It ain't an easy way to make a living!

At least at the shop I've used in the past, he doesn't care about you bringing in your own parts but they had better be Original Equipment or you forfeit your right to complain in the event of failure. By the by, any work he has done which involved the replacement of anything has never failed. Good independent mechanics absolutely hate aftermarket parts because they frequently make them look bad due to the shoddy quality.

Really, if you're resorting to professional help with your 20 year-old MB(not a fiscally responsible choice, but that's another discussion altogether) you should appreciate the convenience of not having to source your own parts or deal with availability and shipping times. I think the relatively nominal upcharge for OE parts is OK by me and seems fair all things concerning auto repair considered.

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)