Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 2016 Repair Quote Check | Houston, Texas Prices

1. Air Conditioning System Initial Evaluation, Testing & Assessment — $230.87

• Fair or High?
  This is a bit high. Local averages for diagnostic time are 1–2 hours, typically costing $143–$285 in Texas. A price around $145–$175 is what most dealers charge for an AC check; $230 is at the high end and usually includes more detailed testing. Unless they're doing a full electronic diagnosis and refrigerant recharge as part of this, it leans toward pricey.
• Upsell?
  Basic diagnostics or checks like this are commonly used to upsell repairs, but the service itself is standard if you have AC issues. If you’re already set on a big repair (like the evaporator), you might be able to negotiate this down or have it applied as credit toward the actual repair.

2. Remove & Replace Air Conditioning Evaporator Core — $5,316.75

• Fair or High?
  This is hugely above normal. Research shows that even at a dealership, labor for this job is usually $1,225–$2,100, and parts should be around $200–$450 total (for everything needed including the core, receiver/drier, expansion valve). At the absolute highest, a quote over $2,500–$3,000 total for this job at a dealer is unusual, or under $2,000 at an independent shop. $5,300 is out of the normal range—unless there's massive unrelated damage or something really unusual.
• Upsell?
  No clear mention of unnecessary add-ons, but the price itself feels marked up by several multiples. Without seeing it firsthand, this is a red flag. Strongly recommended to get a second opinion and call around for quotes.

3. Remove & Replace Rear Brake Pads — $382.47

• Fair or High?
  This is on the high end, but barely within dealer range. Labor for this should be $143–$285; parts maybe $40–$110 for a set. All-in, $180–$350 is typical (dealer at the high side). $382 is a bit steep but not outrageous for a dealership. Independent shops usually quote $150–$250. If this includes machining rotors/snug hardware, it could push up the price a little, but otherwise, it's a tad high.
• Upsell?
  Brakes are a common upsell—sometimes shops add in brake flushes, rotors, etc., even if not strictly needed. Make sure they're only doing pads unless the rotors are actually worn/bad.

4. Battery reset on front SAM — $79.15

• Fair or High?
  This is reasonable. It's usually a half-hour charge, especially on a Mercedes where resets sometimes need special diagnostic tools. $70–$90 is typical. Nothing out of the ordinary here.
• Upsell?
  This shouldn't be part of a standard brake or AC job, so it only needs doing if the battery/computer was already disturbed, replaced, or reset. Double-check you really need it.

Overall Notes & Advice

• Evaporator Core Price: This is a glaring overcharge and is way above market. If the shop can explain a legitimate reason for a price over $5,000, ask for specifics and demand details (and an itemized parts/labor estimate). Otherwise, get more quotes—this one looks like a big markup.
• Other Items: Brake pads are a little high, diagnostics are a bit padded, but not complete rip-offs. Battery reset is fine.
• Upsells: No hidden extra flushes, filters, or suspicious line items, but the evaporator core price alone sticks out. Sometimes AC evaporator jobs tempt shops to throw on heavily inflated labor because it's such a tough job (the dash often has to come out), but even then, this quote is inflated.
• Recommendation: Before committing to any repairs, especially that evaporator job, get at least two more quotes from reputable independent Euro-specialist shops in your area. You may save thousands. If handy and just need brakes, DIYing with quality parts can save a lot too.

Don’t be embarrassed—these quotes get padded all the time, especially on luxury cars. Ask for an itemized breakdown, get other opinions, and don’t be afraid to push back. If you want to focus on the urgent/fair items first (like brakes), you could do just that and wait on the pricey AC work.