Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

kyfdx · April 2022

@driver100

Brake fluid has little to do with miles. It's time. I'd change it on both.

mjfloyd1 · April 2022

Brake fluid is hydrophilic so it is time based change - usually every 2-3 years depending on manufacturer recommendation.

stickguy · April 2022

Also take them both out for a good romp. Put in fresh fuel and once warmed up, exercise the engine rev range, and go on a nice long high speed run. Burn off the crap in there.

driver100 · April 2022

Thanks for the comments. Important to know that brake fluid is time based, not mileage based.
I don't try to cheap out on the maintenance, I want to do what needs to be done, I just don't think all the lights have to be checked or all of the hinges need grease every year. Also, the E400 is used for half a year, so some items will last longer than expected......and the GLK goes about 1/3 normal car mileage....and both cars are in a garage when not in use.
Comments were helpful, much appreciated.

ab348 · April 2022

Hinges that sit unused are more prone to stiffen/seize. If you don't want to pay the guy, get a spray can of white grease and spritz them yourself.

driver100 · April 2022

@ab348 Good idea! Or, maybe I'll let the guy do it....the GLK is 7 years old!

jmonroe1 · April 2022

stickguy said:
Also take them both out for a good romp. Put in fresh fuel and once warmed up, exercise the engine rev range, and go on a nice long high speed run. Burn off the crap in there.

“But officer, I’ve heard that high speed driving is good for my car because it sat so long due to me being in Florida for the Winter. C’mon man, gimme break, OK”?

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

stickguy said:
Also take them both out for a good romp. Put in fresh fuel and once warmed up, exercise the engine rev range, and go on a nice long high speed run. Burn off the crap in there.

I had the Mustang out from storage the other day and yes, that old gas needs to be burned off even if you use Stabil. Every spring I throw in a bottle of Techron with some fresh gas and it improves performance noticeably.

jipster · April 2022

What happened to you @isellhondas ?
You're not another one of those hit and run posters are you? LOL

driver100 · April 2022

I did a minor A service on both cars...oil and filter are probably $250 bucks so greasing the hinges and checking the light bulbs should only add another $100 or $150. The E400 will get new brake fluid.
The E also needs a software update that will be done on another day.......it takes a whole day.
no loaner cars because of the shortage of cars.
They used to book the following week but these days so many people need their cars serviced my appointment is in 3 weeks.

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

driver100 said:
I did a minor A service on both cars...oil and filter are probably $250 bucks so greasing the hinges and checking the light bulbs should only add another $100 or $150. The E400 will get new brake fluid.
The E also needs a software update that will be done on another day.......it takes a whole day.
no loaner cars because of the shortage of cars.
They used to book the following week but these days so many people need their cars serviced my appointment is in 3 weeks.

No loaner? Why pay Mercedes prices if you only get Kia service?

ab348 · April 2022

Same thing with Cadillac service these days. No loaners, no shuttle service. They give you $10 towards a cab ride.

tjc78 · April 2022

Volvo too

explorerx4 · April 2022

Next week, we are making our first physical step toward moving into the new house.
Renting a UHaul 5x8 trailer one way and dropping it off at a UHaul place where we are renting a 10x10 storage space. Will need it about 4 months but first month is free.

driver100 · April 2022

I filed a complaint to Air Canada about the torture they put me through. I told them there were babies and pets that spent 10 hours each day in the airport or on a plane. There was no food or water on our 3 hour flight...plus 2 more hours waiting on a plane.
They sent a $400 coupon that can be used for up to 3 years.
Now I feel guilty that I gave them 1 star on Tripadvisor and called them uncaring, and unprofessional.
It pays to complain....but do it in a businesslike manner. I would rather have not gone through what I went through......but it is an attempt to make up for what they did.

driver100 · April 2022

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:
I did a minor A service on both cars...oil and filter are probably $250 bucks so greasing the hinges and checking the light bulbs should only add another $100 or $150. The E400 will get new brake fluid.
The E also needs a software update that will be done on another day.......it takes a whole day.
no loaner cars because of the shortage of cars.
They used to book the following week but these days so many people need their cars serviced my appointment is in 3 weeks.
No loaner? Why pay Mercedes prices if you only get Kia service?

BMW gave me a Nissan Versa....what does KIA give you?

Michaell · April 2022

Wow.

With a little bit of notice, I can always reserve a loaner at the MINI dealer.

fintail · April 2022

MB dealer here is small, combined with the car shortage, doesn't even have loaners. They have a few shuttles instead.

qbrozen · April 2022

I tried to get an appt with an MB specialist. Got the machine first thing this morn, left a message, and never heard back. I just want to see if someone can solve the TPMS mystery. Sigh.

roadburner · April 2022

Michaell said:
Wow.

