[figgy]

Hi everyone,

We just got an absolutely wonderful 2016 Passion gasoline powered marvel still under a few years of Factory Warranty.

I have looked in the forums for Smart service locations for routine maintenance and/or Factory Warranty service (should that day come), but I find most everything way out of date.

Areas where we are:

San Luis Obispo
As of 2019, does anyone know of locations near San Luis Obispo CA that are reliable to work on Smarts?

Palo Alto area
Same question, are there any Peninsula based (not driving up into SF) places that can do reliable work on Smarts?

p.s.
I am waiting to hear back from Mercedes-Benz of San Jose and SF MB dealer both of whom I was told do Smarts but neither of which would actually confirm it to me - said they'll call back... makes me worry!

 

[albertlastsmart]

Smart USA...............

On Smart USA, you can locate a smart center/stealership near you....................

 

[Smart Bob]

The Mercedes dealers in Santa Barbara & Oxnard previously sold smart cars. I know Oxnard still services them.

 

[figgy]

I talked to a wonderful shop in Fairfield, CA (where the vehicle was serviced before). That is far away, but pretty much a sure thing.

I am looking at independent shops as all the MB dealers so far have cetegorically said "NO!" when asked if they service or even do maintenance service on Smarts. That seems very bizarre to me, but that is what they said. SF may still do it, but they are not in a good location for me at all.

One small shop in SLO very reluctantly said they had worked on Smarts, but it seemed very much a hesitant answer.

 

[NW453]

"San Luis Obispo
As of 2019, does anyone know of locations near San Luis Obispo CA that are reliable to work on Smarts?

Palo Alto area
Same question, are there any Peninsula based (not driving up into SF) places that can do reliable work on Smarts?"



If you are in SLO, the closest Smart service in Santa Barbara @ SB Mercedes-Benz. They do very good work and that is where my daughter gets her Brabus serviced. They even gave her a Smart loaner this last service, about 3 months ago.

If dealerships make you break into a sweat there is a good independent repair shop that works on Mercs & Smarts:

Autohaus Santa Barbara
805.845.4922

Mercedes-Benz Of Santa Barbara
805.682.2000

 

[figgy]

Thank you for the info!

Anyone know of Peninsula shops? I will be calling places next week, but all that is cold calling not recommendations from happy customers...

 

[Chopper]

Mechanically they're fairly conventional and any shop with a competent crew should be able to carry out service and repairs.

The only slight problem may arise is with electrical faults or code reading, which might leave a Smart specialist or Merc dealer as your only regular option.

But there's good news here too. Mechanically the 0.9s are Renaults (did you guys get the 1.0 non-turbo over there?) and there's a piece of freeware called DDT4all which will allow you do do your own fault finding, car settings, and new component configuration. There's a growing library of data on the excellent Evilution website about the software.

During my brief tenure with a 453 I used a Dacia dealer for servicing - being a sub brand of the Renault empire they were comfortable working on the mechanicals and used genuine Renault parts, but charged a mere third of what the Mercedes dealer wanted to shaft me for the same job.

Good luck.

 

[1983JZR3W]

We have not had Renaults in the US in many years or Dacias ever to the best of my knowledge.

 

[Chopper]

In this regard that's a shame as it would have given an easy alternative. Nevertheless, they are mechanically fairly conventional and any decent shop experienced in European or Japanese cars should have little difficulty working on one.

 

[Apexerman]

Palo Alto area
Same question, are there any Peninsula based (not driving up into SF) places that can do reliable work on Smarts?

p.s.
I am waiting to hear back from Mercedes-Benz of San Jose and SF MB dealer both of whom I was told do Smarts but neither of which would actually confirm it to me - said they'll call back... makes me worry!

Hi figgy,

I just got my 2016 Smart serviced at the Mercedes dealership in San Jose last month. I was told they will discontinue service on all Smarts at the end of the year. The tech then mentioned the SF dealership would continue service. As others have said, most independent shops could do routine work. Just curious, have you checked your warranty expiration? Mine expires in a few weeks.

 

[sokoloff]

So what does happen if there is a warranty claim and you don't have a Smart service center within a thousand miles? It's up to you to get your car there?

My cabriolet still has a year and a half of warranty left. Guess I'm lucky (??) that my Smart service center is "only" 150 miles away.

Len
2014 EV Coupe 19,000 miles
2014 EV Cabriolet 14,000 miles

 

[figgy]

Hi figgy,

I just got my 2016 Smart serviced at the Mercedes dealership in San Jose last month. I was told they will discontinue service on all Smarts at the end of the year. The tech then mentioned the SF dealership would continue service. As others have said, most independent shops could do routine work. Just curious, have you checked your warranty expiration? Mine expires in a few weeks.

I think we have almost 2 years left, so having a dealer option might come in handy. I know the guy in Fairfield (pretty far from me) worked on the car doing routine stuff before, and I spoke with him. He seems excellent, just not local to me.

If I find a more local independent shop, that will be ideal and I'll post it here.

 

[VulcanizedCrawler]

you are doing good. so far i havent found anyone on the ''space coast'' of florida. melbourne, cape canaveral, palm bay, titusville.......that's the space coast

 

[Mr Pink]

For the SLO area, if it's warranty or recall work, your choices are San Jose or Santa Barbara.
If you want a good indie for your Smart, I've used AutoBahn in Templeton. Their tech seem meticulous (measures the oil drained during change) and familiar with Smarts.

While you're getting your car worked on, walk over to Kitchenette and eat some great locally sourced food!

 

[marileem]

Since moving to this area in 2015 I have been pleased with service from the independent German Auto Kraft in Belmont for my 2008 passion (~77k miles). Mostly routine maintenance but they did do a fine job on fuel pump replacement in 2017. I have taken the car into SF MB dealer for driver door repair and seatbelt/restraint system adjustment; they too did good work, reasonable charges, and within the promised timeframe.

 

[ronr9286t]

Services a Smart Pulls Out

I'm in the process of purchasing a 2017 Gasoline Passion Cab. I live in Tucson, AZ, and the closest Smart Center has never been closer than 100 miles away in Chandler (Phoenix suburb). That Smart Center stopped new Smart sales a couple of years ago, but as a few months ago were still doing service. I haven't checked with them recently, but I did find a well-regarded independent shop here in Tucson that advertises Smart service. I called them and they said that parts have not been a problem specially for the 453, as many parts are Reneault.

I don't know about warrantee service, and I'm doing the purchased based on the assumption that there will be no coverage. Any coverage I get will be a bonus.

Ron