Mercedes in Albania

[Niks]

So I was watching this documentary on Eden channel called Michael Palins New Europe. Theres a part in there where he travels into Albania and one thing he says is "every other car here you see is a Mercedes!". Every scene or footage they shot of the town, you see PLENTY 190E, W124, W123, W210 and W202's all over the place.

I wonder how cheap parts would be there? They're mechanics would know these cars inside out, take it all apart and put it back together again with their eyes closed!

 

[Sp!ke]

I drove my 40,000 mile LWB W123 down as far as Albania - the local taxi drivers were wetting themselves over it.

Not a good place to drive a limo with GB plates though - after the third time someone 'fell' into the path of the car I worked out that it was deliberate and promptly turned back towards Montenegro.

 

[Markedes]

There was a saying when I worked in Kosovo...Welcome to Kosovo your car is here before you...as the majority were stolen having been driven through the Balcans and into Albania as the insurance companies would clear the payment knowing that the car would not be recovered.

 

[Markedes]

That was the same scam in Kosovo and in Montenegro they would put oil on the roads so that vehicles would go over the edge of the mountain roads in order to get the recovery money !!!

 

[Niks]

Wow, so im guessing a lot of those mercedes there are stolen?

 

[abecketts]

Eastern Europe and the Balkans have or had a reputation for this, I knew one rental car company in Austria with a policy of not renting anyone a Mercedes if they were going into Hungary or Slovakia instead offering a Toyota Corolla, this was 2001/2003 era, i'm sure things have changed a bit.

 

[crockers]

Took a ferry across from Corfu to Albania. Then a bus ride to an archeological site. The state of the road v Mercedes springs would make me want a LandRover over a Mercedes any day. But yes lots of older Mercs as taxis there.
Found people very friendly. More akin to how Greece felt 25 years ago.

 

[d w124]

Wow, so im guessing a lot of those mercedes there are stolen?

Not really.My dad`s old 123 that later was mine was not stolen,than he bought a new 300 multivalve,and the 190 he drives now is not
Yes we love our mercs,but it does not mean they`re stolen

Having said that that 300d got nicked but was recovered in no time

 

[Charles Morgan]

I thought most of the nicked Mercedes in Western Europe, particularly Germany, ended up in Russia via Poland. Much easier and quicker to do this than a long trip to Albania.

I recall seeing a RHD Range Rover Classic in Moscow, which had a whole load of Russian stickers, but the giveaway was the We have been to see the Lions of Longleat sticker on the back.

 

[dinoy]

i sold a 300 td to an albanian guy who was going to use it here and take their eventually so they can break it for parts to recycle it their