With a little bit of notice, I can always reserve a loaner at the MINI dealer.

Same with BMW; and with one exception I've always had a BMW loaner.

Michaell · April 2022

roadburner said:

Michaell said:
Wow.

With a little bit of notice, I can always reserve a loaner at the MINI dealer.
Same with BMW; and with one exception I've always had a BMW loaner.

I think, one time with my daughter's first MINI, I got a CR-V as a loaner.

Of course, the dealer was MINI, BMW and Honda at the time (and still are, just in a larger, newer location).

abacomike · April 2022

@driver100 said:
I filed a complaint to Air Canada about the torture they put me through. I told them there were babies and pets that spent 10 hours each day in the airport or on a plane. There was no food or water on our 3 hour flight...plus 2 more hours waiting on a plane.
They sent a $400 coupon that can be used for up to 3 years.
Now I feel guilty that I gave them 1 star on Tripadvisor and called them uncaring, and unprofessional.
It pays to complain....but do it in a businesslike manner. I would rather have not gone through what I went through......but it is an attempt to make up for what they did.

Now you should post a comment on TripAdvisor explaining that AirCanada came through for you and that they do care about their clients. That would be the right thing to do.

Besides, weather was the main cause of most flight delays that day - even down here in South Florida.

kyfdx · April 2022

I had to change my BMW service appointment around New Years, as we decided to go out of town at the last minute. The next appointment with a loaner available was in six weeks!

Took a sooner appointment, and they paid Uber to take me home, and pick me up. That was okay, but it left us one car short for the day, and my wife won't drive my stick-shift.

Not too bad, we've been using that service department for 19 years, and that's the first time we haven't been given the use of a loaner.

ab348 · April 2022

fintail said:
MB dealer here is small, combined with the car shortage, doesn't even have loaners. They have a few shuttles instead.

My Cadillac dealer always had loaners available if you asked when making the appointment. Usually they were Cadillacs too although occasionally you would get a Buick or Chevy. With the pandemic they did away with the shuttle service, putting a lot of old guys they had as drivers out of work, and then the vehicle shortage did away with the loaners too. Their lot is basically empty except for cars in for service. Sad. I figure they will need a kick in the pants to restore those things because it is clearly saving them a lot of hassle and money right now,

explorerx4 · April 2022

A high school friend of my oldest daughter was the cantor at her wedding 5 years ago.
He sang the Anthem at the Revolution MLS game a few nights ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLsygaQlR2g

driver100 · April 2022

abacomike said:

@driver100 said:

I filed a complaint to Air Canada about the torture they put me through. I told them there were babies and pets that spent 10 hours each day in the airport or on a plane. There was no food or water on our 3 hour flight...plus 2 more hours waiting on a plane.

They sent a $400 coupon that can be used for up to 3 years.

Now I feel guilty that I gave them 1 star on Tripadvisor and called them uncaring, and unprofessional.

It pays to complain....but do it in a businesslike manner. I would rather have not gone through what I went through......but it is an attempt to make up for what they did.

Now you should post a comment on TripAdvisor explaining that AirCanada came through for you and that they do care about their clients. That would be the right thing to do.

Besides, weather was the main cause of most flight delays that day - even down here in South Florida.

I think they only allow you to post once a year for the same restaurant, hotel, airline trip etc. Weather would not have been a factor if the plane was ready and took off when it was supposed to go. And, even then, they weren't there to help if it was the weather. Southwest had computer problems that day and there problems might have been from hacking....no proof of that.
Besides all that, I don't think the $400 really made up for what they did, and the things stated are all true. The $400 was also a settlement, I have signed off by accepting the money, so it wasn't exactly a gift. They bought me off....ah, I don't feel that guilty......the review still rings true!

jmonroe1 · April 2022

driver100 said:
I filed a complaint to Air Canada about the torture they put me through. I told them there were babies and pets that spent 10 hours each day in the airport or on a plane. There was no food or water on our 3 hour flight...plus 2 more hours waiting on a plane.
They sent a $400 coupon that can be used for up to 3 years.
Now I feel guilty that I gave them 1 star on Tripadvisor and called them uncaring, and unprofessional.
It pays to complain....but do it in a businesslike manner. I would rather have not gone through what I went through......but it is an attempt to make up for what they did.

