I asked my local stealer why their price on a trim piece was over 2X what a couple of the online stealers would charge (shipping of course added quite a bit) and the parts guy told me that was their price, they wouldn’t discount. So **** them. I guess the stealer owner (who owns several different stealerships around here) needs a bigger yacht.
--FT Sent from iFōn > On Sep 1, 2022, at 12:12 PM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes > <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > Depending on what the part is, the discount model that MB of Covington uses > usually makes it a wash or slightly less than my local dealer due to sales > taxes. However, I discussed this with my dealer a few weeks ago and they said > they would match Covington’s price for me, so in the future I’ll price check > using Covington and then go to my local dealer. > > Maybe it’s an anomaly, but my dealer empowers their employees to make the > deal to get a sale. That’s really great for both of us, because they get the > business and I get the best price. > > -D > >> On Sep 1, 2022, at 9:00 AM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes >> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >> >> I would probably buy a lot more dealer parts if my dealer was not a rip off. >> The shipping from the online places usually ends up being too much. >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 10:22 AM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes >>>> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>> >>> I think the point is, “How many of those parts are you buying from the >>> dealer?” OEM won’t make a difference. >>> >>> I mean, I even buy my soft parts such as filters and such for the dealer in >>> most cases. They’re maybe 10% more, but it’s an OE part, which certainly >>> has value. >>> >>> -D >>> >>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 8:04 AM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes >>>> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> My goal is not to keep a beater on the road as cheap as possible although >>>> some cars that come they might fit that description. All of my drivers are >>>> properly maintained with OE or OEM parts. >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 9:15 AM, Jaime Kopchinski via Mercedes >>>>>> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Is not that they "don't care about" them, its simply a matter of >>>>> suppliers >>>>> no longer willing to make the parts and not finding a cost effective >>>>> replacement. If there is a demand, they will try to find a solution. >>>>> They're a business, not a parts charity. >>>>> >>>>> Next complaint will be that reworked replacement parts are too expensive. >>>>> It takes significant resources to manufacture any parts for any car, new >>>>> or >>>>> old. Engineers, purchasing, business cases, testing, quality control, raw >>>>> materials sourcing, tooling, etc. They don't just walk up to a machine >>>>> and >>>>> push the "make me door seals for a 123" button. >>>>> >>>>> Think about how you buy your parts...are you supporting the system by >>>>> buying from MB genuine? Or are you looking for the cheapest possible >>>>> source regardless of quality? Then complaining when MB support is gone... >>>>> >>>>> Owners of the 60s cars are happy to pay for parts as the value of their >>>>> cars are increasing. MB responds by making parts available. (Like 4.5 >>>>> engine mounts, NLA for a few years, now available again with a new >>>>> supplier). >>>>> >>>>> 90s car support brings up another issue: electronics. If the chips don't >>>>> exist to buy anymore, its simply impossible to make the parts. Period. >>>>> But as the value and demand for these cars increases on the collector >>>>> market, you will see more solutions appear. If your goal is to keep your >>>>> beater on the road as long as possible and cheap as possible, you're not >>>>> the target market for these solutions. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 10:03 AM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < >>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> How long ago was that? Now days you can’t even get door seals for 123 >>>>>> coupes. A lot of 124 parts are now unavailable. Many of the ACC vacuum >>>>>> pods >>>>>> are NLA. As previously mentioned you can no longer get 123 oil coolers or >>>>>> 126 SDL radiators. Vin coded ignition tumblers for 123 124 and 126 are >>>>>> NLA. >>>>>> Perhaps they want to support very old cars or very new cars, but middle >>>>>> aged 123-126 they don’t care about. >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 7:57 AM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes < >>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Very true. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> When I was “restoring” the 65 220SEb I was constantly amazed at the >>>>>> parts I could still get from Mercedes, and in most cases, how relatively >>>>>> inexpensive they were. For instance, I could still get a lot of rubber >>>>>> parts, both seals and suspension. A full set of bushings for the rear >>>>>> swing >>>>>> arms were less than $100. New front/rear springs, $110/each. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The left front spring was really bad on that car, so bad that corner of >>>>>> the car was a good 2” low. Dealer checks on them and none in stock, but >>>>>> not >>>>>> NLA. Turns out, they had run out of inventory and were waiting on a new >>>>>> order. So they were still sourcing these things over 50 year after the >>>>>> car >>>>>> was built! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -D >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 4:27 AM, Jaime Kopchinski via Mercedes < >>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Try getting parts for 50s and 60s cars. You'd be amazed how easy it >>>>>>>> is. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> You have to be creative in this business to find parts, but having a >>>>>> source >>>>>>>> like the classic center is pretty amazing overall. It's pretty >>>>>> remarkable >>>>>>>> what they do have. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> For example, I just bought a vacuum pod for the distributor of a 300SEL >>>>>>>> 3.5. Pretty obscure part, still available, under $100. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Is it perfect, no of course not, but be thankful they put so much >>>>>>>> effort >>>>>>>> into it, its still pretty special. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Jaime >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 7:31 PM David Bruckmann via Mercedes < >>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I agree re; NLA parts. And not just obscure stuff, but for example the >>>>>>>>> window regulator kit (the little nylon disc and clip) is NLA. Which is >>>>>>>>> nuts. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Kaleb Striplin wrote: >>>>>>>>> But they do not have anything that a normal dealer could not order? >>>>>>>>> Correct? The number of common parts that are becoming NLA is alarming. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Aug 31, 2022, at 4:32 PM, Jaime Kopchinski via Mercedes < >>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> ?The classic center is alive and well, and even just moved into a new >>>>>>>>> (much >>>>>>>>>> larger) facility inside the Long Beach VPC. Tom retired months ago, >>>>>> but >>>>>>>>>> hes still active online. I get parts deliveries all the time from >>>>>> them, >>>>>>>>>> still excellent service and loads of parts in stock. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Jaime >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 4:16 PM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < >>>>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> I have not heard that. I don?t think the classic center really does >>>>>> much >>>>>>>>>>> anymore anyway does it? They only have the same parts any other >>>>>> dealer >>>>>>>>> has >>>>>>>>>>> as far as I know. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 31, 2022, at 3:14 PM, David Bruckmann via Mercedes < >>>>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> ?I may be late to the party, but I recently learned that Tom Hanson >>>>>> has >>>>>>>>>>>> retired from the MB Classic Center. >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> Jaime Kopchinski >>>>>>>> http://www.jaimekop.com/ >>>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>> >>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>> >>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Jaime Kopchinski >>>>> http://www.jaimekop.com/ >>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>> >>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>> >>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com