[leehixsonsurveying]

Hi. My wife would like to get a gas Smart Car, 2012 model or newer, for our second car for use around town. But I'm worried about the difficulty in finding a repair shop that will work on one, plus parts availability. In general, how hard is it to find one?

Thanks...

 

[deedub]

You are right to be concerned. It depends on where you are located and your sense of adventure! If you want something solid and reliable buy a Honda etc.... preferably beige... but if you are available for a unique ride that's more fun to drive than the wiener mobile, it would be a Smart choice.
Do your homework and find something well maintained with low miles. If you are mechanically inclined and have small hands it would be an advantage,
Any used car is a crap shoot.

 

[Jo e Lefors]

I agree with the above post.
You're talking about a dead car brand.
Probably better off sticking with a Honda, Toyota even Nissan rather than a smart.
The fact that you're even wondering about where you're going to get it fixed does not bode well for a smart car in your future.

 

[jwight]

While used cars are crap shoots, if the OP wants a smart that's half the battle. Any good auto repair shop can handle basic service and repairs, although some parts may have to come from overseas. The big issue is computer problems - those require access to the M-B star computer system, available at dealerships (very few still service smarts) and good foreign car shops that service current M-B cars and are willing to service smarts . No guarantees with orphan cars such as the smart.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

I've lived in my apartment for three years before I found a local mechanic willing to work on my cars. Other shops won't even look at the car.

In fairness, my wife is having the same problem with her Prius. No local shop wants to touch it because "we don't touch hybrids" even if the request has nothing to do with the hybrid system. So for now, she takes the car to the dealership.

It seems that unless you live in a major city, finding a mechanic outside of a dealership for a weird car can get difficult. If you can find labor, your next problem will be finding parts. A lot of parts can be found on eBay or RockAuto, others you sorta just have to wait for. I've been looking for a replacement set of panels for over a year for my 2008. I've found plenty of sets on the west coast, but shipping them here to the Midwest would be crazy expensive.

This is to say that these are great and fun cars. A lot of us have even enjoyed good reliability, too! But your ownership may not be as easy as say, buying a Honda Civic.

 

[smark]

Going on 14 years strong. No problem here any getting any smart service, and getting replacement parts. It not an exotic car. Really easy to work on.

Personally, I would look into buying a Honda Fit. We’ve owned 2 so far. 38-40 mpg.
Very practical automobile. Extremely reliable, high resale value, plenty of Honda dealerships across the country to service them.

The other small car you might want to look at is a Fiat 500. Good fuel economy
Really fun to drive. FCA dealerships to service them. We traded the 12 sport, We’re now on our 2nd one 2018 Abarth.

 

[SmartMadness]

Depending on where you are located we have shops in Signal Hill (Long Beach Area) CA and Spicewood (Austin Area) TX that regularly service, repair, and customize smart cars.

If you're not local we do ship world wide.

The bulk of wear items we keep in house and ready to go. For the less common items we've got contacts around the globe we've worked with since 2008 to get most other parts.

If there's something you need that is very obscure reach out to Art in our CA location 562-981-6800, he's always full of surprises finding those Unobtanium pieces.

 

[Rambo4]

I went to the Ace Auto rally on Des Moines IA. This is the guys bread and butter. Out of the 30 Smarts I had the ONLY 453. I can be rest assured that the 451 platform will be safe. They even have "loaner" Smarts!

 

[twcom]

The question to the OP is would you purchase an old anything? More clearly many older things become harder to service, so yes address your concern as it is a real hurdle and takes some dedication to keep an older car operating and a less popular car like a Smart even more so. Luckily I personally have shops available in my area, and have not had issues finding new parts and also know there are many used parts that could be had. Between my own current ability and the available resources for Smart cars, at 62 years old, I believe "as I truly desire" my Smart car can be sustained for the remainder of my driving life. The greater my understanding of my Smart becomes the easier it is for me to direct a mechanic to repair it. That is, "mechanical repairs" where a part is physically broken and needs to be removed and repaired or replaced. Like an earlier member commented, software issues could be tougher to resolve both because the software tools needed I personally do not have and my overall knowledge of the software systems is very limited.
Again your concern is valid so for you it may be a benefit to purchase your Smart locally then find out where it has been serviced by that person or dealer you are purchasing it from.

