Another great episode, Car Wizard. Your business ethic, along with your talent as a technician, is why you have prospered. I've been self-employed for the last 48 years. (Yes, I'm 78 and still working, albeit in a diminished capacity. Keeps the synapses firing.) You forgot to mention the huge, non-taxable benefit of being self-employed: jerks only come through your doors once. Also: as one veteran to another, thank-you for your service. We were in associated branches; I was in the Canadian Sappers. May you, your family and fellow technicians have long, happy and prosperous lives.
@@briangibbs3774 Awesome. I was a manager/loader and spare driver at a produce supply warehouse. Three of our drivers were retired military. All of whom were well past "retirement" age. Two worked the minimum number of hours to balance out their retirement and SS checks. The other never stopped. I mean he came in early to help load, stayed late to make sure the trucks were fueled etc. And these were not easy jobs, it was loading and unloading upwards of a couple tons of produce a day per truck. When asked why, he said every single one of his friends that had retired and lived a retired life were no longer living. So, he wasn't going to stop until he couldn't move anymore.
loyalty like that doesn't happen overnight. people remember when shops have done them wrong, but they also remember when a shop has performed really good work. love the videos, car wizard.
Those “strange covers“ would be brake dust covers. They keep the brake dust dirtying up the wheels however, they can sell up calipers and overheat the brakes because it does not allow the brakes to ventilate properly - as I have seen anyway. Call car! Congratulations on the business growth, car wizard!
I think akebono brake pads would take care of that. They still dust a lot but it's a very light almost white dust. And then your brakes can cool themselves again. I wouldn't ever put those on my Mercedes.... To each his own.. I understand the aggravation of cleaning your wheels and how quickly they turn black.
I'm running a tiny shop out of my home now. Thanks in no small part to your inspiration a couple years ago I decided to retire from nearly 40 years as a carpenter and pursue my one true passion full time. I model my approach to repairs after yours in that I won't waste my time with band-aid fixes, and it needs to be done right every time; if you want to cut corners call someone else. This is paying off in spades already through word of mouth as well as repeat customers. Keep up the excellent work Wizard!
When you find a good shop, you stick with it! I've been with mine for 21 years now. I'm pretty sure that he'll be one of _many_ customers that sticks with you a long time, Wizard.
I agree, I found a shop near to me that I trust. If they say I need something, I know they aren't trying to 'pad' the bill. I found out about them by word of mouth and I try to let people I know if they need a mechanic shop, I suggest them. They don't advertise but if you need something done by them, you may need to wait a couple of days to get worked in.
@@dave_n8pu Yeah - same in my case. This garage has been around since the mid 1950s, and while the garage itself is on the third owner now, each time the torch was passed, the prior owner took a lot of time to get to know the potential new one before entrusting the business to them. Even though the current owner is my age (mid to late 40s) and tech savvy, he still doesn't advertise - doesn't need to. Word of mouth has them booked solid, day after day. When you do the job right, people come back. Heh - one of the best ways to know a good mechanic is when they tell you what you _don't_ need and why.
@@Dakiraun I have a rust bucket 1998 pickup truck, it had dual 'cats' from the engine which combined to a single exhaust. I ask them if they would make it a true dual exhaust all the way back. You don't need that, which I said was true, but I want it. So they priced out about what it would cost, afterward I said do it, so the tail pipes would last a while, they did them in stainless steel and welded the connections. It still looks and sounds as good as it did when they put it on their a few years ago. This old boomer (70 +) guy likes the way the exhaust 'talks' when you 'goose it'. It has a 5.7 liter engine, I suspect their exhaust work will still be good when the body has rotted off, but I don't care.
@@dave_n8pu Nice - I like their honest answer at first. Heh, and probably true that those pipes may be all that's left of it one day, haha. Enjoy every bit of it though while you got it!
I used to follow that philosophy but the most trusted and beloved shop in my neighborhood has gotten absurdly expensive. They just quoted me $1600 for front struts on a 2010 Camry…. Suffice it to say I will be taking my business elsewhere
Definitely my favorite UA-cam mechanic channel. Hearing the Car wizard talk about cars makes me feel calm, even when he brings up the issues and cars not to buy, lol.
That 119 engine reminds me of September 11th 2001. I was fresh off my apprenticeship at the same Benz dealer I still work for. I had just removed the front timing cover and discovered the intermediate gear had some broken teeth from broken rails and timing jumping, no bent valves thankfully. That’s when the 2nd plane hit the towers :( Parts were grounded for over a week. I remember pushing my toolbox to another bay and replacing a head gasket on a 104 engine. Crazy times. That 119 engine was in a SL and that car still comes to our dealership.
