What are members doing for NLA parts?
 

Just curious as to what people are doing when they can no longer get a part for their car? I know the EZL connectors are molded and I recently had my larger one break, but I have a few spares that I ended up grabbing a few years ago because I couldn't ever remember seeing them for sell anywhere. Same with the hvac and the little pointer on the belt tensioner for the 103. Over the years I've snagged a few odds and ends from some cars in junkyards if I felt that I may eventually need them, but could not recall ever seeing them online.

Well, unless you have stockpiled new or used parts, or have your own personal salvage yard featuring 100+ parts cars like I have, then you are probably SOL.

Ebay

Ebay if used as most new stuff commie made

It's getting tricky to keep them on the road for sure. Just purchased the 2nd to last water pump available for my 1992 300CE from the dealer. Keep your eyes on the junk yards and scoop up what you can.

The FSM shows that the water pumps can be rebuilt. Actually I believe that almost anything can be rebuilt depending on the state it's in. I am in the process of doing most of the electrical connectors and wiring. I purchased several spools of wire in different colors and gauges, connectors, fuses, relays, etc. Pretty much everything to rewire a car. Most of the old style bullet connectors will be upgraded to something that is readily available i.e., spade terminals etc., so finding a part won't be difficult. I like the European fuses so I bought a case of those as well as a box of atc fuses. Ideally, if I could use a 3D printer or make a mold then that would be best for the hard to source stuff.

I think the harder the parts become to obtain, the more valuable the vehicles whose owners have successfully managed to keep them on the road and running well will become.
Also, the more NLA's there are, the craftier those of us who want to keep our companions in top nick & driving well will become. Rebuilding water pumps, part substitution or fabrication (as we had to do with the Catalytic Converter for one of my 300SE as they were showing as NLA here in Australia), refurbishment where suitable and eventually straight out cannibalism as the well cared for vehicles become that much more valuable than their poorly maintained brethren that it becomes viable to sacrifice a whole vehicle for a few rare parts.

This is why my next vintage Mercedes will be older from the 70's or 60's. The older cars are pre plastic you can repair metal parts. Wood trim can be refinished, chrome trim can be redone etc. They have basic electrical systems that can be rewired, etc.

Front brakes for W108's are NLA its only a matter of time before a Wilwood conversion or something becomes available.

Anything newer then 2000 is going to be SOL in the next decade. To much plastic, and to much specialist knowledge and parts required to keep them road worthy.