SL parts prices on EBay ridiculous
 

I'm new to the SL parts arena, but not new to Mercedes parts on EBay, having both sold and bought for many years. I did know before I bought my '86 560SL , about 2 months ago, that I'd have to pay more for almost everything just because it's an SL :mad: , but here's a couple of examples:
- a set of 4 headlight retaining rings, opening price $129.99.
- a pair of used sunvisors, opening price $553.81
- SL sunvisor clips, $14.00 - $30.00 each
- a piece of chrome grille trim $111.00
- a burlwood ashtray, on sale $ 301.00
- an owners manual (not shop manual) $299.95
I'm not kidding! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-Mercedes-560SL-560-SL-Owners-Manual_W0QQitemZ190142101300QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190142101300
This stuff is mostly trim and interior pieces, many not available except from the dealer, and the chassis and engine parts don't seem too far out of line (except maybe the $200.00 blower motors :eek:). And, I know EBay is very much a 'charge what the market will bear' place. For most of us, a junkyard donor is certainly not an option. But really....if we continue to pay these prices, how are they ever going to drop?
I actually bought a pair of sunvisors, mint used condition, correct color and complete, from CA, and consider myself lucky they were ONLY $300.00 delivered. My 560SL had NO sunvisors on it, or I would have modified a pair of MB visors to fit the rods.
I'm currently working on a set of 4 stainless headlight rings for a '60's Pontiac GTO that I'm certain I can easily modify to fit perfectly....and they are stainless steel, polished, and will be in my shop for under $40.00.
There, rant over.

When I bought my SL, I expected to do all repairs or alterations the right way; in other words, cost is of little factor with that car. Any piece that isn't available at the dealer should be more expensive for obvious reasons. You could always sell your Benzes and pick up a few GM products - I'm sure that would be much better.

There really are some good deals to be had on eBay, but some people are just trying to take the unwary, and, well, that's the "free market".

There are parts apparently from someone's abandoned project that are going "nearly new" for an opening bid over dealer list right now, for example.

One thing I will say: When buying used parts where cosmetics are a factor from private parties on ebay, use these handy conversion tables to bid accordingly:

Perfect --->Very good
Nearly Perfect ---->Acceptable
Excellent ---Marginally Acceptable
Good --->Junk, maybe better than what you have, maybe not
"Driver" --->Garbage, not as good as what you have

Special Chrome/Stainless Table:

No Scratches-->Minor scratches
Minor Scratch --->Gouge
No Pits----->Minor Pits
Some Pitting--->>not yet rusted through or falling apart
"Driver" --> maybe one more year before it rusts through the back
"Could Use Cleaning" --->...in order to reveal the flaking chrome and pits!
"Could Use Polishing"--->...in order to remove the rust stains from the missing chrome areas!

However, I've found professional dismantlers to be pretty accurate, like Potomac.

Ebay should not be your first choice for parts. Yes, you will pay more for SL parts since they are executive or prestige cars, but Ebay is definitely not always the cheapest. Shop around. There are many parts sources, including this site (Buy Parts tab). Hemmings Motor News also has many sources advertising all the time. And don't rule out the Mercedes dealer as sometimes they can be cheaper. You will be surprised how may parts are still available from the dealer. And searching sites like this (For Sale ads, Forum searches) and posting questions about parts sources may yield alternative parts sources for hard to find parts. There is also some high quality reproduction stuff out there, along with some really crappy stuff, for less money if you want to go that route

I hope I don't offend anybody here who sells on Ebay, but many Ebay sellers prey on people who don't shop around or do their own searches for parts. Don't ever use Ebay as your first choice. You may end up paying more for a new part than the dealer sells it for (and don't forget about that shipping charge on top of the price). Ebay is definitely a source for hard to find used parts, but look around first for a better deal from a private seller or online salvage yard. Some new parts sellers also have access to used parts (such as this site).

And those blower motors are not cheap from any parts source. $200 sounds cheap for new if it is the complete blower assembly. Get used to the sticker shock.