I have a 96 SL 500 and that M119 is a gem of an engine. Other than the fact that other than the early ones they had those plastic cam oiler tubes which tend to break after 100,000 miles or so. I went to a pick and pull and put some aluminum ones off of 92 and everything‘s been fine. Car has 222,000 miles on it and uses virtually no oil. Gets about 20 miles per gallon in town and 24-25 on the road
I picked up a 99 S500 sedan at the beginning of January myself and it's just as nice as this one. These things are so nicely built and so comfortable. Also quite reliable from what I've seen although not cheap when it does need something.
Yup! I have a 99 s420, I got it at 160k miles at 170 lots of things went wrong and it was all original parts, it took 24 years and 170k for stuff to start going bad, nothing major but it was a lot, thankfully had a retired Mercedes’ tech from San Francisco to work on it
I really want a W140 S500. It’s the car that really made me a huge Benz fan ever since I saw Get Rich or Die tryin when I was 15. These cars look so badass especially in black
It just shows that your honesty in work pays off, beautiful looking car, and that torch looks a little large to fit in your mouth Car Wizard, it might be hard to understand you if you tried to put it in your mouth 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘🦘🦘Cheers from Melbourne Australia
What a gorgeous Mercedes, seems like the kind of car you NEVER sell so long as you still have the means to maintain it, a poster child for "they don't make 'em like that anymore"
On the business side... Good for you! A successful business can always be traced to the person at the helm. Keep you vision and control. It's what makes or breaks things and you have commitment to getting things done "correctly". Nice job Wizard!
Hard to be loyal to one mechanic, if the shop rips you off. Was with the same guy for many years, caught him double charging me on labor, then lying about it, so then I was done with him. As a sidenote, he was recently arrested for arson, and I remember he once told me, “No one dislikes me, I’ve got lots of friends and no enemies.” Guess that wasn’t true
I had a 2005 CL55 AMG. My most favorite car I’ve ever owned and one of the best. I got rear ended the same day it rolled 150k miles. I did most of the maintenance on it. I’d love to have a CL of that era.
Amazing how big your business has grown in only ten years. Not every great mechanic can run a successful shop but you, your techs, your wife, have all contributed to a thriving business. Hope you have many more years of genius repairs.
My biggest motoring regret was selling my W140 Coupe (CL600/M120). Just got too frustrated with the flat battery after not driving it for 3-4 days. Turns out, it was the seal on the soft-close doors, wouldn't seal, so the pump would forever cycle and dead the battery. Sold at the worst time too (about 6 years ago), probably 3x the price now :(
Hi Mr & Mrs Wizard same thing here I had my own one man business had customers of 20 plus years, even my accountant! One day a co wanted me to look after all there vans ute,s etc it work for 3 months like you THEY wanted to run me and my business told them to shove it. As an aside ALL my customers were female and word of mouth only, never short of work and like you a wife and daughter helping out. In the end we decided to emigrate to NZ due to violence in the area ECT. Lived by the saying "treat people as you would like to be treated and pay things forward" worked for me loved my customers whom were more akin to Friends. Love the channel shame it wasn,t around when I was wrenching like you I could have told a tale of two after 72 years.stay safe.
Imagine, a car that's been going to the Wizard for a decade... and it looks and runs amazingly. When you care about your car, and take it to people that care about customers and do good work... you get this.
I wish your shoo was closer to where I live as you would be my GO TO mechanic. I really appreciate your honesty and knowledge and keep the vids coming as I really enjoy them
Repeat customers are the reward for good work done for a reasonable (not cheap!) rate. I'm sure your customer knows that a competent paintless dent repair technician could repair that small dent. Good things happen to good people!
Love Mercedes I've had the 280 350 &430. I think those wheel covers your talking about could be something called Kleen Wheels & they keep most brake dust off the wheels. Great job as always really like watching your cids when I get time
The nice thing about cars like this, though, is that much more so than more pedestrian brands, some percentage of their owners just do what their mechanic says and you can find one in tip-top shape.
Spotted this in one of Tyler's recent videos because I have it's twin but on chrome monoblocks. It's the favorite of my cars and the one I'll never sell. Glad to see another one being loved!
Dude, you got where you are in 10 years? Holy shit, well done man. My dad spent decades barely keeping his head above water with a few shops in south east michigan, so I know just how hard it can be. I know YT has helped, but I think you (and Mrs Wizard) must have a good sense for the business. Congratulations!
