I like to cruise through the threads here and see if I can either learn from the experience here or offer help to someone on a topic that I know about. It has become apparent that there are a lot of people on here that use E Bay for parts and tools and buy no name parts. When I read these threads and see how much people pay for these parts and tools it amazes me that they are not much cheaper and oftentimes MORE expensive than buying a REAL german part or a part from the dealer. Why is that? Usually the original part has lasted 15 years or more and MANY thousands of miles before failure. Why then would someone want to put an Autozone, chinese cheap part in as a replacement? Good example is a Behr radiator. If you use MB coolant and replace and flush as required, you will get MANY years of life from the original. If you cheap out and buy Prestone or whatever, you get a failure. Been documented many times, something about the makeup of the coolant itself. Also, when MB coolant leaks, it leaves a white trail when dry, easy to pinpoint. MB coolant isn't cheap but neither are radiators and mechanics! I just replaced the oil pressure sending unit on my '91 300E. Original has been in there for 18+ years and 189,000 miles. Made by VDO, replacements could be had for as cheap as $35 up to $100. Of course the dealer is about $65, the $35 one is made in China and God only knows how long it will last but I found a VDO online for $58 delivered. Didn't even think of Autozone or PepBoys.
I bought my Benz new and have spent considerable time and money to preserve it in a top running condition. As a result, I have learened many expensive lessons. There is no such thing as a "cheap" mercedes or a "cheap,quick" repair.A cheap Benz will eat your lunch in reapairs if it hasn't been maintained and a cheap,quick repair will always cost you again in time and money, usually at a most inconvenient time!!
Just wanted to hear from others on here what their thoughts are on this subject.