Absolutely true, Pierre. I had to replace a trim panel in my E class, and both the used parts I found (on parts gateway here in the UK and on ebay) were 20% more than the new part from a local MB dealer! Always worth checking.
My experiences with MB dealership parts are that they are more expensive, by a lot. I generally use Pelican, FCP Euro, or AutohauzAZ and try to buy genuine MB parts when I can. Being a little spectacle about MB Parts World, I searched the last 4 genuine MB parts I bought else where and MB Parts World were a little cheaper. Thanks for the genuine MB parts lead Pierre.
During the last month or so. I have been looking for a radiator for my 190e-16. I looked all over the place, even Europe, and nobody seemed to have one in stock, not even aftermarket. Finally, I talked to somebody from Adsitco in Indiana, and he said they had two in stock. To be sure, I gave him the measurements, from my rad, and the radiator they had was the same size, mine was smaller because of a steering cooler. I received the invoice yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the Mercedes part number on the invoice. I think I have a Behr radiator coming soon. It must be new old stock, because I don't think they make them anymore. Cheers from Canada, Rob.
Thirty or so years ago it was so different. We used to get quality MB parts (in the blue pack marked "Teile") from the dealer or non genuine items made in Italy, Belgium etc. Things since then have changed so much, yeah the good old days.
It's worse than you think. I took my 1990 350 SDL to my local Mercedes dealer for a new Mercedes Battery . They wanted $175 for the battery and $75 dollars for installation. After 30 minutes they came back and said they would need to charge $150 for installation. I could see my car in a bay of a 20 something technician. Apparently he didn't know the window washer reservoir simply lifts out to access the battery bracket. I got nothing but eye rolling the few times I've gone to the dealer. You now have a generation of pure junk sold by Mercedes. You no longer fix Mercedes you just get rid of them after 3 years. The dealer service/parts are not helpful because they know LITTLE to NOTHING about Mercedes cars.
Honestly I agree with your statement. I used to love to take my cars to the dealership because you had top notch technicians working on your car. No more. It's all about making the most money out of every customer NOT great customer service anymore.
Let's face it the guy who was a rookie the day our cars were sold is retired now. The Techs are trained to deal with the computerized models of today. They are lost on the mechanical systems of today. Your best bet is the Indy Merc Guy in your town.
Thank you for the information. There is a number of places to get parts and I will look at each part place side by side. Mercedes Source, Pelican Parts, and EEuro Parts are some of the places checked on. The one item I am having some issues finding is the window channel for the back windows of my 1981 Mercedes 240d. The front window channel is easy to find and I replaced my a month ago and it made an enormous difference in the noise level in the cabin.
Hi, enjoyed your narrative. I have a 2013 E350 convertible. The passenger seat motor shaft plastic is shredded into the track and the seat will not go front to back. I have been looking for the power seat frame but don't have ether numbers. Possibly I only need to replace the flexible shafts. Can you help? tom
List Price? My local MB Dealer marks up List Price by 20% compared to the List Price on the online Mercedes Dealers parts sources you mentioned. It's 20% when you buy at the counter. If you go through the Service department, they mark it up 25%.
Hello, Jaynoz and thank YOU so much for your question(s), we want to answer you as quickly as possible. By signing in our Patreon www.patreon.com/thomaspolk page and making a donation of $10 your are assured of a 24 hour email response from Pierre. If you are already a $10 member please mention along with your question.
Thanks for the great info. I will do my best, but I may reach out to you for help... I own a 95' S320, Euro/German version. I am in Florida and the car is in Ecuador. I did not for see this menage a trois. I love my car and for about 7 days a year I drive it at its best.
Any body have luck with the large Multi Make Internet Sites? I bought a part a year ago from Pelican Parts. Ended up calling a talking to a guy help me get the right part (I would have bought the wrong one). Bought from them twice since then. Price seems reasonable (going rate). Get what I ordered when it was due to arrive.
Pelican is good for fluids, filters, plugs- they offer a selection w/ price compares, OEM part #'s, free shipping if your total is over $100. I like them. @@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753
Thanks for the video. I've been away from the 1980s cars for the past few years, and my, how things have changed! Is it even possible to buy a new trunk lid handle or grille medallion for a W126 now? I bought all the trunk insignias and medallion, and trunk lid handle from Performance Parts back in 2001 when I re-did my 1984 SD. Now it appears that the prices are through the roof, and that's just on the stuff that I can FIND! I've closed the tab now, but it was somewhere around $350-$380 each for that tiny little grille medallion, and the trunk lid handle. EACH!! Still looking. Going to call the dealer just out of curiosity this week. Still going through your videos. So glad I stumbled across you!
