Independent Mercedes garage

[Norfolkaston]

A friend of mine has just bought a 1998 SL320 from a dealer in London. Does anyone know of a good independent garage in Norfolk that he could use for maintenance? Thanks in advance.

[Sheepshanks]

There's a list here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Not my area so no idea about logistics, I guess cross-county might be awkward, but people on Merc forums rave about Alex Crow.


Hmmm - just clicked the website link in the list and it's wrong - not sure what's going on. There's recent posts on the forums about him.

From Google:

Unit 5E, The Maltings Business Center,, Stowupland Road, Stowmarket IP14 5AG

Phone: [phone]

Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 22 July 21:18

[Tony1963]

Sheepshanks said:

There's a list here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Not my area so no idea about logistics, I guess cross-county might be awkward, but people on Merc forums rave about Alex Crow.


Hmmm - just clicked the website link in the list and it's wrong - not sure what's going on. There's recent posts on the forums about him.

From Google:

Unit 5E, The Maltings Business Center,, Stowupland Road, Stowmarket IP14 5AG

Phone: [phone]

Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 22 July 21:18

Alex Crow is still operating, still busy, still has high standards. But it’d probably be a long trip from most places in Norfolk.

[iluvmercs]

My go-to place for 17 years was Autotechnic in Loddon, south-east of Norwich. Unfortunately they closed in November 2020.

I've since researched and visited new places to take my '95 E Coupe.

I found 2 places in Dereham. Pleasant enough people, but their setup was for more modern stuff and I was apprehensive about the parking of customers' cars - very tight and security was a concern to me (busy industrial estates with free and open access roads).

Merc Pro south of Wymondham addressed those concerns, and the family outfit seems very good. The owner thoroughly and honestly discussed his abilities with older Mercs: Servicing isn't a problem, but some faults, particularly electrical, could prove labour-intensive because he said they don't have access to diagrams, etc to help.

A further distance, but I was extremely impressed with Derrick Wells in Needham Market. Also they were most like Autotechnic, being a one-stop shop for everything my car could need. What they didn't do onsite, they can arrange locally.
So I will be trying them when the car next needs work

Just my 2p's worth but hope it helps

Darren

Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 23 July 09:35

[Sheepshanks]

I was going to suggest you updated the Wiki but I see you've done that!


I have absolutely no skin in the game, but seeing as I mentioned Alex Crow, should I read anything into him not appearing in your post?

[iluvmercs]

It looked like it has been a while so I thought it best to give it an update

Not at all. In fact I've heard good things about Alex Crow, but as I have neither spoken with, nor visited, them, I thought it not my place to mention them earlier

FWIW, the good accounts I have heard all involve more modern, post-2000 Mercedes. I'm sure they can work on earlier models just fine, but I only visited Derrick Wells after learning of all the Mercs the look after which are of a similar era and earlier to my own

Darren

[Norfolkaston]

Thanks very much to everyone - that’s really helpful.

[KelWedge]

iluvmercs said:

My go-to place for 17 years was Autotechnic in Loddon, south-east of Norwich. Unfortunately they closed in November 2020.

I've since researched and visited new places to take my '95 E Coupe.

I found 2 places in Dereham. Pleasant enough people, but their setup was for more modern stuff and I was apprehensive about the parking of customers' cars - very tight and security was a concern to me (busy industrial estates with free and open access roads).

Merc Pro south of Wymondham addressed those concerns, and the family outfit seems very good. The owner thoroughly and honestly discussed his abilities with older Mercs: Servicing isn't a problem, but some faults, particularly electrical, could prove labour-intensive because he said they don't have access to diagrams, etc to help.

A further distance, but I was extremely impressed with Derrick Wells in Needham Market. Also they were most like Autotechnic, being a one-stop shop for everything my car could need. What they didn't do onsite, they can arrange locally.
So I will be trying them when the car next needs work

Just my 2p's worth but hope it helps

Darren

Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 23 July 09:35

Hi Darren

and anyone else

I also used and liked Autotechnic in Loddon, only for the Merc and found they were very good,
When they closed and then it opened as Scarlet I have continued to use them some new faces but some old,
and have had no issues so far, and they still have many MB in the car park.

Thats my 1p worth

[Monkeylegend]

iluvmercs said:

My go-to place for 17 years was Autotechnic in Loddon, south-east of Norwich. Unfortunately they closed in November 2020.

I've since researched and visited new places to take my '95 E Coupe.

I found 2 places in Dereham. Pleasant enough people, but their setup was for more modern stuff and I was apprehensive about the parking of customers' cars - very tight and security was a concern to me (busy industrial estates with free and open access roads).

Merc Pro south of Wymondham addressed those concerns, and the family outfit seems very good. The owner thoroughly and honestly discussed his abilities with older Mercs: Servicing isn't a problem, but some faults, particularly electrical, could prove labour-intensive because he said they don't have access to diagrams, etc to help.

A further distance, but I was extremely impressed with Derrick Wells in Needham Market. Also they were most like Autotechnic, being a one-stop shop for everything my car could need. What they didn't do onsite, they can arrange locally.
So I will be trying them when the car next needs work

Just my 2p's worth but hope it helps

Darren

Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 23 July 09:35

I won't say anything negative about Derek Wells but if you are going to Needham Market you would be well advised to travel that extra couple of miles and use Alex Crow, depending on where you are driving from.

You won't find a better, more honest Indy in this part of the world and he will be also cheaper than Derrick Wells who was charging main dealer prices the last time I enquired.

[Tony1963]

Monkeylegend said:

I won't say anything negative about Derek Wells but if you are going to Needham Market you would be well advised to travel that extra couple of miles and use Alex Crow, depending on where you are driving from.

You won't find a better, more honest Indy in this part of the world and he will be also cheaper than Derrick Wells who was charging main dealer prices the last time I enquired.

I’m glad you said it, so ditto, 100% agreed.

[AndyD360]

I’ve used Richard at MercPro just outside Wymondham for the last 3 years.

Good bloke, have had no issues whatsoever.

[eccles]

Tony1963 said:

Monkeylegend said:

I won't say anything negative about Derek Wells but if you are going to Needham Market you would be well advised to travel that extra couple of miles and use Alex Crow, depending on where you are driving from.

You won't find a better, more honest Indy in this part of the world and he will be also cheaper than Derrick Wells who was charging main dealer prices the last time I enquired.

I’m glad you said it, so ditto, 100% agreed.

I know a few people (me included!) who've used Derrick Wells and been quite surprised by how expensive the bill is.

[dirty boy]

Cypress Autoservices in Lowestoft.

Andy knows his onions, and i've never seen such a well equipped garage in my entire life!

There's also a rolling road there.

My colleague started going there when the guys in Loddon shut down and is happy too (SL55 and SL500)

[maxypriest]

Stewart and Wisby in Ely are good

[stevie777777]

I can also recommend Derick Wells - situated between Needham Market & Stowmarket. Seemed very knowledgeable - they repair and also sell older modern classic Mercs - used to get my C63 serviced there - no issues.

[DannyB2007]

Don't suppose anyone has an email for Mr Alex Crow by any chance? Have tried the phone line but know how busy he is

Thank you

Danny

[Tony1963]

Keep trying the phone. If people don’t have time to answer the phone, I doubt emails will be answered. I’ve never had an issue calling him by phone.

[Timbo_S2]

AndyD360 said:

I’ve used Richard at MercPro just outside Wymondham for the last 3 years.

Good bloke, have had no issues whatsoever.

Was then going to post this. Looked after me for the past year.