Way to go. At least your next torturous experience with Air Canada will not be at MSRP.

jmonroe

henryn · April 2022

I just received a notification from Credit Karma that my credit score dropped 7 points due to a credit inquiry from PROSPERWEBBK. I've never heard of them, a Google search seems to show them as legit, but I did not apply for credit anywhere anyhow. While I'm looking up PROSPERWEBBK, I get an email from Chase that my checking account has been linked to "Plaid via Prosper". So I log into my Chase account, and revoke that link. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm feeling a little nervous about all of this.

imidazol97 · April 2022

Did you change your password for the Chase login?

fintail · April 2022

Local MB dealer hasn't had a new passenger car on the lot in months - usually between 6-10x new SUVs/CUVs and a few Sprinters is it. Seattle area dealers have more, but it's not like the before times.

The shuttles I have seen are an E300, GLB, GLC.

ab348 said:

fintail said:
MB dealer here is small, combined with the car shortage, doesn't even have loaners. They have a few shuttles instead.
My Cadillac dealer always had loaners available if you asked when making the appointment. Usually they were Cadillacs too although occasionally you would get a Buick or Chevy. With the pandemic they did away with the shuttle service, putting a lot of old guys they had as drivers out of work, and then the vehicle shortage did away with the loaners too. Their lot is basically empty except for cars in for service. Sad. I figure they will need a kick in the pants to restore those things because it is clearly saving them a lot of hassle and money right now,

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:
I did a minor A service on both cars...oil and filter are probably $250 bucks so greasing the hinges and checking the light bulbs should only add another $100 or $150. The E400 will get new brake fluid.
The E also needs a software update that will be done on another day.......it takes a whole day.
no loaner cars because of the shortage of cars.
They used to book the following week but these days so many people need their cars serviced my appointment is in 3 weeks.
No loaner? Why pay Mercedes prices if you only get Kia service?
BMW gave me a Nissan Versa....what does KIA give you?

I wouldn’t know as I don’t use dealer service except once for an in and out recall appointment.

I have a “guy” instead.

Chrysler once gave me a loaner for a week when warranty work on the PT Cruiser took longer than expected.

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

henryn said:
I just received a notification from Credit Karma that my credit score dropped 7 points due to a credit inquiry from PROSPERWEBBK. I've never heard of them, a Google search seems to show them as legit, but I did not apply for credit anywhere anyhow. While I'm looking up PROSPERWEBBK, I get an email from Chase that my checking account has been linked to "Plaid via Prosper". So I log into my Chase account, and revoke that link. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm feeling a little nervous about all of this.

Did your bank have any information on who requested the link? Might be worth a call to this company as well. That company seems to be some kind of loan broker. Might be as simple as someone with a nearly identical card number making a mistake.

I got curious so I Binged that name and got this:

https://prosper.pissedconsumer.com/prosper-is-a-scam-bbeware-201707121073371.html

Might be totally unrelated or someone using that name to scam people.

28firefighter · April 2022

@henryn change your password and be sure to enable two factor authentication.

kyfdx · April 2022

@henryn Plaid has a cross-promotion agreement with Chase Bank.

Sort of like most banks use Zelle, as an alternative to Venmo.

It's always good to update your passwords, regularly, but it's your bank that agreed to this, not a random 3rd party grabbing your info. That said, I would have removed it, as well.

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

kyfdx said:
@henryn Plaid has a cross-promotion agreement with Chase Bank.

Sort of like most banks use Zelle, as an alternative to Venmo.

It's always good to update your passwords, regularly, but it's your bank that agreed to this, not a random 3rd party grabbing your info. That said, I would have removed it, as well.

If that’s the case I’d have a few words with the bank. Very presumptuous of them to hook you up to stuff you didn’t request.

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

In the good news category I just did a preliminary calculation of my federal taxes and only owe $200. I always like to owe a few bucks so I know I wasn’t loaning the government money all year.

Now I’m on to the state return. This will be the first year I don’t have any farm tax breaks but I’m hoping that since both our Social Security and pensions are state tax exempt we won’t owe them much either.

jmonroe1 · April 2022

oldfarmer50 said:
In the good news category I just did a preliminary calculation of my federal taxes and only owe $200. I always like to owe a few bucks so I know I wasn’t loaning the government money all year.

Now I’m on to the state return. This will be the first year I don’t have any farm tax breaks but I’m hoping that since both our Social Security and pensions are state tax exempt we won’t owe them much either.

I know some one who could knock that 200 bucks down by at least 15% including his service fee.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
In the good news category I just did a preliminary calculation of my federal taxes and only owe $200. I always like to owe a few bucks so I know I wasn’t loaning the government money all year.

