First off - OK, I know this isn't about a diesel!

As some of you have noticed from my signature, I have a '01 CLK55 (weekend garage queen - less than 7K miles) in addition to my 84 300SD (daily driver - over 184K miles).

So my 55 needed an oil change and an inspection sticker so I took it to the dealer on 9/20 here in Dallas. While the car was in the shop I wanted them to address an annoying rattle coming from the passenger side c-pillar in the back seat area. I could tell a clip had broken near where the seatbelt retracts into the pillar. Probably someone on the assembly line got in a hurry and forced it, and broke a clip.

Well the car is still sitting there two and half months later waiting on that trim piece...

At first the dealer got a part in, but it was damaged. Then it was backordered. Then they ordered it from Germany. We waited... waited... waited, then MB says the pillar cover is no longer available in black, but only grey. Let me tell you - that is going to look weird. The dealer wants to order in the part and take it to an upholstery shop and dye it (which might work as the part is not smooth plastic - it's actually fuzzy). So I let them order the grey piece and I wait some more. The part comes in, they take it to their upholstery guy, and they say it can't be dyed to match. Now a region level guy is coming into look at the car.

I've been more than super nice with the folks, and honestly, I don't think it's the dealer. I think MB just did something dumb by no longer offering the trim part in grey.

Can you believe it? I have the 10yr / 100K warranty on this car as I was afraid the AMG bits would be ridiculous $$$. Come to find out MB stops making a stupid trim piece in less than three years.... go figure.

Just had to share…

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__________________
~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

Very strange, That body style was available until 02. Yet they still have parts for our old diesels.

I have a Solution to that rattle... Give the car to me, you won't hear it again!

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1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!

You can still get an entire dashboard for a 123 series car, which has been out of production since 1985 (18 years), yet they can't get you a part for a car that is only 2 years old?

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

hell, the concorde flew for 34 years and there were only 16 made!

talk about parts allocation!

__________________
~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

My understanding is that car companies are required to make spare parts available something like 5-10 years after the car was made. I wonder what the MBZ boys would say to that!

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

Just get a matching grey one for the other side, and tell everyone it was special order to get it that way.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

just go to a junk yard! those brand new cars die off pretty quick. there should be a few dozen there! why do you think they dont make parts for them?

seriously, thats a really beautiful car and i know you paid alotfor it and they owe it to you to get you that part, not a dyed one, the right one.

actually, ive found it pretty hard to find colored interior parts. i believe all of the dashboards are black, at least for a 124, so they still sell those. but parts that match the interior color arent really available new, i dont think.

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

bodyart27, It sounds terrible, but used may actually be the best bet for you. Try Pat at Potomac German Auto.

Most of the colored plastic interior pieces are no longer available from the dealer. They expect you to dye or paint them. However, there are other sources for these parts. I was just about to order some from Performance Products when, just for the heck of it, I called Phil at Fastlane. He was able to get the parts and beat Performace Products price, too. Keep that in mind.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Since they could not get a replacement part, they reinforced the original the best they could.... they say it road tests fine.

I'm just happy to have the car back! sheesh!

__________________
~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

I bet they just used some duct tape to fix it.

I think this car has the part you need.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Jaws of life did a number on that one.

How much for the headrest?

That black AMG W208 is a nice car though... and the sound that emanates from the pipe... and that V8 motor is just amazing...

__________________
2008 BMW 335i Coupe

The one with or without the hair and blood on it?

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012