Just talked to Phil a couple days ago. My condolences to his family and fiance.
I just hope and pray he had a relationship with Jesus. The family will be in our prayers.

I love that... may have to use it sometime. Absolutely right.

So sorry to hear about your loss... Phil's number has been in my cell phone for many years now and no matter how busy things got, I can't ever remember waiting more than half an hour for an answer to my questions. Beyond "customer service", I could always tell that he believed in making things right; that being known as a fair player was his main goal. That speaks volumes.

I'll look forward to thanking him in person someday. Meanwhile... may he rest in peace, and if we (the forum, and myself personally) can be of any use to the family in any way, please say so.

Michael S.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I'm very sorry to hear about Phil's passing. Spoke to him last time about 2 weeks ago - just shocked that he's gone now. My condolences and prayers.

James

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

He loved those Hawaiian shirts. He had a closet full of them. A dear friend of his requested those shirts so he could wear them every summer.

Roy, I thought you might appreciate these:

About 6 years ago now, my mom had moved away to go back to college and get her masters. I went from talking to her ever day in person to making phone calls. Christmas came around and I was having trouble with my Mercedes. My mom wanting to help any way she could, so she offered to get me the parts I needed for Christmas. I sent her a link to, mercedes-shop at the time, and told her to order. She called me back just before Christmas to tell me that she had ordered the parts, and that she had a great conversation with Phil on the phone. My mom hasn't moved back to CA, so we still mostly talk on the phone. She'll call me and I'll be at the junk yard looking for something, or angry because the parts house promised to have the part only to not have it when I arrived. She would always say "Don't worry, want me to call Phil?" He was the safety net MB repair. If you needed it and were banging your head against the problem there was always Phil. He will be missed. I'd like to thank him not only for his service, but for being one of the building blocks that build this great place here on the internet. I've seriously met some of my best friends through this site. Prayers and best wishes with his family!

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My heart sank when I read this news today ... Phil was a legend here and is gone far too soon. Jennifer, I am so sorry for you and your family. I can't even imagine how hard this much be for you. Your dad certainly touched a lot of lives here and will be remembered and missed. You are in my thoughts.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Jennifer, I am so sorry for the loss of your dad!
If he touched those of us here on the forum in such a profound way, I can hardly fathom the impact he had on you and other family members.
Must be awesome to hear all these kind words. And trust me, we all mean it!!!
Jimmy

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

So sad. Phil was such a gentleman to work with. He brought such a fun personality and sense of thoughtfulness to the table when I was in dire need of repair help/advice. My prayers go out to his family for their loss.

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Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

Drat, no fun to loose good people..

The top of this thread needs a blurb about Phills connection to this site for those that don't know what he did.

So sad to hear.. Only had to deal with him twice, but he made everything right, and genuinely cared. My condolences to all of those that knew him personally.

I cant imagine the feelings now of Phil's family. Know that if anything can be done of any help just ask here and you will be overwhelmed with whatever support we might be able to offer.

Phil was a virtual patriarch to this group of crazies who want nothing more that to make any MB under their control the best possible. He was so very good at offering much more than just parts. I spoke with him earlier in the week and as many have said, he recognized my voice even though I was an infrequent customer.

I dont think that any of us were customers, we who called were each special to him and his avocation of providing the best source of information he could to rapidly solve any issue we had.

There are an extreme few like him. He had the rare ability of making any issue his and to him joy was resolution.

He will be fondly remembered for decades.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

I am shocked! I just talked to Phil a couple of weeks ago and as usual he was very helpful. He was also honest; if he didn´t have the exact information needed, he would tell you so without hesitation. He was much to young to be taken.

To his family and his daughter Jennifer, you have my condolences. This forum will have a void forever.

Stephen

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

Phil...

A CSR like no other.

May St. Peter have him as his associate at the Pearly Gates...

For some, Phil might be able to locate their way to, and maybe through, the gates when no one else could...

May he be resting in Peace and may his family continue on knowing their fiancé, father, brother/uncle will be sorely missed by all that had personal contact with him and those that knew him only through this (or other) forums.

Today is truly a sober day...

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M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

my condolences to his family.....we just never know

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0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.

I sent this note to one of my friends who worked with Phil. Here was his response:

-Wayne

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Wayne R. Dempsey, Founder, Pelican Parts Inc., and Author of:
101 Projects for Your BMW 3-Series • 101 Projects for Your Porsche 911 • How to Rebuild & Modify Porsche 911 Engines • 101 Projects for Your Porsche Boxster & Cayman
• 101 Projects for Your MINI Cooper • 101 Projects for Your Porsche 996 / 997