The reason MB's great , long term parts support is it's own worst enemy
 

The reason MB's great , long term parts support is it's own worst enemy

I just read this thread

https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/378833-aftermarket-options-w123-sls-struts-mb-parts-no-longer-available.html

and have figured out why the great parts support MB offers actually makes those with 35 + year old cars irate when a part goes NLA decades after the car was last produced.

With any other car, parts support starts to fade about 7 years after the model was last produced however, if a part is used on a newer model it still stays in the system. By 12 ish years it is accepted that parts support will be drying up at a rapid rate.

Since MB offers support for even 20 year old cars, some unrealistically have become accustomed to expect the ride to last forever. See the OP in the referenced link and the voice of reason in post 4 .

Having parts go NLA at the factory / dealer level is further advanced by those that think the factory / dealers are evil / greedy and refuse to buy parts from them. If these groups are actually greedy, then why are they not still producing replacement parts allegedly in demand?

Some may say that making parts NLA for a 35 + year old car a tactic to force these car owners into the showroom to buy a brand new car. I really doubt the number of people that buy a new MB every 35 years is of any significance.

There is a reason that a not so old MB will take a dramatic loss in resale value. The new / 4 year old buyer - leaser is the primary market and after than it is limited to enthusiasts / those willing to take the risk of an expensive failure.

Longevity is part of the appeal. And given world wide distribution and aftermarket parts availibility, why not ?

Why Not ?
 

Because first and foremost the business is to MAKE MONEY not to keep us old car nutters happy.....

Sad but true , deal with it .

It is what it is, I just wish car makers would build something I'd actually want to buy new. Until then, I'll keep driving the old ones. It's the pain of being in the minority.

I'm with you .

You could be in a worse boat : I still own and love 1959 VW, Nash Metropolitan , 1960 Morris Minor, my shop truck is a 1969 Chevy, my newest running Motocycle is a 1975 BMW and I mostly ride my 1970 Honda Tiddler ~ go figure, I'm a nutter and that's fine with me .

Read a skimpy article in a car mag that Daimler has purchased three 3d printers. The purpose is to begin the process for some NLA parts. First off the printer are sunroof parts. The article had did not say for which vehicle or even which part. So maybe requesting the parts at the Classic Center will help in the future.

When I bought a 1970 6.3 in 1973, I was told that Mercedes kept the original wood stock that was on my dash for future replacement. Never knew if that was true or not. But I pretty much guarantee that MB does not do that today.

With that in mind, you could in theory design your own NLA parts with relative ease.

An industrial drawing class at a local community college would pay dividends. With services like Xometry, you can get single run recreations of pretty much anything. Hell you can over engineer your parts to the umpteenth degree.

In another recent thread, someone posted a link to a part request form at the Classic Center.

I hope that only people whom are willing to pay the $ put in requests and not those that want parts at a discount or stuff the ballot box thinking they are helping the cause.

There are a few list members that have remade parts only to be peppered with " That is too expensive " , I want to trade parts " ( that the seller can't use.) or some other excuse.

If this came from a salesman I'd consider it a bit of hype.

What is the definition of " . . kept the original wood stock that was on my dash . . ." ?

The next layer of veneer so it is a close match? ( a spare VIN matched piece for every car? I doubt it as this would be horribly expensive for a mass produced car built to a price point. )

The same type of wood? ( Very likely as the cars / methods were still in production 3 years on. )

I would not think that a modern MB would have a wood supply any different than in years gone by.

Learn to use Autodesk Inventor.

This is a silly powerful 3d drawing package that can be used on a very elemental level. I've taught building maintenance guys at old work how to use it for when they want to make some sort of bracket. Much faster than drawing by hand and changes are instantly rendered.

There is also a sheet metal add on where you can draw a part in 3d then flatten it out for cutting / bending.

Having a few VW's where some parts are NLA, I have always been amazed at MB parts availability.
Standing at a VW swap meet listening to some cheap ass trying to bargin on a 4$ item has often made me simply pull 4 singles out, pick up the item and hand over the cash. I get wanting a good deal, but for fox sake, don't be stupid.
My FLAPS has been great at getting me odd bits for all the MB's, as he has a great relationship with all the local dealers, and often sources parts from Germany, putting several folks needs into one order to save on shipping. It's all hobby cars, except me with the daily driver.
Pay more for NOS rather than a poor reproduction that requires you torture yourself to fit? You bet. In a heartbeat. So many projects, so little time.
The MB's gone away are because of New England Rustosis, a particular strain of tinworm. Not from NLA parts.

OEM Parts
 

Just so ~ in the 1970's I began restoring Split Window VW Beetles and was pleased to discover they could still order in the rubber grommets window tracks and other common high mileage items many claimed were not available .

VW's were inexpen$ive cars when new, not to be surprised their enthusiasts with tight fisted when up fixing them decades later .