The SW houston dealers - MB sugarland are completely off the hook mad I think.

I called to ask for availability of shifter linkage bushings, (BIL car needs them) - I am told sir they are 14 dollars each - WHAT.. And they are so snobbish that they kind of make fun of you for driving an older car.

whats up with that?

BIL ordered from here afterwards - along with other bits n pieces like filters.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

In general there seems to be a marked difference in attitude toward the older cars, depending on how long the dealership has been in operation.

The dealers that have been around since the 1960s are generally much more professional in attitude toward those of us who own the older chassis models, than the ones that jumped on the bandwagon in the last decade or so. There is often no practical knowledge base among the latecomer dealer staff on the older chassis (unless they hire staff away from the older dealers).

You aren't the first to complain about Houston; but the problem isn't by any means unique to that area.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I would think that the dealership would enjoy pointing out your car to a prospective first time buyer saying, "See how long they last?"

You'd think.

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Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha (sorry).

From what I have heard over the years, the main qualification for someone to get a new Mercedes dealership these days appears to be the words "greedy bastard" at the very top of their resume....

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

hmm - its not revolving in houston then.. Ive visited some parts places in Turkey that sell MB parts - those guys are gems compared to the gang at Sugarland MB who act like "Im holier than thou because I drive a NEW mercedes"

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Drive up at my local dealership (Mercedes Benz of Wilmington) and the vultures don't even raise their eyebrows. That's OK as they would be wasting their own time trying to get me to spend how much on a car??? However, the parts guys are fantastic, willing to order "trinkets" (low value stuff) and will provide a discount on the higher $ stuff (wiring harness) to get the sale. The best part is that anything is available. Try that at your Ford dealership

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Hanno
'79 6.9 Sold (after 27 years)
'83 280SL, 5 spd.
'94 E320 Sdn. 5 spd conversion
'02 E320 Sdn.(on loan to mom!)
'87 300E (5 spd. conversion) Sold
'05 E500 Wagon

Turkish Taxis!!
The best parts supply places in Australia get their parts via Lebanon. The stealers cant get near them on price or availability.
I may poke fun at middle eastern muslims at times but these guys have a great business ethic!!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

My local dealer is great. There is one guy with more than 20 years on Mercedes and he knows how to explore the old parts listings. The younger guys have good attitudes and they do their best... though they are better trained on the new stuff.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

May be it is taking some time to filter over the sea - but here there are several dealers who go for a Classic Mercedes rating / certificate / approval. They seem quite proud to be a dealership that "does the old ones too".

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

The dealerships are the same way here in Orlando. The dealership wanted $25 a side for headlight wiper blades and were rude when I asked if they would honor my MBCA discount.

After that phone call I called MBUSA customer support and let them know how rude the dealership was and how inflated their prices are. If I need dealership only parts I order from a dealership in Cali which has very very fair prices and are more about customer service than making a buck.

Subscription to EPC-net Online is free - you can look up your own parts.

I have a new benzo but it's a cheap one. They still look at you with disdain, new or old. I think it just comes from the poor parts guys dealing with snobby bastards all day long (new benzo owners ).

One of my local dealers I won't even stop at for parts, the place where I bought my new one. The other one I stopped in for an oil filter for it's first change and they weren't quite sure why I would even be buying one. But they were friendly and made sure I had a new drain gasket too. You think I'm going to pay them $150 to change my oil????

I don't bother with any of them for the old car. If I need a dealer item I get it from Tom at the Classic Center in Irvine. Try him out. For aftermarket and maintenance stuff, hard to beat peachparts and the other e-tailers.

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Chris Brown
"OC", So-Cal
1979 240D, 122K, 4spd, Colorado Biege w/Tobacco, Pwr Roof, AC, Cruise, Becker Corona - SOLD
Past Benzos: 71 250 • 83 240D • 84 190E • 04 C240 • 11 GLK350 • 13 c250 Coupe
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...ine=1276896801

My mechanic I'm pretty sure doesn't always know exactly what he's doing, but he is cheap. He's pretty lazy too, sometimes the car just sits outside while he sleeps on the couch instead of changing the oil. He'll say something like, "oh I'll do it next weekend and just drive something else for a week".

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Own:
1970 Mercedes 250c, 1976 International Scout II, 1982 Mercedes 240d, 1997 Honda Accord Wagon, 1998 Acura Integra Type-R, 2009 Mazda5.
Owned:
1974 International 100 pickup, 1975 International Scout II, 1981 Mercedes 240d, 1985 Mercedes 300SD, 1988 Honda Accord, 1988 Ford Thunderbird, 1991 Honda Accord, 1996 Geo Metro, 1996 Ford F150, 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1997 Honda Accord, 2003 Acura TL-S, 2003 Yamaha V-star.

Ive made it a habit of writing down stuff I need - and when the need arises etail is best. specially PP..

I wont buy from the goons if they think that they can get away with 500% surcharge. And if I do, I'll make sure I take their coffee machine too.

btw Im pretty sure the parts jock must be fed up by the snobbish people who buy new MBs every 2 years just to keep up with the Jones'

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Sounds like my mechanic. Mine also drinks on the job, farts when he bends over too far and leaves the seat dirty.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

FWIW- I had pretty good success with the dealer in Maitland. My '82 was purchased from them originally and they seemed genuinely happy to see it back.

The parts department at the dealer here in Tampa has always treated me well.

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'82 300D - Light Ivory, 2nd Owner (Back in the wind April 2013!)

'95 E300D - White, grey interior. (Suffering from stuck/broken glow plugs)

Deuteronomy 22:4-
"Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again."