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.

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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

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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).

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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!

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

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

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.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

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

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

One is closer to a throwaway than the other.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

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.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

After 15 years im not sure. Sure the components are cheaper, but to carry them for a longer time the development should also be cheaper. Larger scale + not having to change tooling is a lower manufacture cost. I think the price differential is more in materials... The lincoln equivalent (or the merc mountaineer) is a more direct comparison whose price points and options are similar to the Standard ML.


Sent from an abacus

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

True but to hold an inventory requires space. Space = money so if they can move enough, the MIGHT. If not, screw you and the horse you rode in on. Go buy another throwaway you cheap bas....

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

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.

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."