Been a Mercedes guy since I was growing up in Germany( back when the Berlin Wall was still in place). Love this era of Mercedes,built like tanks. BTW beautiful car.
Wow pompano beach Mercedes is my local Mercedes dealership. It’s a very nice dealership, they turned one of the original Walmart buildings before they had supercenters or neighborhood markets when it was just Walmart into the Mercedes dealership building so you can imagine how big and luxurious going from a Walmart building to a luxury car dealership
Congratulations to 500 videos and thanks for showing us this nice CL500. The Mercedes C140-series is said to have been the first production car with ESP (1994), maybe I am not the first one here to mention this. This big coupé is also the star (pun intended) of the 1995 movie Strange Days.
I completely agree with you in that if you want a business to succeed, do it yourself. Your reputation precedes you and you have the integrity in the work you preform.
If your shop was in south Florida, I would also approve 4k of recommended work on my beloved 2094 Mercedes S500 4Matic. These classic Mercedes are so high quality yet still drive nicer than many modern cars. Well done on all your success.
Knowing two shop owners here they told me it is difficult to find competent technicians as they work for the dealership having more benefit. It is great you have competent technicians working for you! Your 'merging' thing was really trying to get you as a great technician to work for them BS. Glad you got out and have your own shop. If I am in your area I definitely take all my cars to you for any repair and maintenance! You have a great shop space!!!
@@RD-km4yi There aren't too many that can work on the exotics like Wizard. No doubt there are some better on some things but he is in a league of his own.
@@RD-km4yi actually I think you’ll find David has been a mechanic for a lot longer than that as he was a mechanic in the army. He’s only had his own business for ten years but yes there’s many others that have been spannering for way more years
Gorgeous cars. I've always loved how imposing and elegant these cars looked. A fantastic luxury GT. Whoever's car this is, I commend them for keeping this car in such pristine condition. What an amazing car. Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wizard!✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
In my opinion, this is one of the best looking Mercedes that non-millionaires could ever hope to own. Big, Roomy and Black. The guy who owns this car knows his stuff. Especially since he's spending the money to keep it pristine and on the road for 20+ yrs. He knows what he has and ain't giving it up. It helps that he has a WEEZARD for a mechanic too!
Excellent video as always Wizard! Congratulations on (almost) 500 videos! Looking forward to all the wonderful content you and Mrs Wizard continue to produce!
I worked on the same one but it was a marron SL600. The car belonged to Steven King at the time when I lived in Bangor Maine. I worked at the Mercedes Benz dealership in Bangor before I joined the military.
Having a mechanic knowable on these superior cars is key to having a nice up kept example like this! And these Mercedes truly deserve it, there the best cars in the world! Back when they were engineered like no other ❤
This is the kind of car that is ALWAYS worth WHATEVER is needed to repair and maintain it. If you can afford to buy one, but can't afford the maintenance, do not buy one of these. They deserve to be properly maintained at all times, partly because they're the last of Mercedes greatest era, greatest W140 chassis S class. This car makes brand new S classes look like Yugos.
I love it, the car wizard reminiscing about becoming his own boss while standing next to what is the epitome of the Big Boss Man Mafia Boss / CEO car of 90s.
I would be a customer like that too if you were in my area. I had a mechanic shop like yours but he retired I had been using them probably twenty years or more. A trust relationship goes a long way and we had one. I have found another been in business for sixty years they came highly recommended I haven’t had too use them yet but I will when the time comes I already visited them and talked with them.
I love the interior parts of these videos with Mrs. Wizard. When she is impressed with the condition of the headliner and dash, you know its going to be a very clean car!
Looks very well taken care of. I'm surprised that there is no rust. My daily is a 02 S500 and the rust repairs keep coming back. Paint keeps bubbling in new areas. I've read somewhere that the W140 and W220 (early 00s) have issues with rust
Yes, an overestimated lifespan of the wrong anti-corrosion solution at the factory so the cars varied wildly. Some early W220s are much better than others. Fixed by middle of '03. Still great and reliable cars mechanically (without ABC)
It is true that this car has speakers in the corner of the dash near the windshield, but they are not for the stereo, they are for a cellphone hands free hookup. No music comes out of the dash speakers. Even minus that, the W140's had great sound & I wish my newer MB's had the audio oomph of the W140 Becker system.