I think that at some point you will start working on some of the newer models like w203 and W204 what is your opinion on these cars? I have a w204 2010 with over 150000 miles on it and it has been extremely reliable the only part that I have replace it was the pedal sensor other than that only oil change every 10000 miles brake once and tires every 40000 miles.
Orlando I will never work on these cars. Ever. they are throw away cars, junk out of the box. i have zero interest in them. It's more likely that I would go work at classic center or something before i had to work on any of the post 1990 models.
I had previously owned a w124 E320 1995 great car honestly more confortable and reliable than most cars that I have ever owned but I got rear ended and it was a total lost that’s why y bought the w204 I just wanted to point out that it has been a well designed car also I have no complaints at 150000 miles so far.
I came across a bunch of old original mercedes parts in boxes and Don't know what to do with them. The story is that the guy used to work on vintage cars before he died so if any body can give me some advice I would really appreciate it.
So true about sellers on fleabay selling used parts for more than new list. There is a guy, mb-vintage-world out of CA that does this. Check out how much he sells his stuff for, what a joke. Yet people still buy it!
Here's the process I use for older (pre-1990) cars: Look up/identify the part number Check availability in the Classic Center's parts search: partssearch.mercedes-benz-classic.com/parts/result If it exists in the Classic Center's parts search engine, it's available from any Mercedes dealer in the US. Note that you should click on the part number in your search results in the Classic Center's search, as that will reveal additional information on the part and it's availability. The Classic Center's search will show prices in $EU, so ignore that. If you want to identify the list and discounted price in the States, put the number in a dealer's parts search, like MB of Naperville: www.mboemparts.com If the Classic Center parts search says the part is NLA (no longer available), don't panic! Open up your favorite search engine and enter the part number with no spaces or dashes and the word "mercedes". Like this: 1234567890 mercedes This will yield a web search of the part number from many, many sources and may identify aftermarket options or used parts. NEVER buy based on price! When the OE part was $100 and an aftermarket version is $25, with other option higher up, think about this. You get what you pay for, especially with rubber and soft parts, which are easy to cut corners on. As a rule, never, ever buy aftermarket rubber parts, especially windshield and rear window seals. As a good friend once said, "If Mercedes still makes the part, why wouldn't you buy it from them?" If you don't have a relationship with a dealer, create one. Go to your local dealer. Ask to speak to a wholesale parts person, not the one on the counter selling the Mercedes bling and cabin air fresheners. Tell them that you are an enthusiast who spends X number of dollars a year on Mercedes parts, and that you would like to spend your money with them. Ask for a discount, like 20%. The worst thing they can do is say "No". Let them know you're interested in stock orders, as this saves them money and increases their profit on parts. For that matter, whenever you order from a dealer, ask them to put your order on a stock order unless you're in a real hurry. This is a professional courtesy and is a benefit for them. You'll get your parts in 2-3 business days with a stock order. The more accommodating you can be with your dealer the more likely they are to work with you. Just my $0.02 of buying Mercedes parts from a dealer for over 20 years.
Hi Pierre, would you please send the part number for the fuel pump for my 280S. I live about 100 miles from Ryan in Lincoln, I have talked with him on the phone. This was about a part for my 220D which he sent. Bill G in Nebraska. Thanks much.
IMHO I found that the Mercedes dealers can't find the parts on their systems. They also can't tell me if the part is compatible with other models. They will also tell me the part is no longer available and yet it is available thru another dealer. IMHO their diagrams are the pits very incomplete.
Another informative and valuable video. Thanks, Pierre. I recently have seen on the BenzWorld forums that 126 HVAC pods are now no longer all available (only a few of the six). I wonder why...
production capacity issue. you can use the defrost actuator to fix recirculation ax. you can use the 107 recirc. actuator and diaphragm to fix the fresh air flap or use the dipahragm only for the center vent ax. there's a hack for everything/
That’s odd. There’s so much demand for these pods, and manufacturers can’t keep up? Seems strange to me. There are that many old benzes of the generations that used these pink and black pods that they now have issues making enough?
To be utterly shallallallow, the new look . . . ah, looks good! And my profound apologies to Miss Germanotta should she be lurking here. What? I'll bet Bradley Cooper does!
