A bad day it was. Front wheel bearings giving up

So dear Mercedes (Smart). WTF?

So you might think wheel bearings die naturally at some point and manufacturers know this so they make changing them a standard job with reasonable prices. How wrong then you and I were, how wrong.

Let me paste here a wall of text.

Send message: (translated for your)

Hey,

MOT inspector noticed some becoming faults and I would like to know what are the prices for the following parts:

- Wheel bearings for front right
- Shock absorber for for front left
- Brakedisks and cylinders to front left and right
- Brakedisks and cylinders to back left and right

Have a nice summer

Received message: (yeah he mixed sides)

Hey,

Wheel bearings are not available (ever) from us because we sell whole wheel carrier. Left wheel carrier (A4543300120) costs 674,99 euros and delivery time is 3 days.

Right front shock absorber (A4543204030) costs 236,00 euros and delivery time is 1 day
Oikea etuiskunvaimennin (A4543204030) maksaa 236,00 euroa ja toimitusaika 1 päivä.

Front brakedisk set (A4544200001) costs 233,00 euros and delivery time is 1 day. Left front brake cylinder (A4544200501) costs 264,00 euros and delivery time is 3 days. Right front brake cylinder (A4544200601) costs 264,00 euros and delivery time is 1 day.

Back brakedisk set (A4544200072) costs 203,00 euros and this item is on shelf. Left back brake cylinder (A4544200701) costs 341,00 euros, delivery time is 3 days. Right brake cylinder (A4544200801) costs 341,00 euros and delivery time is 1 day.

Have a nice day
Veho Autotalot (Mercedes)

So 675 euros for one wheel bearing!!! Oh my god, this can't be.

Yeah it can't be. Okay Smart / Mercedes wants you to buy whole wheel carrier when you can order original SKF wheel bearings from online suppliers. The problem is to find a garage who is willing to change them and has a special SKF wheel bearing removal / installation tool. Which costs as chinese brand around 300€ and SKF branded 1000€. Your pick.

Anyway. I ordered today two new wheel bearings from topautonosat.fi. Original SKF wheel bearings for a bit less than 100€ a piece. And I found a garage who has the special tool and they quoted 240€ for labor. 

So don't believe everything car dealer tells you. You often can get things a lot cheaper. Notice I will change both wheel bearings because usually when other side is bad the other one is following shortly. So I change both at the same time. Googling saves money