Sun Visors and Owner's Manuals
 

What's the story with the sun visors and owners manuals? I cannot believe the opening prices. What makes these so rare and valuable? Is availability really that scarce. What are reasonable prices for these two items in good to ex condition? I always expect to pay more for any SL part, and if you tack on it's a Porsche part, I'll pay double the SL price! I found this especially true for radios. I have an absolutely mint in-box Mexico, amp and instructions that I keep in a safe deposit box :)

all I know is I have tried to GIVE AWAY my W115/114 parts and no one wants them...
On the other hand I have had to pay some big $ for my SL needs. I guess its just supply and demand. Folks on this list that have parts have been reasonable. I always start here. I am getting ready to part out a 81 380SL nuts to bolts and I will start here first before I go to ebay

I have been finding the 107 parts are much more expensive than the 129 parts both new and especially used. I believe the new parts are more because they are manufactured using old non productive technology and in small quantities. Used parts are more because the possibility of finding pristine parts for 30 year old cars is a lot slimmer than 10 year olds.

Are your SS GTO rings split or one piece like the MB ones. I believe I saw those rings and I offered the guy $90.00 for them. No deal thats life, thats business. It's still half the price. I might change my mind an bid on them so you might best quickly reconsider.

You might also understand that it is these high prices that bring the resale value of your car up. There are not too many 25 year old cars worth 10K to 20K.

John Roncallo

You have 19 hours.... http://cgi.ebay.ca/Mercedes-107-380sl-450sl-560sl-headlight-rings-chrome_W0QQitemZ310007319752QQihZ021QQcategoryZ33710QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Seriously, a dealer price of $65.00 for a retaining ring? Nah, I'll pass thanks.
And yes, the rings for the GTO are split and welded at the bottom. They arrived today. I haven't had a chance to work with them yet, but I'm still sure they will fit nicely, and you'd have to get down on your knees and look close under the bulb to see the little split. They are stainless and nearly mint.
I don't mean to offend anyone who can afford to go all out on an SL project (or any other for that matter. We're still all car guys, after all). But it is still OK to build a nice 'driver' and on a budget too. I figure the money I saved on these rings will pay for something else I can't fabricate. And with the current SL market, I'm going to be doing lots of inventive fabrication!

Edit: John, I just went to look at your 'Sadie', and realized that the picture with the podium in front was the one I downloaded about a year ago and kept as my 'inspiration' for the SL I wanted, and finally got! My compliments on a stunning machine.

Thats the same guy I offered $90 for them. He since raised the price from 120 to 129 and his shipping is high.

I just purchased a front lower control arm on eBay for a fraction of the list price and it arrived in perfect condition. The value of the car doesnt always justify putting new parts on.
Equally cheap rubber parts are not worth buying second hand. I have a RHD model and mercedes are no longer supplying parts which were specific to RHD once their stock runs out for older cars so failure of one of these parts could be teminal for my car.

WOW those are some high prices, I just sold a bosch fuel distributor that didn't fit my 280CE as it was the wrong year, It happen to be the same as a used on 1989 aniversary lamborginini contach. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMESO%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150198734875&rd=1

I list it for what I had in it $150.00 it was new old stock. it sold quickly to a guy that had a 1989 lambo. I check his other buys and almost fainted. $699.00 plus shipping for a USED water pump. OMG it was visable before but not anymore.

There is another USED distributor like the one I sold NOS for over $200.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-280-W123-LAMBORGHINI-COUNTACH-FUEL-DISTRIBUTOR_W0QQitemZ350012427754QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350012427754

EBAY is hit and miss you can get some great deals and you can pay out the ass if you can't wait for a good price on your item.

Ebay is one of the places I check for parts, but what people have written here - it's hit or miss - is true. I stupidly paid $50 for a part I later found I could have gotten at the dealer for half that price and that I've seen since put on ebay for $10. I believed the hype that was put in the item description.

The $550 visors are a joke, and this is the third time that moron has listed them. New York seller, and the ad reads like a letter to Penthouse magazine, right? No one has bought them before at that price, and I'd be surprised if anyone buys them now or in the future at that price.