Current availability of W124 parts: MBCC says "impossible"!

[550Maranello]

Hello,

I have been told by Tom Hanson and the current people at the MB Classic Center in Irvine that 124 parts are impossible to find.

I am considering a W124 and would like to know members' opinions.

Best regards,

 

[gsxr]

I have been told by Tom Hanson and the current people at the MB Classic Center in Irvine that 124 parts are impossible to find.

I am considering a W124 and would like to know members' opinions.

This very much depends WHAT specific parts you need. Many parts are still available either from Mercedes, or aftermarket sources.

Some items are NLA but an equivalent could be fabricated, although it may come with substantial cost. For example, bumpers and fender mouldings are NLA but duplicates could be fabricated from various materials.

Some items are NLA with no functional equivalent available, for example 500E-specific headlights/lenses.

 

[r44raven]

Some items are NLA with no functional equivalent available, for example 500E-specific headlights/lenses.

Rather than frightening a potential 036 owner away, I'm just wondering if it would be fair to point out that, whilst it might not suit a "purist" 036 owner, there is always an escape route for someone who needs headlamps/lens for their E500E? A pair of "pedestrian" W124 units would at least keep their car on the road?

 

[TimL]

It really depends on how particular you want to be with the car. If you want the car to have an excellent mechanical and cosmetic condition then be prepared for a very challenging ownership experience that will include NLA part hunting and part hoarding and the nagging feeling that you might never get it there.

If you don't care about cosmetics and for mechanical bits are ok with accepting some non OEM parts then ownership will be far less challenging.

If I had to do it again, I would not get a 90s MB and certainly not a 036. Parts have gotten too damn difficult to own AND drive these

 

[550Maranello]

Got the picture guys!

 

[r44raven]

Re-reading the original post, I'm wondering if the question raised related to W124's generally, or specifically to 036's? I have no experience of spares availability for the W124 range generally, but would it be correct to say that parts for non-036's are much more readily available?

 

[gsxr]

Rather than frightening a potential 036 owner away, I'm just wondering if it would be fair to point out that, whilst it might not suit a "purist" 036 owner, there is always an escape route for someone who needs headlamps/lens for their E500E? A pair of "pedestrian" W124 units would at least keep their car on the road?

Fair point! Standard lights are indeed available. I'm open to other examples. Maybe the seat cushions (horsehair pads) is a better example...

Also, IIRC the OP has owned a 500E or two in the past. He's one of the OG's here, user #15!!

Re-reading the original post, I'm wondering if the question raised related to W124's generally, or specifically to 036's? I have no experience of spares availability for the W124 range generally, but would it be correct to say that parts for non-036's are much more readily available?

Availability is better for non-036's. Most of the NLA stuff is a nuisance, not a dealbreaker. And as Tim noted above, there's a difference between keeping a car on the road that's fun to drive, vs restoring to original, concours condition where replica parts would not be preferred.

 

[maw1124]

Got the picture guys!

Don't do it Horacio... Not now... You may like the ownership experience now even less than you did before... fewer parts + fewer people to install them + labor rates through every roof.

I trust you've been well.

Cheers,

maw

 

[chicky]

Hello,

I have been told by Tom Hanson and the current people at the MB Classic Center in Irvine that 124 parts are impossible to find.

I am considering a W124 and would like to know members' opinions.

Best regards,

Hello 550Maranello

Your post today caught my attention ... as Tom Hanson has retired since about 2+ years ago and currently MB Classic Center has since moved to Long Beach Calif ...

Just for info ...

 

[550Maranello]

Tom is still active with what is going on at the MB Classic Center and he has been a dear friend of mine for a long time. I wrote Irvine but if it is in Long Beach who cares?