@@rickhall1146 I could direct you to a couple of forums with "experts" that clearly state that unlike the W126, the W140 dash speakers are solely for phone use. An example; "The 2 speakers in the dash were never made for music. It was strictly for the phone functionality." I know that my 96' S500 with stock stereo does not use these speakers, but I have read that when aftermarket head units are installed, the dash speakers can easily be incorporated via the single Bose amp (trunk/left side). Like you suggest, it makes sense that audio should come out of them and then mute audio during calls, but when you look at the raw speaker itself, is sure looks like something only made for voice. In any case mine are dead, if you have some that work for music...goody.
i owned a '97, put more than 250k miles on it, never had a serious mechanical problem, drove it coast to coast a few times. the "strange metal pieces" are dust shields to keep brake dust off the wheels. have not had a MB since that i liked more.
if i could only find a garage to fall in love with like this guy has with you. it seems every shop i try, its always such a mediocre experience, they dont tell me things to look out for, they leave work unfinished, leave scratches on the car. i wish i could find a wizard.
Hi car wizard! I’ve been with the same mechanic since my first car so 13ish years or so now. He’s worked on every car I’ve ever owned. I currently own a 95z28 camaro and I only trust my mechanic to touch it. I put about 3200 into that this season. Mechanics like you car wizard and my mechanic I go to are hard to find. But when ya find a good one ya always go there.
Front and rear parking sensors in 1999... I think that must be an industry first. Another great video, thanks! I appreciate the honest and unpretentious approach. Always good content.
Love the W140, definitely nothing like it around. I work on a nice S500 sometimes (video on my channel) and it’s always a joy. Used to drive a nice 96 S500 coupe about 18 years ago for few days, what an amazing car.
Yes, do what you say you're you ar going to do and everyone is happy. You are too far away for me to come to you as I'm on the south coast of England. I think the W126 series were the peak of DB achievement but may be I'm just showing my age as I had several in the 80s. Great job, your videos just get better.
When I see that magnificent piece of Deutchlands finest, all I can say is "God Bless Bruno" the greatest designer Mercedes Benz had or ever will have. Mercedes has never been the same. "A Mercedes-Benz must always look like a Mercedes-Benz" Bruno Sacco
Treat your customers right and they will keep going back. My dad's used the same smog guy since the late 80s. That's cool Mike worked a at the dealer just a couple miles from me
Another great episode, Car Wizard. Your business ethic, along with your talent as a technician, is why you have prospered. I've been self-employed for the last 48 years. (Yes, I'm 78 and still working, albeit in a diminished capacity. Keeps the synapses firing.) You forgot to mention the huge, non-taxable benefit of being self-employed: jerks only come through your doors once. Also: as one veteran to another, thank-you for your service. We were in associated branches; I was in the Canadian Sappers. May you, your family and fellow technicians have long, happy and prosperous lives.
Great comment
@@Romedanger Thank-you, kind friend.
@@briangibbs3774 Awesome. I was a manager/loader and spare driver at a produce supply warehouse. Three of our drivers were retired military. All of whom were well past "retirement" age. Two worked the minimum number of hours to balance out their retirement and SS checks. The other never stopped. I mean he came in early to help load, stayed late to make sure the trucks were fueled etc. And these were not easy jobs, it was loading and unloading upwards of a couple tons of produce a day per truck. When asked why, he said every single one of his friends that had retired and lived a retired life were no longer living. So, he wasn't going to stop until he couldn't move anymore.
loyalty like that doesn't happen overnight. people remember when shops have done them wrong, but they also remember when a shop has performed really good work. love the videos, car wizard.
What a beauty! I'm blessed enough to own a 99 C140 and there's really no describing how amazing these beasts are!
Those “strange covers“ would be brake dust covers. They keep the brake dust dirtying up the wheels however, they can sell up calipers and overheat the brakes because it does not allow the brakes to ventilate properly - as I have seen anyway. Call car! Congratulations on the business growth, car wizard!
Stop mansplaining.
Wasn’t, knowledge is power and I live to learn. Stop trolling 👍🏼
@@getchasome6230 He was just explaining what those things were. Lay off!
I think akebono brake pads would take care of that. They still dust a lot but it's a very light almost white dust. And then your brakes can cool themselves again. I wouldn't ever put those on my Mercedes.... To each his own.. I understand the aggravation of cleaning your wheels and how quickly they turn black.
Those inner covers were called Kleen Wheels when they were sold in the 90s
I’ve always loved the 80’s and 90’s era Mercedes. They are built so well that it feels like you’re closing a bank vault when you close the door.
I'm running a tiny shop out of my home now. Thanks in no small part to your inspiration a couple years ago I decided to retire from nearly 40 years as a carpenter and pursue my one true passion full time. I model my approach to repairs after yours in that I won't waste my time with band-aid fixes, and it needs to be done right every time; if you want to cut corners call someone else. This is paying off in spades already through word of mouth as well as repeat customers. Keep up the excellent work Wizard!
