Gray market car??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

stcbenz83 · #1 07-21-2006, 02:17 PM

so i went to the MB dealer by my house to get a replacment key, yes i know its dumb to pay 30$ but i just cant find anywere that can make a copy of my key, anyways, i went there gave them my title and such and left, the lady called me when i hadnt even left the stealership. said that they had a problem. i went in there and they asked if i had a "gray" market car. i had no clue what that was but she told me it was a Euro modle i said yes, and i was on my way. long story short, i had to give them the original bill of sale so they could fax it to mercedes, b/c they could not find my car anywere in there recoreds, this isnt the first time this has happened, try waiting 6 months to get your title. what the heck is going on here

Mistel · #2 07-21-2006, 02:33 PM

FWIW, I got keys for my 85 Euro model here in Canada with no problem, from the stealership. It had been imported and used in the US, by the PO, but he could not resell it as it did not meet DOT regs. I bought it and shipped it here to Canada.

jshadows · #3 07-21-2006, 02:38 PM

My stealership in NOLA said greys have to get their keys directly from the Fatherland. Nothing they could deal with directly being MBUSA.

stcbenz83 · #4 07-21-2006, 03:45 PM

thats what tey said, they said they would have to call mercedes direct

300SDog · #5 07-21-2006, 03:53 PM

Reminds me of somebody I read about a couple of months ago, has a w123 230E........ The 230E does NOT exist on any USA database, there are zero parts numbers listed or catalogued for this car. Mechanics wont go near it, even the engine tune-up specs are N/A. The poor bastard didnt know what to do, advice he got was to rely on later model parts numbers and specs for 4cyl gasoline fuelies used in the 190d.

F18 · #6 07-21-2006, 03:58 PM

Unfortunatley the vin number/ key code data is only stored by the country in which the car was retailed. Some of this is to through up a barrier on high end stolen vehicles that are shipped out to other countries....not much of barrier!...but enough that it might show up as a blip on someones radar if someone at some point tried to get replacement keys or lock cylinder for a stolen MB. International shipment of stolen vehicles is huge!!!!Probably bigger than the Gray Market....

miner · #7 07-21-2006, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stcbenz83

so i went to the MB dealer by my house to get a replacment key, yes i know its dumb to pay 30$ but i just cant find anywere that can make a copy of my key, anyways, i went there gave them my title and such and left, the lady called me when i hadnt even left the stealership.

The Ilco blank is x82 / MB41. This is for early 80's 123s at the very least. Don't know what your car is, though. I am sure that if a key place doesn't actually have that blank they can get it very quickly and cheaply. At least, much quicker and much cheaper than the dealer.

miner · #8 07-21-2006, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240DieselDog

Reminds me of somebody I read about a couple of months ago, has a w123 230E........ The 230E does NOT exist on any USA database, there are zero parts numbers listed or catalogued for this car. Mechanics wont go near it, even the engine tune-up specs are N/A. The poor bastard didnt know what to do, advice he got was to rely on later model parts numbers and specs for 4cyl gasoline fuelies used in the 190d.

I saw one of those in a parking lot just the other day. It was neon green and rusty. I felt a little sorry for the owner. Now having read this I feel really sorry for him.

Stevo · #9 07-21-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240DieselDog

The poor bastard didnt know what to do, advice he got was to rely on later model parts numbers and specs for 4cyl gasoline fuelies used in the 190d.

I've been wondering for some years why the PO sold me that "85' Euro, 240 so cheap, musta figured he was unloading a "dog" on me, no pun intended

Although there is no "85" 240D listed in any insurance or DMV records the problem was solved be simply renaming it a 300D, problem solved

Palangi · #10 07-21-2006, 10:48 PM

I had no problem ordering a key for my 123 Euro. Local dealer had it for me in 2 days.

brabus · #11 07-22-2006, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

I had no problem ordering a key for my 123 Euro. Local dealer had it for me in 2 days.

us DFW guys are real lucky there is some sort of major MB part storage place i think in Arlington or FT Worth, so they have nearly every part to us within 2 days.

Palangi · #12 07-22-2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brabus

us DFW guys are real lucky there is some sort of major MB part storage place i think in Arlington or FT Worth, so they have nearly every part to us within 2 days.

Agreed.

The fact that one dealer parts guy can order it means that any dealer parts guy can order it. Some of them just can't be bothered looking up obscure part numbers for old cars they didn't sell.

300SDog · #13 07-22-2006, 12:54 PM

Yeah but the prob can be at the warehouse instead of the dealership. All regional warehouses might not be as resourceful as what y'all got in Texas.

stcbenz83 · #14 07-22-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240DieselDog

Yeah but the prob can be at the warehouse instead of the dealership. All regional warehouses might not be as resourceful as what y'all got in Texas.

yea, the lady searched in front of me on the computer, and she said she had to call down to "TEXAS" and they told her to call MB direct

Diesel Giant · #15 07-22-2006, 06:34 PM

Did you loose your key or just getting a replacement? Why dont you just go to a lock smith if you just need a replacement?