Now I’m on to the state return. This will be the first year I don’t have any farm tax breaks but I’m hoping that since both our Social Security and pensions are state tax exempt we won’t owe them much either.
I know some one who could knock that 200 bucks down by at least 15% including his service fee.

jmonroe

I’d need you to save me more than 30 bucks if I’m going to be sharing a jail cell with you.

jmonroe1 · April 2022

oldfarmer50 said:

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:
In the good news category I just did a preliminary calculation of my federal taxes and only owe $200. I always like to owe a few bucks so I know I wasn’t loaning the government money all year.

Now I’m on to the state return. This will be the first year I don’t have any farm tax breaks but I’m hoping that since both our Social Security and pensions are state tax exempt we won’t owe them much either.
I know some one who could knock that 200 bucks down by at least 15% including his service fee.

jmonroe
I’d need you to save me more than 30 bucks if I’m going to be sharing a jail cell with you.

So, I take it you ain’t interested. Some folks want to save it all. I’m good but even I can’t do that.

jmonroe

henryn · April 2022

I had changed the password, just didn't think to mention that. I appreciate the part about 2 factor authentication, I had not considered that. A quick search says "2FA on Chase is always enabled
When you log in to your account on a new device using the desktop website, mobile website,
or app, you will be prompted to receive a code through a call or message to any registered phone number or email on your account."

I wasn't particularly aware of it, I only login through my main computer, never on the phone, so I haven't had to verify in quite a while. But it is on, I can remember having to deal with it. But if I were grading them on their security system, they would flunk. When I changed the password earlier, it did not make me use the 2FA.

Weird business altogether. That story about the guy buying gift cards as part of a scam is hard to believe. But people fall for such things every day.

explorerx4 · April 2022

2FA was not enabled on my Chase account, so I just enabled it.
It seems to me it used to be enabled but maybe that was some other account.

kyfdx · April 2022

explorerx4 said:
2FA was not enabled on my Chase account, so I just enabled it.
It seems to me it used to be enabled but maybe that was some other account.

I use Chrome browser on my desktop. I've noticed I get the 2FA prompt, if Chrome has updated, since the last time I used it. I'll guess that if someone tried to log in to your account from another computer or IP, they'd get the 2FA prompt, as well.

jmonroe1 · April 2022

henryn said:
I had changed the password, just didn't think to mention that. I appreciate the part about 2 factor authentication, I had not considered that. A quick search says "2FA on Chase is always enabled
When you log in to your account on a new device using the desktop website, mobile website,
or app, you will be prompted to receive a code through a call or message to any registered phone number or email on your account."

I wasn't particularly aware of it, I only login through my main computer, never on the phone, so I haven't had to verify in quite a while. But it is on, I can remember having to deal with it. But if I were grading them on their security system, they would flunk. When I changed the password earlier, it did not make me use the 2FA.

Weird business altogether. That story about the guy buying gift cards as part of a scam is hard to believe. But people fall for such things every day.

This is why I don’t do ANY online banking stuff. Too much risk as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know how people can keep track of all the passwords you have to create to do online business. I can think of a couple ways to do the password thingy stuff but I’m still not going to do it.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

jmonroe1 said:

henryn said:
I had changed the password, just didn't think to mention that. I appreciate the part about 2 factor authentication, I had not considered that. A quick search says "2FA on Chase is always enabled
When you log in to your account on a new device using the desktop website, mobile website,
or app, you will be prompted to receive a code through a call or message to any registered phone number or email on your account."

I wasn't particularly aware of it, I only login through my main computer, never on the phone, so I haven't had to verify in quite a while. But it is on, I can remember having to deal with it. But if I were grading them on their security system, they would flunk. When I changed the password earlier, it did not make me use the 2FA.

Weird business altogether. That story about the guy buying gift cards as part of a scam is hard to believe. But people fall for such things every day.
This is why I don’t do ANY online banking stuff. Too much risk as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know how people can keep track of all the passwords you have to create to do online business. I can think of a couple ways to do the password thingy stuff but I’m still not going to do it.

jmonroe

I do limited online financial stuff but when I get the prompt to “remember me” I don’t click it. That way if evil forces hack my computer there’s no record of them. If someone wants my passwords they have to come to the house and fight for them.

