My brother owns a few early 60s Imperials. Not many made in the first place and not much parts commonality with New Yorkers or any other Chryslers. Yet, he finds the parts. Its a fun game to keep those babies on the road. The social side of it is fun. Both of us have friends we wouldn't know at all were it not for the silly obsession with old iron.
I will comment on something said earlier in the thread: RANT begins here: Mercedes is going astray with the many models on offer and its no wonder they went NLA with KEYS of all things for the 124 and others. This is a massive disappointment. I can see why they don't make seat springs or door handles. But VIN matched keys? Who in the hell is going to take up that slack? They could charge me $500 for a key and I'd pay it. What were they thinking? This is just about the stupidest thing they've ever done. Why I oughta...go to hq and kick some middle European ass.

__________________
DS
2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
99 E320 too rusted, sold
87 260E Donated to Newgate School
www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
12 Ford Escape, sold, forgotten
87 300D, sold, what a mistake
06 Passat 2.0T, PITA, sold

Las Vegas NV

What specific year of car are you having trouble getting keys for?

In my case 1996-1997 W210's, early W140's and R129'$

If my key breaks I am screwed

__________________
1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

97 W210 / W202 / R129 and what ever the 97 - 99 S class was called used a metal key with a RFID chip. 96 and older was a plain mechanical key

Check into getting a clipped head " pocket key " I think they can still be had for 97 cars. While it does not have remote functions, it will run the car.

Also, near as I can tell the 97 E300 uses a VW computer so the anti theft can be programmed out.'

I recently bought a key at the dealer for my 300SDL for $35, and I asked them about keys for other cars, and they said that the pre 98 cars with the RFID, the keys are gone forever and it's pretty much is the end of the car once all the keys fail or get lost, but otherwise keys are currently available for pretty much everything else.

Its not trouble getting keys, it is simply not possible unless something recently changed at MB. I cannot get vin matched keys or locks for my 124, 87 300d -- dealer says "NLA". And frankly though the car is in quite good shape, the keys and driver door and ignition are wearing as per normal and should be replaced.

__________________
DS
2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
99 E320 too rusted, sold
87 260E Donated to Newgate School
www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
12 Ford Escape, sold, forgotten
87 300D, sold, what a mistake
06 Passat 2.0T, PITA, sold

Las Vegas NV

__________________
Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/

DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!


1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles

I thought the key issue has been sorted out, they were switching suppliers. I may be wrong though.

__________________
Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

This thread represents the exact reason why the NLA phenomenon exists in the first place. Loads of off topic rants, wild theories and ultimately lack of any clear way to the address the issue at hand.

Addressing this issue here is actually quite simple, as was explained over dinner by the former President of sales, MB UK. The challenge really isn't in supplying the parts. The challenge is that MB US/ UK/ DE actually believe the demand for these parts no longer exists. Two simple steps guaranteed get MB to resume supply of Classic car parts:

1) A WW petition with over 1MM signatures
2) MB must perceive a Public relations threat should they chose to ignore the petition. There is nothing they care about more than their brand equity. (Ironic as classics are the posterchildren for this)

Really, that's all it will take to resume supply of essential (no trim or chrome for viability and cost reasons) components. This is straight from a current senior MB executive's mouth so you make up your own minds from here...

__________________
Why I will never do business with "DieselKraut" again

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-used-parts-sale-wanted/378935-why-i-will-never-do-business-dieselkraut-again.html

I'd add to the ... " MB US/ UK/ DE actually believe the demand for these parts no longer exists. . .. " the qualifier " . . When demand for parts does exist, many will cry about price and won't buy parts leaving MB stuck with unsalable inventory.. "

There are those that cry about parts that are still in the MB parts network.

https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/3923912-post21.html

Does anyone actually believe that an " A " or " B " popularity code, profit producing part that is a hot seller will really go NLA? For the most part, parts go NLA because of declining purchases.

If there was a market for NLA parts, MB or the aftermarket would have them remade. Low production runs are expensive and owners of older run of the mill cars tend to be , well , cheap. A few brave souls have made small runs of parts and some have stopped due to whiners that want free parts.



https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/3899673-post6.html

See posts 16 , 17 , 21, 30 , 31 ,

https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/396745-when-will-nla-parts-end-our-cars-2.html

I could see installing one of these:
https://www.gallotech.com/

Keyless and push to start aftermarket kits for our cars.

No keys to worry about!

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

I emailed them to see, but I believe this would not work due to the mechanical vacuum switch on the back of the ignition switch on our cars.

__________________
Milan Brown 1979 240D, rebuilt OM617.952 turbo diesel, rebuilt 722.315 transmission - engine spun a rod bearing

1979 300SD, ~90k original miles, all stock

Electrical vacuum switch would fix that.

__________________
Satan creates nothing: he only ruins everything. He does not invent: he tampers. And his followers are no different ~ Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò

I always thought that old Benz' like old Harley Davidsons, will always have plenty of parts availability, particularly the Diesels. As with the Harleys they were/are so popular that the aftermarket will take up the slack. That is one of the reasons I chose a W123 for my daily drive. So far I have not been disappointed. Those who insist on OE parts so far as I am concerned are collectors, not so much interested in the old/new transitional nature of our young classics.

A properly wired HVAC switchover valve would do the trick too.
I never understood the obsession with OE only purity. I ain't made of money and only buy OE when it's the only option.

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.