Engine spare parts.

[Druk]

Went into Merc today to pick-up assorted engine bits and bobs, gaskets mainly, but also filters and some O rings. Some of the parts came in triplicate and when questioned the stores guy said that's the way 'they're' doing it now. So: if you want a water pump gasket for a W210 you can have one but if it's the oil filter to block gasket you have to take three as do seals for the cap on a W124 power steering pump. Apparently the older the car the more the amount. If it's the windscreen top seals for an R107 they now come in packs of ten despite the car only needing two. And some specially sized rivets are in packs of 100 when you might be needing four to do the job.

New Merc policy I was told.

 

[Harrythedog]

Looks like Ebay will be busy then Druk

 

[franey]

It should not be like that, other dealers will sell individual parts to you, its just the way 'they' have to purchase them, and it sounds like they do not want to put the remainder into stock.
Give me a nod if you get stuck, I have some of those items on the shelf sold singly singley singularly, or one at a time!

 

[Druk]

I've always had single parts from my dealer but they're telling me things have changed. Earlier this year they were quite happy to sell me individual seals for the 107 front soft-top. Now they're telling me they come in packs of ten and cos of the likelyhood that they wouldn't sell too many of them they're passing this policy on. They did agree to split the pack of oil filter gaskets.

 

[SilverSaloon]

i ordered up some small obscure clips, trim parts for my new W124 estate. some of those came in packs of 10 but the parts guy was happy to split it. I guess it all depends on what the item is.

Do you go to Newbridge or willobrae Derek?

 

[ecossebev]

We had the same policy when l worked in Rover parts. If you wanted anything that were bought in, in packs of 10/100, you had to buy the whole pack. Parts manager said he didn't want the bins full of stuff we would never sell again. It deterred a lot of people from buying from us and caused a few arguments at the front counter.

 

[grober]

Having said that I would venture that MERCEDES are pretty good at still supplying parts [ in packs of 10 or otherwise] for their older models. Many manufacturers simply don't bother, meaning second hand parts or specialist retro manufacturers are your only source.

 

[andy27168]

Hi
To me this sounds like their trying to pull a fast one, it would Interesting if MB UK know what they are doing.
I have had some items I have ordered from MB, and the parts guy has thrown in the rest of the pack for nothing.
I bought some vacuum pipe to repair my Orthopedic seats, only wanted about 6 inches of it, if that, but they said I had to order a metre, went ahead and ordered it picked it up and my 1 metre had morphed into 5, their min order was 5, they just gave me the whole lot not worth their while putting it into stock.
Surely if a dealer takes on a franchise, and part of that franchise is to supply spare parts are they not obliged to supply said parts IAW MB's instruction? In the case of my vacuum pipe the EPC said per metre quite clearly.
I find it very hard to believe MB would condone a dealer trying to sell a customer 10 items when the car only needs 2, and the customer may only require 1 of them.