Comments by "rondhole" (@rondhole) on "Toyota mechanic works on a Mercedes Benz. How hard can it be?" video.

The hole on the brake disc is purely cosmetics, the wiper can be replaced with Michelin or Bosch brands, much better than Valeo generic. For Brake parts, Zimmermann is better than other brands and still made in Germany.
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Yes it is a rare event a Toyota mechanics used other than Toyota/Lexus. and The opposite is true, most Benz or Audi mechanics, buy Lexus instead.
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Benz has hybrid but not as reliable and DIY as Lexus. If you love Benz handling on E series, GS lexus or IS are the way to go.
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@willisix2554 NO, it is purely cosmetic for this kind of car. It is also money maker for Benz to replace it periodically because it always fail and crack from that hole. It is for cooling for F1 with carbon ceramic disc. For steel disc, it is purely cosmetic. Other patterns is more efficient like hooks or comma. But the main purpose was to keep the pads clean by shaving it more aggressively. But there is no reason of having any drilled disc in a street car.
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@TheCarCareNut Warranty in any Luxury German or even cheap VW is a must. But we still change our brake pads and rotors by ourselves because it is wear item, not covered.
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@morganwin350 Exactly, it is the past, even better in 1960s compared to other brands. These days, Benz reliability is less than 1/4 of Lexus or Acura.
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Funny enough Benz and BMW genuine oil is as cheap as Toyota and way cheaper than VW/Audi.
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@kordapyo612 LOL, I believe it was 2008, Shell also sell a lot of Nitrogen terms for the detergent which is more less PEA. Drilled disc is indeed purely cosmetics. Serious brake suppliers do not sell drilled disc, they use coma or hooks slotted patterns. It reduce the weak point of drilled rotors but keep the pads clean at minimum defect on the rotors
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@bearpaw7603 LOL, Yes, the 4th gen Prius is indeed hedious. Comparing E class Benz with GS hybrid or IS Hybrid and we wil see what the meaning of luxury, comfortable, and fuel efficiency. The E class is not bad, but will never last 1/2 life of any Lexus. It depends what the car is for. If it is to own, Lexus is good. For Leasing, Benz is not bad
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@whereisthedollar Prius prime is a further step before EV. It looks more acceptable than regular prius. But I believe RAV4 prime is much better and faster. Especially with government incentives on PHEV, RAV4 prime is very good deal
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@jakedank2746 LOL, it is now held by Tesla owners
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@Flying_GC use statistical number with millions samples. The world already change and Benz is becoming chicken from dinosaur. Barely any Benz survive aftrr 20 years/200 k miles. But you can see them in junkyards. More in junkyards not because of accident than on the road. Statistically in the world, more than 80% 20 y old toyota are still on the road.
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@AgonxOC exactly, but with the small engine, turbo everything. It is not the case. Jump timing chain from worn plastic guides almost in all brands:BMW, DAIMLER, VAG. The pre 2008 VAG was much more durable.
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@MalcolmWalker NO, it is cosmetic, purely cosmetic. The slot may be more beneficial in track when we really push it to the limit non stop. On the road, you hard braking may be once or twice every 30 minutes. It never gets really overheat either. All German cars use drilled rotors so you will change it periodically, because those holes will crack for sure.
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@MalcolmWalker venting gas in pads is a Hoax, there is no gas at all, or almost no gas from pads. There is glass transition on the pads as it heat up and the coefficient of friction on each compounds are different. Some is better when it is cold, and some when it is hot. Again, the drilled holes are cosmetic alone, the slots and any patterns indeed for shaving and cleaning the pads better. Nothing else for such a steel rotor. It is purely by intension of most German cars that you replace the rotors periodically because of the failure points on the drilled holes.
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@MalcolmWalker Benz always recommend change rotors with the pads. For a clear reason, it gets thinner and the crack from the drilled holes
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@volvo09 thanks for the info. Some materials in the pads may get really hot and evaporate. But there is no gas formation and trapped somewhere. Just material evaporate from the heat. The cause of the brake fade after long downhill is rotor and pads overheating. The friction materials change the coefficient of friction above certain temperature. That's why racer use more high temp. Pads, but it does not work well when it is cold, it does not fit street car. The drilled rotors will not reduce anything in your case. There is no brake fade on your first hard brake, only after you have several hard braking. If you have brake fade from 1st brake, you need a better pads not a new rotor
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@mkaestn Daimler-Benz is an old grandpa that are dying left in the dust by progresive company like Tesla, VW, or Toyota. Their top RnD that I know when I worked in Daimler are old people with conservative minded. They put their money and enegy on gimmicks like camera, touch screen, giant lcd in dash, etc. Not on electrification, reliable hybrid durable battery, or strong dependable DC motor like Tesla. Benz is 1950 glory of Giant. A dinosaur that needs to evolve to chicken and survives.
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