krwax -

I'm in Houston. I used Enrique Rodriguez early this month to get a 280SE roadworthy (1600 miles - bought off e-bay, long story). I needed to have it carried to him from Huntington Bch. Enrique lined up the towing (and paid the man); fabricated the vacuum line for the brake booster because the part could only be ordered from Germany; did brakes around with calipers and rotors replaced on the rear, pulled & recored radiator; spent two hours with me in his shop and road testing after I flew in; made sure I had a good spare and jack, working wipers and lights; loaded me up with some water jugs (small leak at the servo) from his shop and then undercharged me. I left his shop Monday afternoon. Tuesday afternoon he calls my cell phone and leaves a message (long distance on his dime) to see how I was progressing (couldn't answer - I was in central Texas with about 7 hours straight of no signal).

Wednesday, I make Houston and call him back. He's genuinely happy to hear I made it. I ask him if he remembered to charge me for the gas he put in ($40) and mention that I didn't see a couple of other parts on the bill I thought he replaced. He forgot to charge me. Simple as that. Said not to worry his problem, not mine.

So, long story short. Honest as the day is long; treated me like his grandson going back east to school; charges $60/hour but only for his actual time (not book rate); he does most repairs in less than half the book labor guide by the labor charges on my bill. Knows MBz. Works ONLY on MBz.

You couldn't do any better than to go to him (Enrique does the work himself).

I'm putting another check in the mail on the way home tonight (for real) - I'm not able to sleep well until I do.

I'm not kidding.
Kevin

P. S. - I only knew of Enrique through this forum; he didn't know me except as some nut on the phone in Houston that bought a car on ebay.

Tell him the MercedesShopForum gang sent you over.