Mercedes-Benz of Houston, TX

"They charge over $12 for a light bulb, but you can buy it from another dealer for $4."

I would say that this is the signal that you should go to another dealer.

I bought an '01 E 320 about 130,000 miles ago and got acquainted with some dealers in the process. It was a certified car, meaning it was warranted to 100,000 miles.

I found that MB dealers were uneven as to price, courtesy, and technical expertise. Sometimes the mix was at odds (good technician, bad service writer).

I was quick to call MB corporate service when there was a problem, but that itself could become a problem. I soon understood that it is generally known that MB corporate service is often arrogant, etc. (In other words, just what we have grown to expect from corporate these days).

My suggestion to persons such as the reviewer is that he find an independent shop just as soon as he is off warranty (as I did). My costs dropped by about 50% as did my aggravation.

You will have to plan on spending some time sifting through the available shops for the good one that you want to stay with. Expect on average to deal with a couple of bad ones to every ok one, and probably a half dozen before you find the one you want to stay with.