The only problem is keeping track of them each time I login to an account.

jmonroe1 · April 2022

oldfarmer50 said:

jmonroe1 said:

henryn said:
I had changed the password, just didn't think to mention that. I appreciate the part about 2 factor authentication, I had not considered that. A quick search says "2FA on Chase is always enabled
When you log in to your account on a new device using the desktop website, mobile website,
or app, you will be prompted to receive a code through a call or message to any registered phone number or email on your account."

I wasn't particularly aware of it, I only login through my main computer, never on the phone, so I haven't had to verify in quite a while. But it is on, I can remember having to deal with it. But if I were grading them on their security system, they would flunk. When I changed the password earlier, it did not make me use the 2FA.

Weird business altogether. That story about the guy buying gift cards as part of a scam is hard to believe. But people fall for such things every day.
This is why I don’t do ANY online banking stuff. Too much risk as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know how people can keep track of all the passwords you have to create to do online business. I can think of a couple ways to do the password thingy stuff but I’m still not going to do it.

jmonroe
I do limited online financial stuff but when I get the prompt to “remember me” I don’t click it. That way if evil forces hack my computer there’s no record of them. If someone wants my passwords they have to come to the house and fight for them.

The only problem is keeping track of them each time I login to an account.

That’s exactly what I don’t want to get into.

jmonroe

kyfdx · April 2022

henryn · April 2022

Security is a relative matter. How much is enough, how much is too much, difficult decisions, everyone has to make their own choices. I have all kinds of accounts, in a lot of places. Bank accounts, credit union accounts, investment accounts, social security, medicare, social platforms, forums (like this one).

I keep a password file, which is just a straight text file, but encrypted. That file is only on my main computer. And I never do anything financial or even remotely financial on a cell phone.

I think the two biggest threats to most individuals are from phishing emails, and hackers breaking into sites where you have an account, or your information is stored. Sites such as credit reporting agencies, for instance.

Occasionally, one of the social platforms or forums that I do access from a cell phone or another computer wants me to re-enter my password. At which point I have to wait until I can access that password file on the main computer.

I have a friend, a long time coworker, who is slightly paranoid about all of this. He maintains an old notebook, with the wireless disabled (I removed the chip for him), which he uses only for online financial work. That notebook is getting a bit old, and is having problems with recent Windows updates, so I suggested a Chromebook for him. I think the Chromebook would be more secure to start with, and do everything he needs in this case. But most Chromebooks only have wireless networking, no ethernet port, and my friend is unwilling to take a chance on wireless connectivity for his finances.

I think overall he would be more secure with ChromeOS and WiFi than with Windows and ethernet, but that's a personal decision.

oldfarmer50 · April 2022

henryn said:
Security is a relative matter. How much is enough, how much is too much, difficult decisions, everyone has to make their own choices. I have all kinds of accounts, in a lot of places. Bank accounts, credit union accounts, investment accounts, social security, medicare, social platforms, forums (like this one).

I keep a password file, which is just a straight text file, but encrypted. That file is only on my main computer. And I never do anything financial or even remotely financial on a cell phone.

I think the two biggest threats to most individuals are from phishing emails, and hackers breaking into sites where you have an account, or your information is stored. Sites such as credit reporting agencies, for instance.

Occasionally, one of the social platforms or forums that I do access from a cell phone or another computer wants me to re-enter my password. At which point I have to wait until I can access that password file on the main computer.

I have a friend, a long time coworker, who is slightly paranoid about all of this. He maintains an old notebook, with the wireless disabled (I removed the chip for him), which he uses only for online financial work. That notebook is getting a bit old, and is having problems with recent Windows updates, so I suggested a Chromebook for him. I think the Chromebook would be more secure to start with, and do everything he needs in this case. But most Chromebooks only have wireless networking, no ethernet port, and my friend is unwilling to take a chance on wireless connectivity for his finances.

I think overall he would be more secure with ChromeOS and WiFi than with Windows and ethernet, but that's a personal decision.

My IPad only has a connection with the house router. It goes dead about 50 feet down the driveway. I suppose some international spy could be hiding in my bushes and getting my signal.

Like you I don’t do anything on my cell phone….truth be told, I don’t know how.

kyfdx · April 2022

Your cell phone is likely just as safe as your home router. And, much safer than public wi-fi. If I have to check financials from a hotel, I’ll always use my phone (unconnected to WiFi), rather than my iPad, connected to the hotel WiFi.

venture · April 2022

I use my cell phone and Google Pay to buy almost all day-to-day items that I used to use cash for. Some of the biggest companies won't accept it (like Lowes and Home Depot).

I pay all the bills using the bill payer service from my credit union. It takes about 5 minutes. No automatic withdrawals.

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