These parts suppliers you talk about will only sell fast moving parts. ....trim parts are virtually non-existent. Try getting parts for 1994 W124 E280. Pelican & Autohaus don't even list my model of car on the drop down menu. I live in Australia & either have to get parts from Singapore through my local Benz dealer or, like most things, I have to use Ebay. Thank God my car is in great condition with 473,000 klms. on the clock.
You're a steadfast advertiser for a company that is too big to fail or successful in spite of itself. Part not available ?, wrong part number ? Part superseeded or replacement part number ? A local dealership RIPPING YOU OFF with mark-ups ? Who would have ever thunk such a thing in the computerized 21st century ? AGAIN, I admire your dedication and loyalty. ...to somebody or something who(which) is not appreciated.
Agreed, my dealer is overpriced, usually around 20% higher than Interwebs for genuine. And is why they only get about 5% of my business. As Gelädenwagen owner I have found that fourbyfourclub.com has fair prices and the gentleman there, Vladimir has great knowledge and connections in Europe and Russia to track down hard to find items that my dealer says are out of production. There was a Georgia outfit as well but have been eaten up by California distributor that I will miss :(
Absolutely true, Pierre. I had to replace a trim panel in my E class, and both the used parts I found (on parts gateway here in the UK and on ebay) were 20% more than the new part from a local MB dealer! Always worth checking.
My experiences with MB dealership parts are that they are more expensive, by a lot. I generally use Pelican, FCP Euro, or AutohauzAZ and try to buy genuine MB parts when I can. Being a little spectacle about MB Parts World, I searched the last 4 genuine MB parts I bought else where and MB Parts World were a little cheaper. Thanks for the genuine MB parts lead Pierre.
you;re welcome!
During the last month or so. I have been looking for a radiator for my 190e-16. I looked all over the place, even Europe, and nobody seemed to have one in stock, not even aftermarket. Finally, I talked to somebody from Adsitco in Indiana, and he said they had two in stock. To be sure, I gave him the measurements, from my rad, and the radiator they had was the same size, mine was smaller because of a steering cooler. I received the invoice yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the Mercedes part number on the invoice. I think I have a Behr radiator coming soon. It must be new old stock, because I don't think they make them anymore. Cheers from Canada, Rob.
Thirty or so years ago it was so different. We used to get quality MB parts (in the blue pack marked "Teile") from the dealer or non genuine items made in Italy, Belgium etc. Things since then have changed so much, yeah the good old days.
yes, the aftermarket stuff used to be just as good as the genuine stuff.
I like eEuroparts! The dealer wanted $500 for a blower, the OEM part from eEuroparts was $159
eEuroparts is good too, but I am sure any of the sites i have mentioned would have had similar deals.
This is very timely as I am trying to find a heater control valve for my Euro 116 350SE. Taking all the valuable lessons from this video into account.
It's worse than you think. I took my 1990 350 SDL to my local Mercedes dealer for a new Mercedes Battery . They wanted $175 for the battery and $75 dollars for installation. After 30 minutes they came back and said they would need to charge $150 for installation. I could see my car in a bay of a 20 something technician. Apparently he didn't know the window washer reservoir simply lifts out to access the battery bracket. I got nothing but eye rolling the few times I've gone to the dealer. You now have a generation of pure junk sold by Mercedes. You no longer fix Mercedes you just get rid of them after 3 years. The dealer service/parts are not helpful because they know LITTLE to NOTHING about Mercedes cars.
Honestly I agree with your statement. I used to love to take my cars to the dealership because you had top notch technicians working on your car. No more. It's all about making the most money out of every customer NOT great customer service anymore.
The nearest dealer doesn't even do alignments for a W123 anymore. And they'll look at you like it's your fault because you don't have a new Mercedes.
Let's face it the guy who was a rookie the day our cars were sold is retired now. The Techs are trained to deal with the computerized models of today. They are lost on the mechanical systems of today. Your best bet is the Indy Merc Guy in your town.
YES, time to wake up.
Mercedes is NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE:
Better start stockpiling the parts that you will need to keep them running.
I hope you changed your own battery. dealer service deptartments are nothing but a money pit
God bless you, Pierre, for guiding us
Good video Pierre. Thanks
Do you source parts for W123?