Up front always wins. Also eliminates troublemakers with empty pockets.
When you find a good shop, you stick with it! I've been with mine for 21 years now. I'm pretty sure that he'll be one of _many_ customers that sticks with you a long time, Wizard.
I agree, I found a shop near to me that I trust. If they say I need something, I know they aren't trying to 'pad' the bill. I found out about them by word of mouth and I try to let people I know if they need a mechanic shop, I suggest them. They don't advertise but if you need something done by them, you may need to wait a couple of days to get worked in.
@@dave_n8pu Yeah - same in my case. This garage has been around since the mid 1950s, and while the garage itself is on the third owner now, each time the torch was passed, the prior owner took a lot of time to get to know the potential new one before entrusting the business to them. Even though the current owner is my age (mid to late 40s) and tech savvy, he still doesn't advertise - doesn't need to. Word of mouth has them booked solid, day after day. When you do the job right, people come back. Heh - one of the best ways to know a good mechanic is when they tell you what you _don't_ need and why.
@@Dakiraun I have a rust bucket 1998 pickup truck, it had dual 'cats' from the engine which combined to a single exhaust. I ask them if they would make it a true dual exhaust all the way back. You don't need that, which I said was true, but I want it. So they priced out about what it would cost, afterward I said do it, so the tail pipes would last a while, they did them in stainless steel and welded the connections. It still looks and sounds as good as it did when they put it on their a few years ago. This old boomer (70 +) guy likes the way the exhaust 'talks' when you 'goose it'. It has a 5.7 liter engine, I suspect their exhaust work will still be good when the body has rotted off, but I don't care.
@@dave_n8pu Nice - I like their honest answer at first. Heh, and probably true that those pipes may be all that's left of it one day, haha. Enjoy every bit of it though while you got it!
I used to follow that philosophy but the most trusted and beloved shop in my neighborhood has gotten absurdly expensive. They just quoted me $1600 for front struts on a 2010 Camry…. Suffice it to say I will be taking my business elsewhere
Would enjoy hearing how Magic Mike made the transition from San
Diego to Kansas. Good for your for taking a change in location and employment!
Man I am a fan of 90's Ben's. Nice and bulletproof engine, such a time capsul
Definitely my favorite UA-cam mechanic channel. Hearing the Car wizard talk about cars makes me feel calm, even when he brings up the issues and cars not to buy, lol.
I always enjoy your videos. For sure if someday we go to your area, will ask permission to come and visit you for a few minutes !
Ha, Ha I live Behind The El Cajon MB Dealership. Thanks for the Shout out Car wizard
Customer satisfaction. The key to any business. Well done Mr & Mrs Wizard.
That 119 engine reminds me of September 11th 2001. I was fresh off my apprenticeship at the same Benz dealer I still work for.
I had just removed the front timing cover and discovered the intermediate gear had some broken teeth from broken rails and timing jumping, no bent valves thankfully. That’s when the 2nd plane hit the towers :(
Parts were grounded for over a week.
I remember pushing my toolbox to another bay and replacing a head gasket on a 104 engine. Crazy times.
That 119 engine was in a SL and that car still comes to our dealership.
I have a 96 SL 500 and that M119 is a gem of an engine. Other than the fact that other than the early ones they had those plastic cam oiler tubes which tend to break after 100,000 miles or so. I went to a pick and pull and put some aluminum ones off of 92 and everything‘s been fine.
Car has 222,000 miles on it and uses virtually no oil. Gets about 20 miles per gallon in town and 24-25 on the road
Now that's a real Mercedes luxury car. Solid parts that are substantial means luxury.
The last of the beautiful S-class coupes!
Awesome video about W140 Mercedes Benz beautiful car
I picked up a 99 S500 sedan at the beginning of January myself and it's just as nice as this one. These things are so nicely built and so comfortable. Also quite reliable from what I've seen although not cheap when it does need something.
Yup! I have a 99 s420, I got it at 160k miles at 170 lots of things went wrong and it was all original parts, it took 24 years and 170k for stuff to start going bad, nothing major but it was a lot, thankfully had a retired Mercedes’ tech from San Francisco to work on it
I really want a W140 S500. It’s the car that really made me a huge Benz fan ever since I saw Get Rich or Die tryin when I was 15. These cars look so badass especially in black
Oh man so excited when I saw this in the thumbnail. Something about these long coupes is so mesmerizing. The price tags have always baffled me
It just shows that your honesty in work pays off, beautiful looking car, and that torch looks a little large to fit in your mouth Car Wizard, it might be hard to understand you if you tried to put it in your mouth 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘🦘🦘Cheers from Melbourne Australia
What a gorgeous Mercedes, seems like the kind of car you NEVER sell so long as you still have the means to maintain it, a poster child for "they don't make 'em like that anymore"
I'll keep watching, thanks for the insights
On the business side... Good for you! A successful business can always be traced to the person at the helm. Keep you vision and control. It's what makes or breaks things and you have commitment to getting things done "correctly". Nice job Wizard!
