Awhile back, I got a new aftermarket hood star from my local indie MB parts-place for a friend's '72 W115 220. (No country of origin on the bag)
But after a few years the chrome blistered and peeled, then the pot-metal crumbled and snapped off.
So when I needed a new star for my '82 W123 240D, I got one for $34 from my local Mercedes dealer.
(Made in Turkey by the way!)
Next time I stopped at my indie MB parts-place for something, there was that exact same box and 'Made in Turkey' hood star, waiting on the counter for another customer - for about $10 less than I paid!
Oh well....

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

W126 Front left master window switch.

Said made in Africa on the side.
Failed after three days.
While removing, all of the plastic crumbled to dust, the mess required a vacuum cleaner.

.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
https://whunter.carrd.co/

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

New or used? If new, what was the source of the no-brand switch?

The cheapest internet vendor he could find.
I think he said $9.00 for the new window switch.

.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
https://whunter.carrd.co/

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

"Oh well, indeed".......if you (generic you) attempted to even get through 3 hours of one day w/o what is Made in China, well......you wouldn't. It's a worldwide/global goods marketplace, and something that is not worth fighting.

The fact of the matter is, that it would be hard to leave your homes clothed, w/o goods Made in Asian countries.

Them be the facts folks.

These days, I'm usually happy if I can find something that ISN'T made in China!

I just hope, regardless of where it's made, the 240D star I got from Mercedes doesn't peel and crumble after a few years, like that aftermarket one I got for my friend.
I would've gotten one from Mercedes for his '72 220, but they claimed that star is no longer availible separately. Only with the dummy radiator-cap - for more than double what I paid Mercedes for the W123 version.

I wound up giving my friend an extra OE star I'd scavenged from a salvage-yard W114. It'll probably outlast his car, if some dirtbag doesn't rip it off. Which is what happened to his original.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

Since the title to the thread isn`t MB specific.

I needed to replace a bearing in my 5-spd manual gear box in the 82 Datsun 720 Pick UP. placing a 3/8" extension to the shift knob and my ear, in each gear confirmed it was coming from the transmission. It is usually the front mains shaft bearing or the front Counter shaft bearings that falls apart on these trans.

I have another spare trans I decided to replace the bearings in it first to speed up the R&R. ordered the bearings from Santa Cruz auto parts, which is now part of CARQUEST. I gave them the part# off the bearings, and actually got Japanese bearings. Nachi is the original bearing used in these trans, which is a Japanese bearing. these all came to $71.
They couldn`t cross reference the Counter shaft bearings, so had to get it from the dealer at $42.

I found another problem with this trans, and will get to it later, but had already pressed on the bearings.


Finally pulled the eng and trans, took the trans apart, ordered new bearings, and this time they were all Chinese bearings. came to $80. first parts guy gave me one of the bearings for a better price.
If you see National on a bearing, it is a Chicom bearing.

I decided to do some Googling to see what was out there. finally found a place in SO/Cal, www.vxp.com that is a dealer for the Nachi bearings. front main shaft, rear shaft and rear Counter shaft bearing with shipping was $33. I already had ordered a second front Counter Shaft bearing from the dealer, $42, and on this site, same bearing was $12.88.

Nachi 6204 $7.77 Chicom 204 $18.69 list $40.99
Nachi 6205 $8.95 Chicom 205 $18.67 list $40.49
Nachi 6306 $16.88 Chicom 306L $42.94 list $93.49

Trans/eng is back in and made a 1800 mile trip to Portland, Or and back and runs as smooth as Butter.

Hope this helps one of you with a Nissan or maybe a Toyota manual gear box as to a good supplier.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Charlie,
They are very standard bearings. Any good bearing place should have them. Nachi is now a good bearing. National are junk.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving