Mercedes Classic re-launches parts for classic cars (incl 124/036)

[Surf Blau]

So as you probably all know very well, Mercedes has a pretty impressive classic car division under its umbrella, which regularly announces the re-launch of old NLA parts. Through the MB club I usually get a notification about this every month or so, and as I look through the list of newly re-launched parts I always wonder how they decided to go with those parts.. Looking through the list this month reveals more and more parts for models like the 203, 211 and 220, all of which are (frighteningly) considered classics (or Youngtimers as they're known in German). This is great news for owners of newly considered classics, but it makes me wonder if the 124 is almost getting too old to be prioritized in these re-launching considerations.. Perhaps we all need to do like someone suggested elsewhere on this forum, to coordinate our efforts into bringing back NLA-parts and all try to order them simultaneously, thus giving the numbers crunchers at MB an incentive to re-launch more stuff for the 036.

Here's the list of parts newly brought back to life - amongst them the front fender for 124s and valve springs for the M119..

 

[emerydc8]

That’s great to hear! There are also many 124.034 owners who need most of the same parts. I don’t know if there are more or less than the .036. Thoughts on who we need to write to? Should we speak through one voice or individually?

 

[stfallet]

The German W124 club is putting quite some effort into getting parts available again.

 

[036]

The German W124 club is putting quite some effort into getting parts available again.

Nobody put as much effort as Bernard Marjanovich. He is in permanent contact with MBC.

 

[R129 UK]

I do wonder what "logic" is being used to select parts to be made available again e.g. what was the criteria initially used to make them NLA in the first place?

Also, unless I'm missing a specific resource somewhere, I find it very difficult to find which parts are actually available and tend to go on anecdotal evidence I read online. I don't want to be pestering my local MB dealer all the time.

Why isn't there a structured list by chassis and subsequent levels showing which parts are available and perhaps a link to click to register an NLA part which is in demand.

@Surf Blau which club are you referring to where you see NLA parts being made available again? I see it in the Gazette which is the UK MB owner's club magazine but I'm not convinced it is exhaustive.

 

[gsxr]

I do wonder what "logic" is being used to select parts to be made available again e.g. what was the criteria initially used to make them NLA in the first place?

Yeah. I have the same questions. I think in general, NLA status tends to be applied when existing inventory is depleted. Then, MB may or may not review recent demand (say, over the past 2-5 years) and also see if the OEM can still produce the part or not. If the OEM has ceased production, MB is much more likely to shrug and say "oh well, bummer" rather than locate and certify a new supplier.

Also, unless I'm missing a specific resource somewhere, I find it very difficult to find which parts are actually available and tend to go on anecdotal evidence I read online. I don't want to be pestering my local MB dealer all the time.

Use the MB Classic web site at this link. If that shows NLA, it's 99% likely the part is actually NLA. I've found errors there before though, so you always need to contact a dealer to confirm there is zero inventory worldwide and the part is permanent NLA. Same when it shows "available", that's 99% accurate, but sometimes there may be zero inventory and none on the way. And, when an NLA part is reproduced and put back into production, you'll have to check again... like with this radiator hose.

Why isn't there a structured list by chassis and subsequent levels showing which parts are available and perhaps a link to click to register an NLA part which is in demand.

Too much work, plus like honey badger, they just don't care. MB is far more interested in selling you a new $100k rolling television screen.

 

[Surf Blau]

I do wonder what "logic" is being used to select parts to be made available again e.g. what was the criteria initially used to make them NLA in the first place?

Also, unless I'm missing a specific resource somewhere, I find it very difficult to find which parts are actually available and tend to go on anecdotal evidence I read online. I don't want to be pestering my local MB dealer all the time.

Why isn't there a structured list by chassis and subsequent levels showing which parts are available and perhaps a link to click to register an NLA part which is in demand.

@Surf Blau which club are you referring to where you see NLA parts being made available again? I see it in the Gazette which is the UK MB owner's club magazine but I'm not convinced it is exhaustive.

This announcement was part of the "new digital Classic Magazine", ie the e-mail version of the recently discontinued wonderful paper magazine, so it's from the central club administration. Mind you, not all MB-clubs are official in Mercedes' eyes, usually there are more clubs in each country (Norway has at least three), but only one is under the official MB umbrella.

And yeah, the logic behind the parts they do decide to bring back is unclear to me. I think @gsxr has a good point in his theory of OEM-suppliers discontinuing parts, but I also think it has a lot to do with storage cost. If a part cost more to store than to manufacture, ie a part spends too much time on their shelves, it has a low possibility to re-appear I think..

Back in the early 2000s I remember buying a new cover for the central armrest in my 1984 W201, complete and in the correct palomino textile, but throughout the 2010s my parents were unable to source a new pacific blue nappa leather cover for the driver seat backrest of their 2003 W211. And nowadays, if you do manage to find interior details, they are often only sold in black (which is why my 036 has a black sunshade clip instead of a grey one)...

 

[gsxr]

YES - I forgot about storage costs. That is another factor, especially for very large items, like bumpers. Imagine how much space it takes to store several hundred .036 bumpers!!! And fenders... etc etc... smaller stuff is less of a concern though, for the oil vapor separator thingy that is currently NLA and causing problems.

 

[szvook]

They should have added a filter for the type of chassis.

 

[bgalakazam]

Fingers crossed for 5th gear switch on I6 5sp auto.

 

[ArauzMotoring]

This was my experience when writing about our plight for under belly pan for our beloved 036…

They will post videos all day about these “young timers” but when it comes to it they don’t actually care

 

[Surf Blau]

As long as marketing is running the show, no. Using the halo cars like for instance the 036, Pagoda and Evo II as a way to bring new customers in makes perfect sense, but having a whole new department taking care of necessary parts is just a cost..