I totally understand this. However, if you’re buying online, there are any number of RevParts dealers (dealers who sell parts online) that sell with very good discount models making OE parts pretty darned cheap, relatively speaking. And I’m addressing OE parts, not OEM parts that you can buy from a third party seller like FCPEuro.
For example, I bought the driver’s side exterior mirror guts for my ML550. List was around $500, my dealer’s price to me was around $375, MB of Covington wanted $250 + about $17 to ship. Easy decision. Same with a right side exterior mirror cover. List about $300, my dealer about $200, MB of Covington was like $140 + $17 shipping. Dealers use different discount structures. Some discount “down” from MSRP, or list price. Others, like Covington, mark “up" from their cost. As cost varies wildly depending on the part and other factors you can often get a much better deal working with an online dealer like MB of Covington who marks up from cost. -D > On Sep 1, 2022, at 9:24 AM, Allan Streib via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > wrote: > > All well and good if you have a dealership where you can walk in and talk to > people. I am 75 miles from an MB dealer, and it's not anywere I go on a > regular basis otherwise. > > I used to buy parts from Rusty back in the day. I think he had a dealer > relationship where he could get OE parts when WorldPac didn't carry the OEM > equivalent? These days I use FCPEuro because the website and service is > great, they warranty everything they sell for life, and they actually honor > that warranty without me jumping through hoops. If FCPEuro didn't have a > part, I guess I'd start looking at dealer websites. > > > On Thu, Sep 1, 2022, at 11:11, dan penoff.com via Mercedes 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 > _______________________________________ 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
