Getting ready to do as much as I can of the 60K service on my newly acquired 1988 300CE .... got the service maunal on cd .... but would like some info on OEM or recommended parts/materials (I did a couple of searches on this topic .... with no specific info returned). I was able to find Beru as the recommended spark wiring provider but how about: 1. spark plugs, 2. rotor, 3. distributor cap, 4. fuel,air, and oil filters, 7. ATF, steering, brake fluids, 8. engine and rear axle oil, 9. coolant 10. lubrucant for linkage and hinges.
Pretty basic stuff .... promise I won't ask again :-) Thanks!

John Burke,

I joined the Mercedes-Benz Club of America and enjoy a 20 to 30% discount on parts and labor at the local dealer. This makes them very competitive on most parts, so I buy things like ignition parts and gaskets and filters from them. That way I get the OEM stuff and do not worry about it.

I use the recommended lubricant ratings but use only synthetic oils. I have done this since I noticed Mobil 1 on the shelves in the mid 1970's. I use the recommended 0W-40 Mobil 1 in the engine on my gas cars, and Mobil Delvac 1 5W-40 for my Diesels in Winter and 15W-50 Mobil 1 in the summer.

I use Redline transmission lubes for the manual transmissions (have not changed the auto fluid yet as the job was done when I got the car a few months ago, by the dealer) and Redline high shock gear oil in the differentials.

I use MB radiator fluid from the dealer, as well as the MB fluid for self leveling system as I could not find a synthetic version anywhere by Mobil or Redline that I was sure was the right stuff.

Well, that is one solution for buying parts you have confidence in and I am sure many others have their own sources and methods that also work. Good luck, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Jim Smith,

I mean no disrespect, but the MBCA discount of 20-30 % is peanuts compared with the savings you can find at any of the web based vendors who usually participate in this list. Not to mention FASTLANE! I usually save about 50% on major parts like water pumps, belt tensioners, motor mounts, etc...

Also, given the nitages of your cars, you're as likely to find a mechanic with experience on your specific model at an independent MB shop as you are at the dealer, again for much less.

I'm not trying to sell anything to anyone. I just saw a line extoling the economies of working with a dealer and had to throw my $.02 in to the mix.

someguyfromMaryland

someguyfrommaryland,

I am not really interested in donating to the local dealer either, but I have found my particular dealer to be very competitive with the MBCA discount. I always check Fastlane and a few other places but when you count in shipping on the smaller stuff the dealer wins out. For example, motor mounts are cheaper from the dealer, but the starter for the 1982 240D was better priced from the Fastlane site. I always buy filters from the dealer, since he always stocks the filters I use, and the differences are ususally less than fifty cents. So, maybe I have a better dealer than most, and I know I get along well with the parts department guys having known them since they started working there, but I would not blow the significance of the MBCA discount off. It surely is better than nothing and in many cases makes the parts affordable from the dealer. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

There is one thing that comes into play!! There are OE parts & like OE parts & they AREN'T the same at all. OE parts are what MB dealers sell & aftermarket companies also sell in the original OE manufactures box. THERE are many knock-off parts that aren't even OE. IF the box says Bosch you might think that you are getting OE, but even Bosch has "second" line quality parts!
IF you want OE quality you "shouldn't" be able to buy that part for 50% less than most dealers quote!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Well let me add my .02 worth to this thread . I buy a great many parts for the Old MB I own plus the ones I work on for friends. It has been my experience that unless you know the parts manager at the Dealer really well they will not give you any kind of discount on the parts that you by from them. Just recently I needed a needed a Harmonic Balancer for my 240D. This is not a part that most MB part sellers carry so my 1st call was to the local MB dealer. I have dealt with this dealer before and bought the same part from them less than 3 years ago. Well the the price that they gave me was $ 75.00 higher than the last one. After that quote my next e-mail went to Phillip here at Parts Shop. He not only answered my e-mail in less than an hour on a sunday, his quote beat the dealers price by at least $ 55.00. When I received the part it had the MB casting mark just like the original one did and it was in the original MB box. I think most MB dealers think that everbody that owns a MB makes $ 200,000 a year so they can charge what they want to. With that in mind I will always shop out the parts that I need from all the good aftermarket suppliers that I have come into contac with.

I think it is safe to say that Jim Smith gets an exceptionally good deal at his MB dealer, but that most of the dealers I've heard of only offer 10% off list for MBCA cards. The one in Annapolis MD (since changed owners) used to give you the "look" when you asked for the discount. That dealership fancies itself as rather trendy, being in Annapolis, and was never competitive with other DC area dealers on price, IMHO.

If you can get competitive prices from a dealer, you're obviously better off due to the contact with the service dept you can maintain. Although if you own older models, some dealers don't have the depth of experience you can find in the independent shops.

I think this is because the older cars are seen less in the dealers and the independents are populated usually with former MB mechanix who were trained on the older models when they worked for MB. Just my opinion, but it is consistent with my experiences.

someguyfromMaryland

Be careful about judging the deal you are getting based on the dealer discount from "list" price also. It appears that Mercedes doesn't require their dealers to follow the suggested list price on parts. A few years ago I discovered that our previous local MB dealer was charging 110% of list for their parts. Some dealers might be starting with an even more inflated list price. I discovered this last summer when I called a number of Mercedes dealers looking for a carpeted trunk mat. The difference in price quotes was huge for that item.

20-30-% off is relative. Where to get the best price is almost a science. One of my local dealers wanted $115 for a set of OEM Mercedes floormats for my TD, that's with my MBCA 10% discount. Yet a dealer in Maryland (found through "The Star") was selling them for $78. Even with shipping it was still cheaper to get them through them. They mentioned to me that the "list" price was $106, so obviously this local dealer was making a killing profit on their prices. I suppose it didn't help that it was Princeton ($$$)Mercedes.
BTW this same Maryland dealer was able to get floormats for my neighbor's 1980 300SD, for the same price. This is a chassis MB stopped making in 1980. I called a local Ford dealer to see if floormats were still available for a '93 Taurus (used to own one), they said no, only 1996 and newer and they were $70. Chalk one more up for Mercedes-Benz product support.

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

Hey guys, I agree with all that has been said, and would advise everyone to understand the quality of the parts they buy, and then the relative price for that quality part from a variety of sources. I have to add 6% sales tax to my parts cost from the dealer, but write off the 35 mile round trip cost as an entertainment expense as I always peruse the lot for interesting new and, newly available used, cars. On the phone or internet orders I always add the delivered to my door costs. As I noted earlier, for the same quality parts the price often favors the dealer when the discount for MBCA is factored in, but not always. Then, I have to consider if I need it right now, or if I need it for next weekend, and how much I am willing to pay for the added convenience of being able to get the part "right now" from the dealer. As far as having a reasonable stock of parts for the older W123 car, I guess I really have a good dealer as he maintains a very good inventory of routine parts, and can get just about anything I have asked for in two days.

The dealer also services the old cars as well, but usually only for the people that originally bought the cars. Around New England it is not that peculiar to have a swamp Yankee keep a car he/she paid a premium for in top shape and until it is really worn out. So, W123's do not make the bulk of the cars in service bays at this dealer, but there is always at least one in there, and one or two of the older "S" bodies from the 60's.

I have yet to feel abused by the dealer and I guess that seems to be rare. I can not understand how a business as vulnerable as the automobile business, and the premium market at that, can afford to drive away customers by attitude and poor business practices.

Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)