AutohausAZ has some genuine MB parts at reasonable prices. Thanks for the video Pierre!
they sell genuine mb at list prices. try to get the dealer discount of 20 %
Thank you for the information. There is a number of places to get parts and I will look at each part place side by side. Mercedes Source, Pelican Parts, and EEuro Parts are some of the places checked on. The one item I am having some issues finding is the window channel for the back windows of my 1981 Mercedes 240d. The front window channel is easy to find and I replaced my a month ago and it made an enormous difference in the noise level in the cabin.
mercedes has rear ones
Hi, enjoyed your narrative. I have a 2013 E350 convertible. The passenger seat motor shaft plastic is shredded into the track and the seat will not go front to back. I have been looking for the power seat frame but don't have ether numbers. Possibly I only need to replace the flexible shafts. Can you help?
tom
List Price? My local MB Dealer marks up List Price by 20% compared to the List Price on the online Mercedes Dealers parts sources you mentioned. It's 20% when you buy at the counter. If you go through the Service department, they mark it up 25%.
dealerphobia in this case is justified.
With my local dealership, I agree.
I need all wooden panels for s class w140 s320 , vacuum pump and the driver seat electric seats buttons
thanks for your info
Can you help me find a timing chain kit for a 2013 CLS550?
Hello, Jaynoz and thank YOU so much for your question(s), we want to answer you as quickly as possible.
By signing in our Patreon www.patreon.com/thomaspolk page and making a donation of $10 your are assured of a 24 hour email response from Pierre.
If you are already a $10 member please mention along with your question.
This was very helpful.
Good stuff Pierre!
Great info, thanks!
I was looking for a new water pump for my 250sl w113 and the dealer told me that the part was NLA and the price was 750€. I bought from febi for 60€.
Thanks for the great info. I will do my best, but I may reach out to you for help... I own a 95' S320, Euro/German version. I am in Florida and the car is in Ecuador. I did not for see this menage a trois. I love my car and for about 7 days a year I drive it at its best.
And I thought parts were hard to find for W123 diesels. At least in the States.
Any body have luck with the large Multi Make Internet Sites? I bought a part a year ago from Pelican Parts. Ended up calling a talking to a guy help me get the right part (I would have bought the wrong one). Bought from them twice since then. Price seems reasonable (going rate). Get what I ordered when it was due to arrive.
pelican is actually expensive on some items, cheaper on others.
Pelican is good for fluids, filters, plugs- they offer a selection w/ price compares, OEM part #'s, free shipping if your total is over $100. I like them. @@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753
Thanks for the video. I've been away from the 1980s cars for the past few years, and my, how things have changed! Is it even possible to buy a new trunk lid handle or grille medallion for a W126 now? I bought all the trunk insignias and medallion, and trunk lid handle from Performance Parts back in 2001 when I re-did my 1984 SD. Now it appears that the prices are through the roof, and that's just on the stuff that I can FIND! I've closed the tab now, but it was somewhere around $350-$380 each for that tiny little grille medallion, and the trunk lid handle. EACH!! Still looking. Going to call the dealer just out of curiosity this week. Still going through your videos. So glad I stumbled across you!
things have gotten expensive...but they still exist. we have restored three 126s in the past five years...never gets easy.
Thanks. Hope you're ok in Florida with the hurricane situation!
Good advice thank you
I think that at some point you will start working on some of the newer models like w203 and W204 what is your opinion on these cars?
I have a w204 2010 with over 150000 miles on it and it has been extremely reliable the only part that I have replace it was the pedal sensor other than that only oil change every 10000 miles brake once and tires every 40000 miles.
Orlando
I will never work on these cars. Ever. they are throw away cars, junk out of the box. i have zero interest in them. It's more likely that I would go work at classic center or something before i had to work on any of the post 1990 models.
I had previously owned a w124 E320 1995 great car honestly more confortable and reliable than most cars that I have ever owned but I got rear ended and it was a total lost that’s why y bought the w204 I just wanted to point out that it has been a well designed car also I have no complaints at 150000 miles so far.
@@OrlandoLazardi69 scrap it and get a pre 90’s W124 or W123
Good one Pierre , many thanks
you're welcome Tom!
I came across a bunch of old original mercedes parts in boxes and Don't know what to do with them. The story is that the guy used to work on vintage cars before he died so if any body can give me some advice I would really appreciate it.
Right on
Buying from Peach parts supports the diesel discussion forum.
So true about sellers on fleabay selling used parts for more than new list. There is a guy, mb-vintage-world out of CA that does this. Check out how much he sells his stuff for, what a joke. Yet people still buy it!
it's a sad truth.
Here's the process I use for older (pre-1990) cars:
Look up/identify the part number
Check availability in the Classic Center's parts search: partssearch.mercedes-benz-classic.com/parts/result
If it exists in the Classic Center's parts search engine, it's available from any Mercedes dealer in the US. Note that you should click on the part number in your search results in the Classic Center's search, as that will reveal additional information on the part and it's availability. The Classic Center's search will show prices in $EU, so ignore that.