Hard to be loyal to one mechanic, if the shop rips you off. Was with the same guy for many years, caught him double charging me on labor, then lying about it, so then I was done with him. As a sidenote, he was recently arrested for arson, and I remember he once told me, “No one dislikes me, I’ve got lots of friends and no enemies.” Guess that wasn’t true
Your business and work ethic will keep customers coming back!
One of the best Mercedes coupes ever made.
Damn this is CLEAN!
I had a 2005 CL55 AMG. My most favorite car I’ve ever owned and one of the best. I got rear ended the same day it rolled 150k miles. I did most of the maintenance on it. I’d love to have a CL of that era.
God bless both of you, and congratulations! You and Ms. Wizard are awesome!!!!
Amazing how big your business has grown in only ten years. Not every great mechanic can run a successful shop but you, your techs, your wife, have all contributed to a thriving business. Hope you have many more years of genius repairs.
Probably Tyler helped as he grew his channel too!
My biggest motoring regret was selling my W140 Coupe (CL600/M120). Just got too frustrated with the flat battery after not driving it for 3-4 days. Turns out, it was the seal on the soft-close doors, wouldn't seal, so the pump would forever cycle and dead the battery. Sold at the worst time too (about 6 years ago), probably 3x the price now :(
major f up
Hi Mr & Mrs Wizard same thing here I had my own one man business had customers of 20 plus years, even my accountant! One day a co wanted me to look after all there vans ute,s etc it work for 3 months like you THEY wanted to run me and my business told them to shove it. As an aside ALL my customers were female and word of mouth only, never short of work and like you a wife and daughter helping out. In the end we decided to emigrate to NZ due to violence in the area ECT. Lived by the saying "treat people as you would like to be treated and pay things forward" worked for me loved my customers whom were more akin to Friends. Love the channel shame it wasn,t around when I was wrenching like you I could have told a tale of two after 72 years.stay safe.
Imagine, a car that's been going to the Wizard for a decade... and it looks and runs amazingly. When you care about your car, and take it to people that care about customers and do good work... you get this.
this C140 gen CL was only produced until September 1998, not 1999
I wish your shoo was closer to where I live as you would be my GO TO mechanic. I really appreciate your honesty and knowledge and keep the vids coming as I really enjoy them
Taking your Mercedes to a mechanic at someone's house is the definition of an Indy.
you sir, you are a huge inspiration for me to become a car mechanic when i grow up. absolutely love your videos, very knowledgable and entertaining!
Repeat customers are the reward for good work done for a reasonable (not cheap!) rate. I'm sure your customer knows that a competent paintless dent repair technician could repair that small dent. Good things happen to good people!
Love Mercedes I've had the 280 350 &430. I think those wheel covers your talking about could be something called Kleen Wheels & they keep most brake dust off the wheels. Great job as always really like watching your cids when I get time
W140 was one of the best S-class ever built. Too bad they’re getting so old, it’s hard to find one that’s been kept up properly.
The nice thing about cars like this, though, is that much more so than more pedestrian brands, some percentage of their owners just do what their mechanic says and you can find one in tip-top shape.
Spotted this in one of Tyler's recent videos because I have it's twin but on chrome monoblocks. It's the favorite of my cars and the one I'll never sell. Glad to see another one being loved!
I'm so glad you're doing so well your the best! Love the Mercedes!!
Dude, you got where you are in 10 years? Holy shit, well done man. My dad spent decades barely keeping his head above water with a few shops in south east michigan, so I know just how hard it can be. I know YT has helped, but I think you (and Mrs Wizard) must have a good sense for the business. Congratulations!
Been a Mercedes guy since I was growing up in Germany( back when the Berlin Wall was still in place). Love this era of Mercedes,built like tanks. BTW beautiful car.
Wow pompano beach Mercedes is my local Mercedes dealership. It’s a very nice dealership, they turned one of the original Walmart buildings before they had supercenters or neighborhood markets when it was just Walmart into the Mercedes dealership building so you can imagine how big and luxurious going from a Walmart building to a luxury car dealership
Congratulations to 500 videos and thanks for showing us this nice CL500. The Mercedes C140-series is said to have been the first production car with ESP (1994), maybe I am not the first one here to mention this. This big coupé is also the star (pun intended) of the 1995 movie Strange Days.
