E500E & 400E420 Lower Radiator Hose from MB - NLA reversed?

[gerryvz]

Moderator edit: The MB Classic website (link) has been updated, and once again shows this part number as available. Thread title updated.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the factory MB lower radiator hose is now officially NLA from MB.

Part number is 124 501 61 82.

This hose is available as an aftermarket part, but they are Chinese-made and of horrible quality - they leak right out of the package.

As a spare, I got the very last LRH in the US & Germany
It is available for sale, EUR 5.000—

I am hoping, given the latest production of this hose was in early 2024, that MB commissions another production run of them. This is not a hose that often goes out, but unfortnately if and when it does (it is a rubber part, after all), it's imperative that a quality part is installed to avoid cooling system problems and potential overheating.

 

[gerryvz]

Paragon check (MB internal parts system) is showing part number 124-501-61-82 is still showing 2 in FONTANA CA, and 49 in GERMANY.

May want to order a spare -- as said although this hose does not go out often, and lasts a long time, it is a rubber part, and if you have never changed yours, you may want to have one on hand. (Or two or three if you are the @gsxr, and two if you are the @Jlaa). Also FYI to @TimL for parts stash.

As for mine, still EUR 5.000—

 

[TimL]

Thank you for the heads up, Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

Here is the actual availability screen from Part-b-gone.....as of right now.

Note the price reduction in red text at the bottom of the screen. This is a typical precursor to NLA status with no further production planned in the future. AKA it means when current stock is gone, all stock is gone.

 

[TerryA]

I glad that I replaced that hose albeit it was a long time ago.

 

[emerydc8]

it’s still coming up as unavailable from the usual dealers.

Over the years I used to replace these hoses quite often. I didn’t know they could potentially last 10-20 years or longer. I started saving them because they seemed to be in good shape. As a result I have a collection of probably 6-8 of these replaced hoses. Most have only been used for two or three years. Assuming there are actually 49 in the Homeland, I’m wondering if I should stock up. How can you order when it says Currently Unavailable? Is there a secret GVZ drop-down menu?

 

[gsxr]

it’s still coming up as unavailable from the usual dealers.

Jon, this is a misleading message from the RevParts dealers. "Currently unavailable" roughly means "we don't want to order any from Germany". This is NOT the same as "Discontinued".

Over the years I used to replace these hoses quite often. I didn’t know they could potentially last 10-20 years or longer. I started saving them because they seemed to be in good shape. As a result I have a collection of probably 6-8 of these replaced hoses. Most have only been used for two or three years. Assuming there are actually 49 in the Homeland, I’m wondering if I should stock up.

Your collection of used ones could supplement your retirement a few years from now!

How can you order when it says Currently Unavailable? Is there a secret GVZ drop-down menu?

You have to contact a live person at your favorite online dealer, OR buy from a local dealership. Another option is to buy from a vendor that will order it for you, for example Pelican Parts shows it for ~$90 plus S&H. Note that MSRP is $94 and that a discount dealer should have it for $70-$75.

 

[gerryvz]

it’s still coming up as unavailable from the usual dealers.

Is there a secret GVZ drop-down menu?

That was only for shipping, and only at the parts.com web site.

You can send Eddie Alexander (parts@getmercedesparts.com or ealexander@mileone.com) at MB Annapolis an email and let him know you would like to place an internet order for the hose part number, but the catalog says it is NLA. Feel free to use my name to reference his and my conversation that it IS available. He can provide you instructions as to ordering.

He can probably force their catalog to show it is available, and allow orders to proceed for that part number. Don't wait though -- the existence of this thread over the past 24 hours probably means that many of the parts that have been shown as available, have been ordered by other folks..... Things here tend to go fast when an NLA alert is posted for a specific part.

I'll be heading over there again later today, and will ask him for a paragon check to see how many parts are left from yesterday...

 

[gerryvz]

I glad that I replaced that hose albeit it was a long time ago.

Generally speaking, replacing this lower radiator hose is a "once in an ownership" type of deal. That said, as a rubber part, it does naturally age due to heat, exposure and such, and is a good idea to replace at least every 20-25 years. Upper radiator hoses should be replaced with much more frequency as they tend to fail much sooner.

 

[emerydc8]

That was only for shipping, and only at the parts.com web site.

Those were good days—before everything went to $@it.

I checked some of my old hoses and they all look and feel pretty good. I can’t find a date stamp on them. None has the dual-line format preceding the date like your pic. I think I’d still buy some new hoses if they were available and not €5000. Thanks for looking further into this.

 

[MercEdi]

Picked one up today, date code indicates 05.12.2024. If the production date is so recent, how can this go NLA?

 

[gsxr]

Picked one up today, date code indicates 05.12.2024. If the production date is so recent, how can this go NLA?

Hmmm. That is interesting info.

There's a faint possibility that the MB Classic site (link) is wrong. If so, it may be corrected in coming months. I had a similar scare about a year ago with a couple other hoses that showed NLA at MBCC, however my dealer said there was inventory available and no "NLA" codes in Paragon. Months later, MBCC updated to "available" and today there's no availability issues with those particular hoses. It's possible that could happen here as well.