 

[smark]

I went to the Ace Auto rally on Des Moines IA. This is the guys bread and butter. Out of the 30 Smarts I had the ONLY 453. I can be rest assured that the 451 platform will be safe. They even have "loaner" Smarts!

Did they give you a loaner smart car to drive. We’re 195 mile south of there.

 

[deedub]

I went to the Ace Auto rally on Des Moines IA.

A good reason to move to Iowa!

 

[wmf2008]

i know a mechanic in central florida who will do work on a Smart

Bill

 

[Blue Jacket]

Zimbrick European. Located in Madison Wisconsin. We service smart Cars!

• Zimbrick Mercedes - Benz
  • 2300 Rimrock Road, Madison, WI 53713
  • Service 608-258-4000
  • Parts 608-258-4007

(Full service for Smart. Been going here since 2015. Good people.)

 

[radar1.bm]

Zimbrick European. Located in Madison Wisconsin. We service smart Cars!

• Zimbrick Mercedes - Benz
  • 2300 Rimrock Road, Madison, WI 53713
  • Service 608-258-4000
  • Parts 608-258-4007

(Full service for Smart. Been going here since 2015. Good people.)

The question to the OP is would you purchase an old anything? More clearly many older things become harder to service, so yes address your concern as it is a real hurdle and takes some dedication to keep an older car operating and a less popular car like a Smart even more so. Luckily I personally have shops available in my area, and have not had issues finding new parts and also know there are many used parts that could be had. Between my own current ability and the available resources for Smart cars, at 62 years old, I believe "as I truly desire" my Smart car can be sustained for the remainder of my driving life. The greater my understanding of my Smart becomes the easier it is for me to direct a mechanic to repair it. That is, "mechanical repairs" where a part is physically broken and needs to be removed and repaired or replaced. Like an earlier member commented, software issues could be tougher to resolve both because the software tools needed I personally do not have and my overall knowledge of the software systems is very limited.
Again your concern is valid so for you it may be a benefit to purchase your Smart locally then find out where it has been serviced by that person or dealer you are purchasing it from.

This is a common Mercedes problem. I have a new Mercedes Sprinter van and I have problems getting parts and good service.

 

[Treasure Islander]

i know a mechanic in central florida who will do work on a Smart

Bill

Which city in FL?

 

[cdnred]

Not sure where you're located at but I think you best bet would be to talk to your local Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask them for locations that might be local to you for service and repairs. I just bought a 2010 Smart Pure and I lucked out that my local Mercedes-Benz dealer does still have 2 mechanics in their shop that are familiar with Smart Cars. As @jwight had said early, most repair shops should be able to handle most if not all repairs..

 

[wmf2008]

Which city in FL?

Brooksville

 

[Treasure Islander]

Brooksville

A bit far for me but good to know, thanks!

 

[Nikosmart]

Going on 14 years strong. No problem here any getting any smart service, and getting replacement parts. It not an exotic car. Really easy to work on.

Personally, I would look into buying a Honda Fit. We’ve owned 2 so far. 38-40 mpg.
Very practical automobile. Extremely reliable, high resale value, plenty of Honda dealerships across the country to service them.

View attachment 72785
View attachment 72788


The other small car you might want to look at is a Fiat 500. Good fuel economy
Really fun to drive. FCA dealerships to service them. We traded the 12 sport, We’re now on our 2nd one 2018 Abarth.

View attachment 72786
View attachment 72787

A bit far for me but good to know, thanks!

Funny, the three cars that you show in the photos have all been discontinued by the manufacturers.

 

[Nikosmart]

Not sure where you're located at but I think you best bet would be to talk to your local Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask them for locations that might be local to you for service and repairs. I just bought a 2010 Smart Pure and I lucked out that my local Mercedes-Benz dealer does still have 2 mechanics in their shop that are familiar with Smart Cars. As @jwight had said early, most repair shops should be able to handle most if not all repairs..

Just spoke to three Mercedes Benz dealerships and NONE work on smart cars anymore. What are we to do?> Just have it towed to a junkyard?