Hello Gentlemen,
I wanted to ask fellow E500Eboard members if they could suggest company/ies (based in USA) where I may be able to buy MB OE parts?
I am planning to "hoard" parts for my R129066/M119960 while they are still available. To be honest, I am concerned that OE and OEM parts are starting to be NLA and that the quality of the OEM parts are "doubtful" at the very least.
The current situation with regards to MB OE and OEM parts here in Manila: there are no companies that stock MB OE parts for my R129.
The region MB OE parts warehouses (Singapore, HK and China) also do not have stock and only order from Germany when needed. OEM
parts are available for parts that are interchangeable with other MB models ... but then again, quality is "doubtful" at the very least.
I hope that I will not be misunderstood/misinterpreted, but I do have 2.5 pages of A4 size paper single spaced list of "nice to have OE parts stock" which will definitely cost $$$$.
Supplier Considerations:
a. I normally buy MB OE parts from Colby@MBClassic Center. I wanted to ask if they can do "volume discounts"? Do they still honor MBUSA
members' discounts? I am not a member, but I think that I might as well if it will give me 15~20% discounts. If MB Classic Center needs
to order parts from MB Germany, I am willing to wait as this will save me money as the "air freight costs" are not passed on by Classic
Center.
NOTES:
a.1 I do have experience buying from FCP Euro (but OE parts are based on MB suggested list pricing).
a.2 Also Pelican Parts and Autohaus AZ, again also same with FCP Euro with regards to prices.
a.3 I did find 2 companies that sell MB OE and accepts PayPal, but only ship to "billing address".
a.4 My freight forwarder accepts my parts shipment, consolidate them into what we Filipinos call " balikbayan boxes". These are shipping
cartons 20"x20"x24" with "no weight limitations and as long as they fit into the cartons", priced about US$70/carton ... ship freight to
Manila "door to door" normally in 45 days.
b. The company/ies hopefully accepts PayPal and willing to ship to a USA address (my freight forwarder in LA 90045, CA), other than
my "PayPal" billing address.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Regards