Disclaimer: Strange Days is a good movie, but I have only seen it once and it was 26 years ago.
Amazing condition for the age of the vehicle..always great to hear about loyal customers as well..
Old Mercs are just awesome! Metal and glass. Build quality rivaled by none. Those days are gone, sadly.
I completely agree with you in that if you want a business to succeed, do it yourself. Your reputation precedes you and you have the integrity in the work you preform.
If your shop was in south Florida, I would also approve 4k of recommended work on my beloved 2094 Mercedes S500 4Matic. These classic Mercedes are so high quality yet still drive nicer than many modern cars. Well done on all your success.
Knowing two shop owners here they told me it is difficult to find competent technicians as they work for the dealership having more benefit. It is great you have competent technicians working for you! Your 'merging' thing was really trying to get you as a great technician to work for them BS. Glad you got out and have your own shop. If I am in your area I definitely take all my cars to you for any repair and maintenance! You have a great shop space!!!
Another satisfied customer & another fun video!!! Thank you Wizard & Mrs Wizard!!! 👍👍
You're probably the world's best mechanic Mr Wizard.
He's only been at it for a little more than 10 years... the guys who are up to 40 years are pretty good too.
@@RD-km4yi
There aren't too many that can work on the exotics like Wizard. No doubt there are some better on some things but he is in a league of his own.
@@RD-km4yi actually I think you’ll find David has been a mechanic for a lot longer than that as he was a mechanic in the army. He’s only had his own business for ten years but yes there’s many others that have been spannering for way more years
You and Tyler are great guys, yous deserve your success.
W140 and c140 i believe are the best cars of 90's if not the best ever made cars in a history. Tell me I'm wrong...
Gorgeous cars. I've always loved how imposing and elegant these cars looked. A fantastic luxury GT. Whoever's car this is, I commend them for keeping this car in such pristine condition. What an amazing car. Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wizard!✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦
Cheers Wizard group, and I bet you were a cool battle buddy in the Army. Thanks for a video drop, and have a great weekend!
Car Wizard is proof that word of mouth and doing your customers right will make you successful!!!
well said, Jeff
My goodness what a car, one of my absolutely favorites!
In my opinion, this is one of the best looking Mercedes that non-millionaires could ever hope to own. Big, Roomy and Black. The guy who owns this car knows his stuff. Especially since he's spending the money to keep it pristine and on the road for 20+ yrs. He knows what he has and ain't giving it up. It helps that he has a WEEZARD for a mechanic too!
Funny enough i am with Tyler when he had 2k subscribers and I'm with you Wizard since the day you started your channel. Day one!! :)
I love these big Benz coupes. Great work. I wish I could find a car wizard in NYC.
A car from an era where quality and longevity meant something.
Excellent video as always Wizard! Congratulations on (almost) 500 videos! Looking forward to all the wonderful content you and Mrs Wizard continue to produce!
Always great work from the Wizard and his staff
I worked on the same one but it was a marron SL600. The car belonged to Steven King at the time when I lived in Bangor Maine. I worked at the Mercedes Benz dealership in Bangor before I joined the military.
The wiper blades for the headlights are always broken on at least 1 side
thanks hoovie. nice factory radio. nice 5 seater.
Having a mechanic knowable on these superior cars is key to having a nice up kept example like this! And these Mercedes truly deserve it, there the best cars in the world! Back when they were engineered like no other ❤
This is the kind of car that is ALWAYS worth WHATEVER is needed to repair and maintain it. If you can afford to buy one, but can't afford the maintenance, do not buy one of these. They deserve to be properly maintained at all times, partly because they're the last of Mercedes greatest era, greatest W140 chassis S class. This car makes brand new S classes look like Yugos.
I've been going to the same mechanic since he set up shop almost 30 years ago.Totally honest guy.If he retires I'll buy a new, maybe electric vehicle.
Thanks for the sound advice.
i have the old s500.... the double windows.... fully loaded... expensive to maintain... very expensive but it's an absolute beast of a car
I love it, the car wizard reminiscing about becoming his own boss while standing next to what is the epitome of the Big Boss Man Mafia Boss / CEO car of 90s.
One of my favorite Mercedes of all time.
What services are you doing this visit? I have a matching 99 CL500 that I adore. Last of the true Mercedes Benz cars!
