Genuine Mercedes Parts Are Now Made In China

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Originally Posted by Idle

I can remember looking into a Made in Japan toy car during the fifties and seeing the soup can labels still attached to the metal.

The quality of anything made in Japan during the fifties was a joke. The Occupied Japan stuff was made to standards so much higher that it stood out from the other junk.

Only a few people in Japan understood that the world was their market since no one in Japan had any money. SONY and Honda seemed to pick up on this and during the early 60's almost single handedly turned the impression of Japan's quality levels around.

And don't forget Deming's teachings on quality. Hopefully China will come to understand that high quality is the cheapest thing to produce, for export anyway, in the long run.

Cars from China are coming. Let's hope they don't send rehashed Yugos.

The first Hyundai I remember was cheap junk. It was like a Television with wheels on it. Why is there no such thing as a Classic Hyundai? They are all crushed and recycled or buried in land fills.

Today's Hyundai seems equal to anything American made. Some of the Korean branded cars are actually made in America now... If a car was an appliance to me, like a toaster or a microwave oven, an Asian brand would do just fine. I choose a different mode of transportation with an alternative aesthetic value. Sweat equity is not for everybody...

[optimusprime]

Sorry to have started this topic off but it opens the eye to whats going on in the whole world . England have nothing now in engineering ,we make nothing .And what we did make, the know alls closed it down , or sold it on for a hand full of silver.No steel companys, no coal works, No car companys .England is a nation of shop keepers

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Originally Posted by optimusprime

Sorry to have started this topic off but it opens the eye to whats going on in the whole world . England have nothing now in engineering ,we make nothing .And what we did make, the know alls closed it down , or sold it on for a hand full of silver.No steel companys, no coal works, No car companys .England is a nation of shop keepers

Where do they make the fish and chips? Do you get your Pastees at Gregg's of the Midlands?

The English had an amazing mechanical clock and watch industry.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by pj67coll

I was happy to see my 240D still had a metal oil filler cap on it. Until I replaced the rubber seal and found China stamped under it. Mercedes have flushed their heritage down the toilet as far as I'm concerned.

Theoretically you should be able to get quality stuff made in China, or anywhere for that matter assuming it's made to "Mercedes Standards".

In practice I'm pretty damn sure there's no Mercedes Benz supervisors anywhere along the supply chain/production process in Guandong or wherever the hell the latest low cost production outfit is located.

- Peter.

Pretty certain no 240D ever came with a Chinese oil cap. Suspect yours was replaced by a previous owner. OTOH, I consider the plastic caps Mercedes sells to replace the original metal ones to be junk, no matter where they're made.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[gsxr]

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

Pretty certain no 240D ever came with a Chinese oil cap. Suspect yours was replaced by a previous owner. OTOH, I consider the plastic caps Mercedes sells to replace the original metal ones to be junk, no matter where they're made.

Happy Motoring, Mark

+1.

FWIW, I've had several of the short plastic caps crack, and they may require pliers to remove after being in place a long time. I like the tall-cap version shown below. Current USA dealer MSRP is $9.75 (remember your local dealer likely marks up 10-100% above list for "matrix pricing", aka "because we can". Make sure to only buy from Pelican Parts or you might be banned, or get your entire website banned.

[Squiggle Dog]

Here is an interesting note about the genuine Mercedes crank seal that was made in China. I contacted The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center about this and they informed me that they DO NOT sell any parts made in China, and that this part which I ordered through Pelican Parts as genuine Mercedes is a counterfeit.

[ScooterABC]

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

Here is an interesting note about the genuine Mercedes crank seal that was made in China. I contacted The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center about this and they informed me that they DO NOT sell any parts made in China, and that this part which I ordered through Pelican Parts as genuine Mercedes is a counterfeit.

I would like a second source from Mercedes regarding rather or not the part you posted initially is "counterfeit". If that were the case I would think that Mercedes and Pelican parts would be having a big issue with each other.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

I believe that I have purchased parts from the Classic Center that were made in China.

When we speak to an employee we believe we are speaking to the company. I trust PeachParts when they say that a part is OEM Mercedes that they bought it from a reputable distributor and didn't counterfeit anything.

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

Pretty certain no 240D ever came with a Chinese oil cap. Suspect yours was replaced by a previous owner. OTOH, I consider the plastic caps Mercedes sells to replace the original metal ones to be junk, no matter where they're made.

Happy Motoring, Mark

It was a replacement. I now have a plastic cap on it which at least is sealing properly, for now...

As for the modern reality. Mercedes Benz - or perhaps we should say "Daimler" as MB is apparently merely a marketing brand name now, is a global behemoth which is attempting to compete at all levels of the market in differing ways in almost every country on earth. I believe they no longer care a rats ass about anything other than the bottom line and in that respect are becoming just like any other car outfit in the cess pool of global compettition where the only people who matter are the marketing and cost accounting departments.

I have had parts on my cars with "Mercedes Benz gepfrufte qualitaet" und "Original Erzatstelile" printed on them that came from, Germany, Austria, France, Turkey (junk) South Africa, and Israel. It would not surprise me in the least if they were now sourcing stuff from china, especially given the nauseating spectacle Zetsche and his corporate minions made of themselves at the recent launch of the 2018 S-Class in China, where we discover that one third of all S-classes are now sold there.

I'm reaching the conclusion that Mercedes Benz as a company is in the process of losing interest in it's Heritage outside of PR gimmicks and the kind of products only the super rich can afford.

And, frankly, I doubt there will be much of a reason to buy a new Mercedes Benz in the future compared to many other things on the road.

- Peter.

[Squiggle Dog]

[ScooterABC]

Originally Posted by pj67coll

And, frankly, I doubt there will be much of a reason to buy a new Mercedes Benz in the future compared to many other things on the road.
.

I don't think people buy a new Mercedes. I think they lease one. Because they know it's going to turn to **** within 5 or 10 years.

[97 SL320]

Companies do things to make $ because the shareholders want a return on investment. Got any retirement $ invested in companies? Do you want your investments to do good?

How many here shop at Wall mart? If you answer yes, you are no different than a company sourcing parts from non German companies to get the best pricing. ( I'm not a WM shopper. )

How many here that complain about MB global sourcing will be buying a new MB in the next year? How about in the next 2 years? Ever bought? Companies build what the new retail customer wants and not what the sub prime / 6 owner down the line market wants.

[ScooterABC]

I am also not a WM shopper.

[sloride]

How about the fact that MB would give them the engineering drawings to anything. They are great copiers at best, for now.
I believe I read they commissioned their first aircraft carrier recently.
I also wonder if Boeing outsources any if the critical components for it's aircrafts.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

The ECM in my S600 was manufactured in Spain in 2002. So I am certain that outsourcing is not a recent business strategy for Mercedes. I hope someone can get Wayne Dempsey's attention to address the issue.

I recently bought a double flaring tool from Grainger that broke on the maiden usage. Luckily, the franchise tool truck owner was visiting and sold me a new kit. The Grainger kit includes components sourced globally, kit assembled in the USA. Moreover, I bought bolts that broke at Tractor Supply that were made in China. Why do I look after buying instead of before?