If you want to identify the list and discounted price in the States, put the number in a dealer's parts search, like MB of Naperville: www.mboemparts.com
If the Classic Center parts search says the part is NLA (no longer available), don't panic! Open up your favorite search engine and enter the part number with no spaces or dashes and the word "mercedes". Like this: 1234567890 mercedes
This will yield a web search of the part number from many, many sources and may identify aftermarket options or used parts. NEVER buy based on price! When the OE part was $100 and an aftermarket version is $25, with other option higher up, think about this. You get what you pay for, especially with rubber and soft parts, which are easy to cut corners on. As a rule, never, ever buy aftermarket rubber parts, especially windshield and rear window seals.
As a good friend once said, "If Mercedes still makes the part, why wouldn't you buy it from them?"
If you don't have a relationship with a dealer, create one.
Go to your local dealer. Ask to speak to a wholesale parts person, not the one on the counter selling the Mercedes bling and cabin air fresheners. Tell them that you are an enthusiast who spends X number of dollars a year on Mercedes parts, and that you would like to spend your money with them. Ask for a discount, like 20%. The worst thing they can do is say "No". Let them know you're interested in stock orders, as this saves them money and increases their profit on parts. For that matter, whenever you order from a dealer, ask them to put your order on a stock order unless you're in a real hurry. This is a professional courtesy and is a benefit for them. You'll get your parts in 2-3 business days with a stock order. The more accommodating you can be with your dealer the more likely they are to work with you.
Just my $0.02 of buying Mercedes parts from a dealer for over 20 years.
Hi Pierre, would you please send the part number for the fuel pump for my 280S. I live about 100 miles from Ryan in Lincoln, I have talked with him on the phone. This was about a part for my 220D which he sent.
Bill G in Nebraska. Thanks much.
check your email! its a'comin!
IMHO I found that the Mercedes dealers can't find the parts on their systems. They also can't tell me if the part is compatible with other models.
They will also tell me the part is no longer available and yet it is available thru another dealer. IMHO their diagrams are the pits very incomplete.
Another informative and valuable video. Thanks, Pierre. I recently have seen on the BenzWorld forums that 126 HVAC pods are now no longer all available (only a few of the six). I wonder why...
production capacity issue. you can use the defrost actuator to fix recirculation ax. you can use the 107 recirc. actuator and diaphragm to fix the fresh air flap or use the dipahragm only for the center vent ax. there's a hack for everything/
That’s odd. There’s so much demand for these pods, and manufacturers can’t keep up? Seems strange to me. There are that many old benzes of the generations that used these pink and black pods that they now have issues making enough?
Great info.
thank you
To be utterly shallallallow, the new look . . . ah, looks good! And my profound apologies to Miss Germanotta should she be lurking here.
What? I'll bet Bradley Cooper does!
These parts suppliers you talk about will only sell fast moving parts. ....trim parts are virtually non-existent. Try getting parts for 1994 W124 E280. Pelican & Autohaus don't even list my model of car on the drop down menu. I live in Australia & either have to get parts from Singapore through my local Benz dealer or, like most things, I have to use Ebay. Thank God my car is in great condition with 473,000 klms. on the clock.
New parts for older Mercedes.
do you have parts for 1953 170 sd model?
Please respond
Thank you
You're a steadfast advertiser for a company that is too big to fail or successful in spite of itself.
Part not available ?,
wrong part number ?
Part superseeded or replacement part number ?
A local dealership RIPPING YOU OFF with mark-ups ?
Who would have ever thunk such a thing in the computerized 21st century ?
AGAIN, I admire your dedication and loyalty. ...to somebody or something who(which) is not appreciated.
where else am i going to get a rear axle boot for a 280sl?
Great info, and obviously you know how to get your moneys worth in a haircut.
I didnt have luck finding an epc
try www.everythingbenz.com
Agreed, my dealer is overpriced, usually around 20% higher than Interwebs for genuine. And is why they only get about 5% of my business. As Gelädenwagen owner I have found that fourbyfourclub.com has fair prices and the gentleman there, Vladimir has great knowledge and connections in Europe and Russia to track down hard to find items that my dealer says are out of production. There was a Georgia outfit as well but have been eaten up by California distributor that I will miss :(
FCPEURO.COM All parts are lifetime warranty. Everything.... Also fantastic customer support and a real focus on OEM or better quality and fitment.
What is your email