re: How much more expensive is a dealership than a regular mechanic

Dealerships get paid for the warranty work, just at a lower rate. At the dealership you will get factory parts though. On some parts it matters, but not so much on maintenance items.

Also, if you get the work done at the dealership they roll the diag cost into the repair.

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Pep Boys will run the diagnostic for free. So will some auto parts stores.

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That's just a diagnostic that reads codes... Which I have them do all the time for free at any auto parts store when I have an issue. You can get a full vehicle inspection at a dealer for around 100-150. When I was a kid I remember my uncle regularly took his truck in, when something wasn't right, to a dealer for the full inspection. They would give him a report and quote of parts/cost to fix. He would always decline and then get the parts and fix it himself. Now with everything available on the internet it's not do difficult to figure out issues, but I have done the full inspection to find out what's wrong.
In this case, a master cylinder is an easy and very accessible job... Most people have 90% of the necessary tools already. A couple of you tube videos and a few beers later....done.

Dealers are crooked as shite. Took my son’s old Toyota truck to have driver side window fixed. Motor would not roll the window up. Guy quoted me price for new motor, labor, etc. ($400.00 plus). He showed me the motor inside the door. It was a loose wire. Reconnected it and window worked.

Find a trusted Indy and establish a good relationship with him. Paying cash and you'll get a better deal too.

They're gonna do that. Wire was loose, don't want you driving off the lot, wire comes loose again, you come back and bitch then they have to replace it for free. Trust me it happens.

Treefiddy

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won’t let dealerships touch my vehicle unless it’s an issue I have while still under warranty. They charge way too much. Many of them will try to tell you that you need more done than you actually do.

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As if any other mechanic won't?

Mercedes is about $150/hr and they're probably marking up the part another 50%.

The manufacturers have been making it more and more difficult for the small independent shops with all of the electronics and updates needed for scan guns and such.

A friend told me what it cost just to update his scan tool per year and I about fell over. Want to say it was 6 or 7 thousand a few years ago.

Basically, they want to make you go to the dealer.

Example-Replacing a window switch requires a trip to the dealer as it has a chip in it. Brand new switch won't work until it is flashed to the truck.

This has been going on for years and getting worse.

I was told i needed brake pads (front)
Dealer was $300
Offsite mechanic did it for $60
Took him 20 minutes
Should’ve been less than that