 

[gerryvz]

It is also possible that this could be a "final" production run for this hose. Remember that last week my local dealer said there was very minor stock in the US and 49 hoses in German warehouses. This could be (potentially) final stock, or perhaps even another production run is going to happen in the future.

My original "alert" regarding this item was because MB Classic Parts **AND** the US "RevParts" catalogs are showing NLA status. MB Classic Parts is generally the most reliable indicator of NLA status.

That being said, by no means is it absolute, and I have, over the past couple of years, definitely seen a number of other seemingly "forever NLA parts" come back into availability for both the 124 and 126 chassis. Even a few for the older 463 G-wagens.

I think what tends to be more of a "final death knell" for a parts, meaning it will never be available from MB again, is when its descriptor on the MB Classic Parts web site says that it is not slated for production in the future.

For this particular hose, (see my first post above), it definitely says that you can "ping" MB to check whether a remanufacture could be performed. This, at least to me, is a small ray of light in the almost-closed NLA door.

 

[gsxr]

Rev Parts status is unreliable, to put it mildly. Also, the new "Currently Unavailable" status on the Rev Parts platform is very confusing, and does NOT mean "NLA / Discontinued".

The MB Classic website is more reliable than Rev Parts but I've still found errors, as described in my previous post. Note there is only one "NLA" status message on MBCC. The "ping MB" link is present on all NLA parts.

Paragon is the best, most reliable source of information but requires talking to a live person at a dealership, and the person needs to understand the codes displayed in Paragon (if any) for a given part number.

 

[captruff]

I have an extra hose if someone needs.

$140.00 delivered to lower 48 by USPS Priority Mail...payment via Paypal

Jeff

 

[gerryvz]

Interestingly, the hose is showing now on the RevParts sites as being available again:

Hose - 1992-1993 Mercedes-Benz (124-501-61-82) | Get Mercedes Parts

1992-1993 Mercedes-Benz Hose 124-501-61-82

www.getmercedesparts.com

Although MB Classic Parts still says NLA:

 

[Kridre]

Here also shows as available.

Schlauch | A1245016182

Mercedes-Benz Originalteil SCHLAUCH - A1245016182Teileart: Verschleissteile/ Kuehlerschlaeuche

originalteile.mercedes-benz.de

 

[emerydc8]

Paragon check (MB internal parts system) is showing part number 124-501-61-82 is still showing 2 in FONTANA CA, and 49 in GERMANY.

May want to order a spare -- as said although this hose does not go out often, and lasts a long time, it is a rubber part, and if you have never changed yours, you may want to have one on hand. (Or two or three if you are the @gsxr, and two if you are the @Jlaa). Also FYI to @TimL for parts stash.

As for mine, still EUR 5.000—

I just got one from MB Laredo, dated 09.01.2024. Maybe it was one of the two left in Fontana according to the tag.

 

[nocfn]

My date is 05-12-2024 and ECS tuning sent it from MB of Akron, OH - 10 minute drive from my Dad who would have paid 30% more over the counter as a walk in. I now have 2 of these.

 

[emerydc8]

It is encouraging to see they were manufacturing W124 parts as late as last month. That would be December and not May the way they date it?

 

[gerryvz]

It is encouraging to see they were manufacturing W124 parts as late as last month. That would be December and not May the way they date it?

That date is January 9th, 2024, on the hose above. (09.01.2024)

05.12.2024 would indeed be December 5, 2024.

Thus, it does look like MB commissioned another production run of this critical part.

 

[gerryvz]

You really only need one spare of these hoses. It's a once in an ownership replacement. Generally they don't fail.

My date is 05-12-2024 and ECS tuning sent it from MB of Akron, OH - 10 minute drive from my Dad who would have paid 30% more over the counter as a walk in. I now have 2 of these.

 

[emerydc8]

You really only need one spare of these hoses. It's a once in an ownership replacement. Generally they don't fail.I

I equivocated on buying one for a month. For $67.20 I couldn't resist the temptation, even though the lower hoses on both my cars are fairly new.

https://www.mbpartsource.com/oem-parts/mercedes-benz-hose-1245016182

 

[nocfn]

Yes and ostensibly I have my 84 year old Dad's E420 that will most likely be on the way to me very soon for sale. He replaced the radiator with a Nissens not long after delivery but those hoses were not changed. (1 for each car)

 

[Jlaa]

I equivocated on buying one for a month. For $67.20 I couldn't resist the temptation, even though the lower hoses on both my cars are fairly new.

https://www.mbpartsource.com/oem-parts/mercedes-benz-hose-1245016182

That's a great price. I paid well over that for a lower radiator hose in late December when I thought supplies were dry.

 

[gerryvz]

It’s never a good idea to buy MB parts on eBay unless there is GUARANTEED no other source.

 

[gsxr]

There's a faint possibility that the MB Classic site (link) is wrong. If so, it may be corrected in coming months. I had a similar scare about a year ago with a couple other hoses that showed NLA at MBCC, however my dealer said there was inventory available and no "NLA" codes in Paragon. Months later, MBCC updated to "available" and today there's no availability issues with those particular hoses. It's possible that could happen here as well.

MB Classic website has reversed itself. Current status is "available".