Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: john.mancini on August 12, 2009, 17:42:14
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Is it my imagination, or is it only the Mercedes Benz hobby that lacks a parts supplier who offers a detailed on-line and print catalogue for its "classic" cars? I know about Buds, Millers and even our beloved Classic Center, but visit www.nlaparts.com or www.stoddard.com. Look at the parts and catalogues available to the classic Porsche fanatic. There seems to be a much larger selection of original and reproduction parts for old Porsches. Is this due to a licensing issue with MB? Just wondering......................
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Have you looked at http://www.sls-hh-catalogue.de/start/index.phtml (http://www.sls-hh-catalogue.de/start/index.phtml) and http://kkmfg.com/ (http://kkmfg.com/) ?
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Hi Waqas,
I have used both suppliers numerous times. There just doesn't seem to be the "ease of use" or a print catalogue geared towards the restorer. Prices are usually not included, and if they are included, they are usually not accurate. Also, there isn't a large availability of quality, reproduction parts yet. For example, a lot of our chrome or stainless trim parts are through the roof, if you can find them. They are not available in reproduction.
John
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I believe the MB EPC (Electronic Parts catalog) is available free in the US.
You have to give your credit card # to verify you live in the US.
I'm sure one of the local members can enlighten more.
The pictures and parts lists or shopping lists can printed out.
In the UK, we now get free xs as MB UK Club members.
naj
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MB is kind of funny about how they do things. They will let you have some stuff and go after you for something else. I used the word '' Benz '' in my company name and they bugged me for years about it. Everything they have belongs to them and they are very fussy about the three pointed star. Unless you are a MB dealer you can't use it. That also goes for the MB name. You can't use it in your title but you can use it in secondary information as long as it's the same size and font as all the other lettering on your card or invoicing.
Using their parts numbers is OK as long as it's only for reference material. Using their part numbers to solicit business is highly frowned upon by MBC and likely MBUSA as it's considered propriatary information and you're kind of like stealing from them. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a great deal of love for big corporations, it's just the way things work.
I decided a long time ago not to use their part numbers on any invoicing. It's kept them away from me and once they spot you they never quit looking at you.
Although they have certain level EPC things available it's not available here in Canada. The real EPC that dealers use is often pirated and available for a price. At one time I could get the dealers list price but now I can't even get that. The dealers won't let you have that.
As far as catalogs go yes, the Porsche guys have a lot more stuff. They were around a lot longer and most repro parts for our cars started with 190SL's. We should all be very thankful for all the parts that Tim Kidder has reproduced because many old cars would be long gone. He financed all of those ventures with his own money.
Catalogs are exspensive to produce. Aside from simply doing a copy of the parts book it takes a lot of time to put one together. Whatever you get it's better than what I had 20 years ago which was nothing at all. Back then you were on your own - not like today which is far easier.
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Niemoller, SLS and van Dijk (Classic SL) (all in the Suppliers List (http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Suppliers/Start)) produce a paper catalog, which you can pick up for a small fee. I usually get the latest at Techno Classica in Essen.
Just mail them and ask if they will ship you a catalog for shipping and handling charges. And yes, they typically have introduced their own parts number system although all of them employ the MB Group pictures and organisation.
Peter