[@sprautos]

Thank you 🙏

[@georgedaville4662]

Just stated watching your channel, I am hooked😎Great to see highly skilled but very practical mechanics repairing these beautiful older Mercedes Vehicles. 👍😎

[@sprautos]

Welcome aboard! Plenty more to come.

[@davidnash8586]

I really enjoyed that because it was honest and unflashy so keep them coming ! I can't help thinking that as these vehicles move down the food chain no-one will be able to afford to repair them because parts are so expensive so they will all die long before they should !

[@sprautos]

That’s usually usually it goes. SL Models usually hold some value

[@7417cd]

Excellent video. Well done. Tnx

[@pauldavies6037]

Brilliant job real pro no nonsense mechanics typical modern cars have to buy the complete strut and pay a fortune

[@1979aib]

The dry humour is soo good 😂

[@sprautos]

😂

[@paulknight1332]

Awesome job going way more than the extra mile to help owners of older cars (I'm an R129 owner which is probably worse for NLA parts than a 230) on the road.

[@johnkendrick7304]

I do hope your customer appreciates that because that was an awesome thing you did. Just depends on the person some people will appreciate it and some people won't. Keep on keeping on

[@andrewmooreandrewrmoore7615]

That's a really neat fix. Definitely let the customer know in any situation like this what the parts from Mercedes would cost and the saving made. Can only help with goodwill and potentially more business.

[@jrh86]

Brilliant devotedly professional 💯👍👍👍

[@Timrud1]

Just found the channel really enjoy the content and your style. Looking forward to more

[@sprautos]

Welcome 🙏 and enjoy. 😉

[@Timrud1]

@@sprautosMakes me feel sad I don't own a merc as I'd feel happy having you work on my car, rare you see much attention to detail and workmanship these days

[@alanchurchill7305]

Brilliant video,I cannot get over your level of experience,and always trying to save the customers money,top job .

[@sprautos]

Glad you enjoyed it! We try our best to. It isn’t always possible but if we can we will.

[@andrewgeddes4160]

Great work, good to see someone using their initiative

[@quoc-baovu8241]

Awesome video again, I love how you always try to find ways to save your customer's money; actually you help all SL500 DIY owners by providing these ball-joints on your website. If I own a SL500 & need this work done, I would definitely buy your ball- joint kit & try to DIY it. Thanks for your other excellent video on the M113 valve cover gasket & breather-valves repair. I did use all your excellent tips/reco. My CLK430 seeped oil at the same locations. I also replaced all the breather hoses. I must say you are a great teacher thank you... Since that video I'm now a happy subscriber.

[@dalamar6228]

Love your approach to working on cars. Picking up plenty of tips and work arounds to apply to my TVR. Cheers.

[@john3892]

Well done. Another really informative video

[@ocean5377]

Yes I did the same with my w123 ball joint

[@Markymarkvinylnut]

Genius! Enjoyed watching the process. Maybe one day I'll get a Merc, many thanks

[@JaggyD_Vision]

great to see a garage thinking outside the box

[@Braveheart7914-idfl]

Subscribed although I have a 535 bmw I’m fascinated to see you work on these fine German cars. Wish I had some one local as good on BMW 👍🏻😉 massive saving 😳

[@DanielWoolley]

Same here vauxhall guy but love watching

[@guy4469]

where are you based i have a 1999 bmw.

[@guy4469]

535 dave where are you

[@1995RangeRover]

We appreciate it bro!!!

[@CemlynRoberts]

I really enjoy watching your videos 😊

[@sprautos]

Glad you like them!

[@CemlynRoberts]

I most certainly do, you’re funny, professional, honest knowledgeable and doo your work properly. There is a Mercedes Benz specialised garage in Trefnant, by Denbigh in North Wales. It’s only a very small garage. Haven’t been there as I don’t own a Mercedes. Will be recommending your garage to my friends who own a Mercedes Benz.

[@thedoo777]

Another option is go with coilovers hiro coilovers are amazing. They're adjustable. And then you don't have to worry about those anymore plus the fluids plus plus plus

[@peacefulpleb]

You are also being 'greener' mate - less waste components in the bin. Nice one!

[@EmilysDadd]

'easy' when you have the right tools 😉

[@brucelawrie-id8kv]

Ingenious solution.

[@DanielWatts-cq7yc]

Glad I've come across you, love the work

[@leeharrison2301]

Great content keep up the good work 👍

[@northb271]

Loving your vudeos well done

[@nicksilverstein7854]

Top job, top team. A lesson for others to follow.....

[@liamcinq]

Thats really good, the way in which you have to buy complete units from a variety of manufacturers is shocking. Nobody wants a £4K bill for ball joint play but at a main dealer sadly that would he the reality. Great video, and love the channel, not a drone shot in sight, bliss.

[@nitramh24]

Awesome that you rebuild parts!! I've been ripped off by the shops waaay too many times, they'll just replace calipers, struts whatever, when a few hours of labour will save the customers major dinero!

