new respect for benz older model parts support
 

Ive been spoiled by mercedes. I took it as a given i could get oddball widgets from the dealer for older models becuase i can go into the benz dealer and still buy stuff for a 240. The list of NLA exists, but a lot of common stuff i can easily get.

With this mindset i dropped by the ford dealer to try and buy wheel studs for a 99 explorer, only to find the part is NLA from them. Right in line with issues finding dealer parts for my 99 chevy van. To me these vehicles are almost new, but to the dealer they are old crap they dont have parts for and dont care about.

Gotta give mercedes credit for both respecting their older models, and still providing support. I love my domestic vehicles, i just wish the manufacturers would stand behind them like MB does theirs.
The chevy van in particular is indestructible and requires a lot less maintenance than you would expect for a work vehicle closing in on 300k.

For the van you can easily get quality parts from rock auto or anyone really. Mercedes....it's a little difficult finding decent suppliers.

didnt have any problem actually sourcing parts for either vehicle aftermarket. I was just amazed how few parts the actual manufacturer can actually get for something thats 10 plus years old.

Maybe its because they assume the aftermarket will pick it up immediately which they do. Just a different feel than dealing with mercedes stuff.

Basically this post is just my amazement that MB dealerships might have in stock parts for a discontinued vehicle almost 30 years ago that apart from the star on the front, shares nothing with the newer variants

Mercedes has a vested interest in keeping 30 YO benzs in the road. It creates the illusion that if you buy a new one it will last. :)

We are indeed spoilt for spare parts support with Mercedes. It was one of the reasons for buying my first one. My other option I was considering was Land Rover who also have good spares support (in the UK).

Explorer MSRP: 23K
M class MSRP: 35K

I don't think that is a fair comparison. Domestic cars are cheaper than an MB so you have to expect a different philosophy.

Not really seeing the connection between base msrp and 15-year dealer parts availability. Surely a different philosophy but what does base price have to do with it?


Sent from an abacus

That's interesting and probably to be expected. I'm told Land Rover parts support is terrible in the U.S.

One is closer to a throwaway than the other.

I have had similar experience wwith Volkswagen. I was able to get oddball parts for old VWs from the dealer. Good luck getting parts for even an expensive chevrolet.

Problem is that domestic vehicles are pretty much built as a throwaway. Why would I expect to repair a Bic lighter? A Dunhill lighter, probably.

Except they arent really. Thats kinda where i was going describing that express van. Those vans routinely see 3 to 500k with regular maintenance. The manufacturer built a long lasting durable platform that can remain in hard business service for decades, yet they act like anything over 3 years should have been traded in already.

They are selling a dunhill lighter and treating it like a bic lighter.

You could argue that part of the MSRP difference partially subsidizes the cost of maintaining such a substantial parts inventory.

I run into this all the time. People are always fascinated that I can still get just about any part I need for the G.

I'm finding the Italians are fairly bad when it comes to parts. Almost all parts are special order (if they can get them!) and if they can, they are 3-8x what they would cost on a Mercedes.