Transmission, Diff, Engine oil, and lots of repairs
I would be a customer like that too if you were in my area. I had a mechanic shop like yours but he retired I had been using them probably twenty years or more. A trust relationship goes a long way and we had one. I have found another been in business for sixty years they came highly recommended I haven’t had too use them yet but I will when the time comes I already visited them and talked with them.
I always pictured Wizard buying/daily driving one of these. Such a comfortable car, and I know he loves comfy cruisers.
That car remembered me of the movie The Peacemaker from the 90's.
Another great video. Yes we also work for ourselves and no other hands on the cookie jar. Business principal no 1.
I love the interior parts of these videos with Mrs. Wizard. When she is impressed with the condition of the headliner and dash, you know its going to be a very clean car!
I here you Wizard there is nothing like being your own boss!
I'm currently in the market for a W210 e class from this era and I have to agree this era of Mercedes was special, last of a dying breed back then.
Those inserts are called dust shields. For the most part they work great but they make the wheel bearings run hotter. TMP from N.J.
Looks very well taken care of.
I'm surprised that there is no rust. My daily is a 02 S500 and the rust repairs keep coming back. Paint keeps bubbling in new areas.
I've read somewhere that the W140 and W220 (early 00s) have issues with rust
Yes, an overestimated lifespan of the wrong anti-corrosion solution at the factory so the cars varied wildly. Some early W220s are much better than others. Fixed by middle of '03. Still great and reliable cars mechanically (without ABC)
It is true that this car has speakers in the corner of the dash near the windshield, but they are not for the stereo, they are for a cellphone hands free hookup. No music comes out of the dash speakers. Even minus that, the W140's had great sound & I wish my newer MB's had the audio oomph of the W140 Becker system.
Not true. Those speakers are small, round speakers, music does come out of them
@@rickhall1146 I could direct you to a couple of forums with "experts" that clearly state that unlike the W126, the W140 dash speakers are solely for phone use. An example; "The 2 speakers in the dash were never made for music. It was strictly for the phone functionality." I know that my 96' S500 with stock stereo does not use these speakers, but I have read that when aftermarket head units are installed, the dash speakers can easily be incorporated via the single Bose amp (trunk/left side). Like you suggest, it makes sense that audio should come out of them and then mute audio during calls, but when you look at the raw speaker itself, is sure looks like something only made for voice. In any case mine are dead, if you have some that work for music...goody.
i owned a '97, put more than 250k miles on it, never had a serious mechanical problem, drove it coast to coast a few times. the "strange metal pieces" are dust shields to keep brake dust off the wheels. have not had a MB since that i liked more.
if i could only find a garage to fall in love with like this guy has with you. it seems every shop i try, its always such a mediocre experience, they dont tell me things to look out for, they leave work unfinished, leave scratches on the car. i wish i could find a wizard.
Hi car wizard! I’ve been with the same mechanic since my first car so 13ish years or so now. He’s worked on every car I’ve ever owned. I currently own a 95z28 camaro and I only trust my mechanic to touch it. I put about 3200 into that this season. Mechanics like you car wizard and my mechanic I go to are hard to find. But when ya find a good one ya always go there.
Jimmie Johnson was born in El Cajon, CA.
Shout out to magic Mike, watching from right here in small world El Cajon.
Front and rear parking sensors in 1999... I think that must be an industry first.
Another great video, thanks! I appreciate the honest and unpretentious approach. Always good content.
Love the W140, definitely nothing like it around. I work on a nice S500 sometimes (video on my channel) and it’s always a joy. Used to drive a nice 96 S500 coupe about 18 years ago for few days, what an amazing car.
Yes, do what you say you're you ar going to do and everyone is happy. You are too far away for me to come to you as I'm on the south coast of England. I think the W126 series were the peak of DB achievement but may be I'm just showing my age as I had several in the 80s. Great job, your videos just get better.
Awesome Story- Quality Work for a reasonable price goes a long way!!!
That Merc is in great condition. Nice to see an interior that is super clean.
Excellent video, showcasing just why/how a long-term mechanic & customer partnership is fruitful for both parties 👍🖖🙏🇨🇦
When I see that magnificent piece of Deutchlands finest, all I can say is "God Bless Bruno" the greatest designer Mercedes Benz had or ever will have. Mercedes has never been the same.
"A Mercedes-Benz must always look like a Mercedes-Benz" Bruno Sacco
Treat your customers right and they will keep going back. My dad's used the same smog guy since the late 80s. That's cool Mike worked a at the dealer just a couple miles from me
That plate on the insides of the wheels, is to keep brake dust off of them.