So, I really went and did it. In order to get a bunch of needed parts for mine and my girlfriend's cars, I ended up buying a pallet full of NOS/NIB OEM parts.

I'm having some trouble cataloging, getting info, and prices on all this stuff. It seems like a good portion of it is NLA or only available through a specialty supplier for ungodly money (that I'd never pay, personally).

Where's the best place to find info on old parts? How do y'all price NOS/NIB stuff? I don't want to go crazy on this stuff like I see on Ebay, I actually want folks to buy it.

I'm not sure what you are talking about. You bought a pallet of parts but don't know what they are? If they have MB part numbers on them you might have a chance at identifying them, but matching them to your car, good luck with that. You should really be buying OEM or equal parts for your car.
Anziani
'97 CL500 150K
'95 E420 130K

NOS New Old Stock is generally considered to be factory original parts, aftermarket parts are generally considered to be NORS New Old Replacement Stock.

Type the numbers into a web search and see what pops up.

On most part numbers, I get just application and a few prices. I'm not totally familiar with what brands are OEM for old Mercs. I know Bilstein is. Most of my engine parts (besides the rings) are KS, which I think is OEM?

Most of the Valve guides are Elco, a lot of chassis parts are Ruville. I'm just not sure on these. I don't usually buy OEM, to be honest.

OK. You might want to look at Peach parts on this forum. (Type on the Mercedes icon at the top) They do a great job of identifying OEM manufacturers when you click on a particular part. They usually give you 2-3 choices.
Anziani

I find typing part numbers into Google without spaces or dashes works well.

How old, are we talking pre 60's?

KS ( in a stylized font ) is Kobelsmidt , this is OE for MB and many other German cars.

I don't know about Elco, but Ruville vaguely sounds familiar.

Did these parts come from an independent shop?

According to their website, Ruville is aftermarket, not OE.
Facts & figures - Ruville

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

I knew KS is Kolbenschmidt, but jeez who wants to type that.

Most of this stuff was ordered in the late 90s through to the 2000s. The parts range from the early 60s to the 90s.

Elco may be aftermarket, but are made in Germany at least. With stuff like piston rings and valve guides, I don't think OEM is really something to get hung up on.

That sucks. Are they a quality aftermarket at least? All the Ruville stuff appears to be German made at least. Might sound weird, but I thought the Ruville boxes looked really OEM-like.

Why not? I would be.

RayH

Get an EPC-subscription. Type in the part number et voila... a list with all models this part was used in.

It's a loaf of bread. Yes, I don't want to see "Made in China" on my parts, but a German made aftermarket is certainly good enough for me. In my experience, with engines/heads, if you have problems after a rebuild, 9/10 times poor workmanship is the problem and not inferior parts.

Oil seals have been the only aftermarket engine part to give me trouble. As in, 9 work great and number 10 is lopsided. That, and things get mislabeled.

Anyway, being OEM does not mean you magically don't have these problems. I have a big box of OEM BMW parts that are factory mislabeled.

as long as they are not URO your ok I have had multiple parts fail labled URO just trying to save money never works especially on these cars

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88 W124 3.0
96 R129 119eng
06 ML350
98 ML320 sold
02 CLK55 amg