[@sprautos]

We can’t repair everything but if we can we will. “Providing it makes sense” 🙏

[@paulevans8548]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿well done I enjoy your video

[@ozzyfreeman2619]

You are rock mate!

[@scotspie501douglas7]

loved your video and also loved those long spanners bet they were not cheap

[@erniestarkey8856]

Enjoying your videos. Noticed you said had to remember what tools to use. I write down on paper what tools I need and what job it was for and then keep it in a notebook. I do this for all jobs that are biannual services or just repairs not done often. I hope this tip helps somehow. Keep the videos coming.

[@sprautos]

Thank you 🙏

[@sunsetsandboats2983]

Good video. Please keep the content coming.

[@sprautos]

Thanks, will do!

[@castrolgtx5064]

Nice one Sam 👌👍👏

[@macmorgan6685]

Good job!

[@Rob-fx2dw]

Nice to see you saving those pounds for the customer. Maybe you could have heated the ball joint socket to make it easier to put in as you did to take the old one out.

[@Orwic1]

Great video- amazing saving! I’d be really pleased to save that much 😀. Maybe you should let your customers know!

[@MyScotty7]

Love the videos please keep them coming especially on om642 engines and if possible Merc ClS.

[@sprautos]

I like the Cls I’m sure we will get some CLS content

[@tomthepigeon6272]

Well done

[@r.weaver3769]

There is no "Wrong way" if it gets the job done correctly. Very few customers like spending money on stuff that doesn't glitter and shine, or go faster. Good job, looks like stuff I use to do for my customers and with my tools before I was retired. Many customers still say they miss my work 15 years after I was retired.

[@sprautos]

Absolutely!! 👍

[@tonysingh2627]

Your videos are super brill!

[@zipazzz]

Had this done to my S class, my mechanics did not like the replacing process. They said it was pretty laibour intensive. Got the part from the netherlands, didnt see you guys sold those. Good to know

[@asdreww]

I think i;ve seen these joints being repaired using some sort of high pressure teflon resin injection into the existing balljoint - any opinions on that method of repair?

[@sprautos]

I’ve had that done years ago and that also worked fine 👍

[@VorsprungPrestige]

Absolutely amazing video guys - thank you for your efforts and time to upload this. I’m actually doing this right now on my SL55 AMG. You’re not even so far from me either, if I knew of you guys beforehand I would have definitely nipped over and had it done. Sadly mine is on the driveway all in bits and this is my next job to tackle! I’m replacing everything suspension wise barring the ABC strut as this was already replaced on this car back in 2015. Works perfectly but the ball joint has gone again. I already have the ball joint tool and a suitable socket to do this but I’m struggling with finding something that fits on the other end to catch the ball joint into. Do you have any advice on this please? Where I can buy one from etc… failing that would you rent yours out to me? Happy to pay of course! 😂😭Cheers!

[@Freddie118]

Nice to see Ricky Martin has a part time job when Kaiser Chiefs aren’t touring!

[@sprautos]

😂

[@kennethtalbott2233]

nice bit of improvising. i would keep the ball joints in the freezer to shrink them a couple of thou. and heated up the ring.

[@sprautos]

Good tip! Will be doing that next time around.

[@ronaldhilario1574]

Your great mechanic idol gbu

[@martynoxley3745]

That’s why Merc replace the strut as well!

[@johnreynolds2387]

Well done. Excellent job. Would a smear of ant-galling paste be helpful to get the new ones in? And how much labour time for each?

[@sprautos]

Yes, absolutely. I did put some on I didn’t show it in the video. 2-3 hours I recon depends how well It goes

[@davescibb]

The minute I get a Mercedes, I know where I'll be taking it

[@markcarter9476]

These days there are also companies that will refurbish Mercedes ABC struts for a fraction of the cost. I used abcspecialists in Holland and the refurbished units looked like new.

[@ftffighter]

So cool!!!

[@v8will]

Clamp looks similar to the one used to press out W211 lower balljoints

[@sprautos]

It is. 🙌

[@SDMF5000]

Id love to see a video with a CLS 500/550.

[@andrewthomason3857]

Would putting the new joints in a deep freeze help them go in?

[@sprautos]

Yes it would help 👌

[@danturboc]

The Vw T4 balljoint looks exactly the same as this and I’d bet the tool for that would fit it

[@sprautos]

I shall have a look into that 👌

[@ronaldhilario1574]

I wish your garage near to my place because I want you do my ATF plushing and rear deferential fluid replace

[@MikesMercsandothercars]

Hi - what a great channel you are creating. I have an SL55 which I have been meaning to do some work on (eg fix gear box oil leak etc, A service etc) but my ramp has been tied up in a never ending R107 restoration, Can you tell me how much you charge per hour in labour? - Maybe I should get you guys to do the work....and film it...and link to your video. Let me know. Mike

[@sprautos]

Visit our website site buddy plenty of info on there for you. Always a 2 month wait to get in.

[@MikesMercsandothercars]

Thanks for getting back so quickly - really comprehensive set of prices on the website. Should have checked first...but that would be like reading the manual or looking at the instructions. Mike

[@sprautos]

😂