After how amped the parts guy I deal with at my local dealership was when I told him I got a 190SL, I don't think its an MBUSA culture to not like old cars. Mercedes probably has the best support of any car manufacturer for their old cars short of Ferrari. Everything I've needed for my 190SL has been available, and it was all even stocked in the US. Haven't so much as sent an email to the classic center yet.

Everything for my 350SL has also been available quickly and cheap.

Might be worth a complaint, or maybe you need to be more upfront with the service writer. Tell him the car is important to you and it is the car you intend to keep driving.

Sidebar, I hate new VWs, they cost more to maintain than Mercedes. So why not be a snob with the 3 pointed star AND save money. I had a 2001 Passat and a 1999 Cabrio and after paying something like $700 for an alternator for the Passat and getting quoted nearly a $1000 for a throttle body I was done. I also paid more for a low miled USED transmission for the cabrio than I paid for the whole car. I sold them on completely repaired but I was staggered at the part prices I was paying. VW dealerships also won't haggle. My Benz dealer gives me 25% off, vw will sometimes give you a 10% vortex discount .

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i