I dropped my e500 4Matic off at the "local" Mercedes dealer and they're going to check the brakes as the brake workshop indicator is on and it has 51,000 on the clock.

Just curious if there's anywhere online where typical jobs like this are listed by hours allocated to R/R front and rear brakes, etc. as described above. IOW... this job should take 4.5 hours at a rate or $75.00 (or whatever) per hour rate. Just don't want to go into shock when I pick it up LOL.

The service writer ball-parked the front only brakes at around $400.00, but now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure if he meant labor or labor and parts. My only gripe here is that they will use their parts and I couldn't bring in my parts. I had wanted to get Akebono pads and I know from RockAuto they'd be about $80 for the fronts and maybe $60 for the rears. Sensors are around $5 each, rotors are all over the place from around $40 to $75. So I could be looking at $250 in parts for the fronts? Maybe $225 for the rears. Is $800 - $900 what I should be expecting? The service writer is off today, and so is the mechanic who started the job yesterday.

 

I just replaced the brakes on my 97 e320 with 105Kmi, front and rear and all the sensors for less than $100. The sensors were $3 each, the rear brakes were $35 and $55 for the fronts. Tools were a pair of water pump pliars, a pair of needle nose and a small ratchet set. I had a #40 torx wrench but I did not need it. It took 30 minutes for the first one and 10 minutes for the second one. The rears took even less time. I am not a professional mechanic but I have always done my own brakes after being soaked twice by professionals in the last 55 years of driving.

Hand cleaner from the auto parts store $5.

 

Tommy, I have a 1998 e320 4Matic and I am changing the front brakes and rotors. I've found front pads for $64, but don't know which rotors to get. Can you or any others recommend front rotors that are reasonable? Thanks

 

I prefer either the German manufactured rotors or the U.S. manufactured rotors. either can be found at a local storefront aftermarket parts store with a loittle shopping. Possibly a better option might be Parts Geek for an internet connection. Just keep in mind that there are good and bad local and internet dealers. If you find local it is worth an extra 15% in cost or maqybe more. I have bought many hundreds of rotors for many different automotive and industrial uses. The site I mentioned here is one of the better ones.
Check the rotors first to check if they need to be replaced. If they have been run out too far and the surface has been gouged from metal to metal contact, then they would need to be replaced.
On mine the rotors had no ridge on the outer edge <0.020". this I cleaned off with a slight side grinder/buffing to take off the rust before measuring to check the allowable wear. It was good after 105,000 miles.

 

My choise and usage:
Akebonos and Zimmerman coated for the fronts, Akebonos and ATE Premium One for the rears.