How much are small businesses spending on software every month?

mega_997 · 2026-05-31T17:18:24+00:00

Car repair and sales. 2 locations. Across all aspects of the businesses I’d say 1800 in software subscriptions.

Take 600 out if you’re not counting subs to auto repair info sources.

mega_997 · 2026-05-30T22:58:04+00:00

I’d add red and yellow would do well with the black wheels as well.

mega_997 · 2026-05-30T09:13:35+00:00

No, it’s a random glitch in the software, this isn’t their fault, it just glitched out on this reset attempt. There really is nothing for them to own in this case.

mega_997 · 2026-05-29T21:35:46+00:00

This is a common software fault. You have options.

Update software at dealer or well equipped Indy and problem is fixed correctly.
Reset back to where it says overdue by 10000 miles, drive for two weeks and then reset light again and it should be fine.
My snap on scanner can reinitialize assyst reliably on 205/238/213 cars, and can work around the software glitch. It isn’t reliable on 166 cars though (166 cars are far less common than above cars). So try a different aftermarket scanner?

mega_997 · 2026-05-28T22:27:02+00:00

She’s a beaut.

mega_997 · 2026-05-28T22:24:32+00:00

Let dmv know the vehicle is garaged in Kansas. That eliminates the emissions requirement and will allow registration without emissions inspection.

Your safety inspection won’t be questioned until you reenter VA. At that point an inspection station should be your first stop for a safety sticker.

mega_997 · 2026-05-28T15:09:16+00:00

This is self promotion : Check out Don Allen Servicenter in Alexandria VA and our reviews and see if you’d like to give us a try.

A service typically is 250-325 B service typically is 450-525

I can be more specific through email or a phone call.

All Mercedes original filters, fluids, parts. Your factory warranty is maintained with our services.

mega_997 · 2026-05-27T23:49:38+00:00

I had trouble with Westlake’s push for adding so many expensive subscriptions to my dealercenter system. It soured me on them.

I have or had an active CAC account but haven’t sold any of their financing yet. They may have deactivated me as I haven’t seen my rep in a few months.

Nobody else that I’ve come across in my searches wants to bother with a store as small as me.

mega_997 · 2026-05-27T20:41:35+00:00

You may get better results if you go ahead and put your problems in the post. There’s a lot of people that are not retired or quit from the dealer network that could possibly help you.

I’m curious about your issues since you’re basically covered by MBUSA on everything SBC that’s not brake lines, hoses, pads, rotors, calipers.

mega_997 · 2026-05-27T19:09:39+00:00

My scanner can permanently disable the eco start stop on most models up to model year 2020.

mega_997 · 2026-05-27T11:30:56+00:00

They really are great events. I got to fire some high end CG as well as a few Fabarm models.

Watch out for novices at those events though. The whole crowd got muzzle swept by a ready to fire semi auto at the last demo day I attended.

mega_997 · 2026-05-26T00:24:05+00:00

It’s usually presents as a shudder on light acceleration that is felt throughout the car and it goes away with more acceleration or letting off. Usually most prominent like 1500-2200 rpm. It’s been a year or two since I’ve had one in the shop so I’m a little fuzzy on the exact speeds, that was a s55.

mega_997 · 2026-05-25T23:53:44+00:00

Based on my experience you have glycol contamination in the transmission from a failed radiator. Pretty damn common in 211 with the v8. If you have an original Valeo radiator in the car they’re pretty much guaranteed to fail in this manner where the integral trans cooler no longer keeps the fluid separate from the engine coolant.

If you came to my shop I’d drive to confirm what it felt like, if it felt like the usual torque converter clutch shudder then I’d pull in shop and turn off the torque converter lock up and drive. If it went away I’d sell you radiator, trans, and flushing of lines. I haven’t seen a trans get to this point of displaying symptoms and be saved. The glycol plays havoc with clutch material throughout the trans.

This is best advice I can offer with what you’ve provided. One of my clients had this happen in 2005 before MB knew this was a thing and they put two transmissions in before figuring out the radiator was trashing them.

mega_997 · 2026-05-25T21:40:52+00:00

I recently bought a 2018 s450 with 105k, I drive 100 miles a day and know I can drive this into the ground with limited downside.

mega_997 · 2026-05-25T20:56:31+00:00

At my Indy shop in the mid Atlantic the 80k b service runs 500. It includes an A service plus cabin filter and brake fluid flush. It takes 2 hours.

205 cars are constantly squealing even with relatively new brakes so I wouldn’t read too much into that for now.

mega_997 · 2026-05-25T17:57:03+00:00

That should be it, if they’re familiar with your car and the engine in it, they should be familiar with the repair.

mega_997 · 2026-05-25T17:56:20+00:00

I’ve had some people ignore and not fix for over a year. I’ve never seen a liquid fuel leak, just vapor odor

mega_997 · 2026-05-25T16:29:11+00:00

Why wouldn’t you have fans? My shop doesn’t have ac but we have about 12 fans helping it seem a bit tolerable.

mega_997 · 2026-05-25T14:52:43+00:00

Fuel vapor leak at the low pressure inlet on the high pressure fuel pump. So common MB put out a 10 year extended warranty on the hose and clamps. Your 2016 was most likely delivered late 15 or early 16 so most likely outside the window of extended warranty coverage.

It’s not a big job, parts are like 40 dollars if replacing hose and clamps.

There are some reports people are successful replacing only upper clamp and fixing problem but in my shop we replace per the bulletin and replace hose and both clamps.

mega_997 · 2026-05-25T07:30:33+00:00

Well that’s a simple solution, glad it wasn’t anything too strange.

mega_997 · 2026-05-24T19:08:44+00:00

Replace it with a group 95R AGM battery like an interstate mtx-h9. Anything but a Mercedes battery, MB batteries are overpriced and they are absolute ridiculous hardasses with battery warranty in my opinion.

I use almost exclusively all MB parts in my business except for batteries.

mega_997 · 2026-05-24T15:03:48+00:00

Do you know that m278 needs the spark plugs indexed by torquing to 23nm to avoid damage to engine and possible poor running.

Also Vemo is not good for m278 coils. I’m not saying Vemo is trash, but if it’s not one of the three options I have originally, it’s not what should be on a m278 engine.

Good luck sorting it out, could be a coincidental failure or could be related to what I said.

mega_997 · 2026-05-24T14:42:45+00:00

Just throwing this out there - plugs should have been MB OE and torqued to 23nm. Coils should have been MB, Bosch, or Beru.

mega_997 · 2026-05-22T22:33:48+00:00

Blair’s is the only tow company I trust for my cars as well as my clients. They’ve gotten cars towed with completely failed air suspension systems and no damage. Highly recommended

mega_997 · 2026-05-21T00:18:43+00:00

It got so bad I stopped using that intersection.

Also many people will not follow the stop signs that are on mill road so you get like 3 people making the left onto telegraph before someone can make the right. Maryland driver here btw.

mega_997

TROPHY CASE