Author Topic: WTT new long (280SL) or short (230SL) pos. battery cable for neg. cable  (Read 584 times)

Jack the Knife

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I accidentally ordered a long and a short positive battery cable from SLS. I would like to trade either one of these for a new negative cable. Both are new, unopened, received yesterday (5/9/25). Alternatively, if someone has a positive cable for a reasonable price, please PM me.
1964 230SL "Blue Note" -- #009785
2015 G550 "Milk Truck"

Jack the Knife

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Ah nevermind, I see they're like only $30 direct from MBZ. I'll just do that.
1964 230SL "Blue Note" -- #009785
2015 G550 "Milk Truck"

Cees Klumper

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How can we tell these days what parts Mercedes has available at what price?
I know Pawel is always able to quote part numbers and prices, but how would I be able to do that?
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8 being restored father/son project
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
2014 FIAT 500 Abarth
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

Lori

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I use this site to look up the epc:
https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/epc/mercedes/1/113/
And then look up part number on:
https://classicparts.mbusa.com/
Lori
1968 280SL (US)

Jack the Knife

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How can we tell these days what parts Mercedes has available at what price?
I know Pawel is always able to quote part numbers and prices, but how would I be able to do that?

I actually didn't even buy it through the classic shop, but here: https://mbparts.mbusa.com/oem-parts/mercedes-benz-neg-cable-2015400031?c=bD0xMSZuPVNlYXJjaCBSZXN1bHRz

It's very hit-and-miss buying things straight from Mercedes, I've noticed, so I seldom even bother to check. But I guess this is available since the same cable was used for so many other models, up to more-or-less the current era.
1964 230SL "Blue Note" -- #009785
2015 G550 "Milk Truck"

Pawel66

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What would you like to know/be looked up? I just need a VIN.

"Hit and miss" from Mercedes? How so? It is usually quite accurate and, frankly, best quality.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Jack the Knife

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What would you like to know/be looked up? I just need a VIN.

"Hit and miss" from Mercedes? How so? It is usually quite accurate and, frankly, best quality.

I didn't mean to make any comment about the quality of anything I bought directly from Mercedes, I mean that I've had some difficulty actually finding the parts I've needed, though this could also be a comment on my lack of ability when dealing with their system.
1964 230SL "Blue Note" -- #009785
2015 G550 "Milk Truck"

Pawel66

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I see. Truth is that the Mercedes system needs some fluency in navigating (that I am far from) and sometimes logic there is strange... on top - we are looking at digitized records and this kind of transfer can generate mistakes. Translations on top with the most famous one: washer = window. I recently came across "condenser" - I was looking for noise reduction capacitor, I almost ended up with AC condenser...
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Jack the Knife

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I see. Truth is that the Mercedes system needs some fluency in navigating (that I am far from) and sometimes logic there is strange... on top - we are looking at digitized records and this kind of transfer can generate mistakes. Translations on top with the most famous one: washer = window. I recently came across "condenser" - I was looking for noise reduction capacitor, I almost ended up with AC condenser...

Alas, Mercedes emailed me today saying that the part was out of stock in their whole system. This is a frustration for me, as they do this often -- showing parts as in-stock when they're out-of-stock, at least over here through the dealer network.

I did remember one part I ordered through them that really didn't please me. The shift knob. After the engraver ruined my bakelite original when I tried having a 5th gear added, I ordered a new knob (for the time being) through Mercedes. It has since been replaced with a nice billet one from SNG Barratt intended for Jaguars with Getrag 265/6 swaps which is dimensionally the same. But this knob from Mercedes was not at all like the original -- light cheap plastic, and the pattern was not properly projected upon the round surface. That is, it was clearly designed on a flat surface, and overlain on the round surface, leading to lots of distortion around the edges. Basically what I'd expect from a cheap Chinese copy rather than something from the source.

Edit: oh, I ordered a new cable from Rhode Island Wire, since I can't find the "right" one anywhere. Really nice people.
1964 230SL "Blue Note" -- #009785
2015 G550 "Milk Truck"

TJMart

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I've found that a lot of MB parts sellers, like in your case, that come up in online searches show the part is available. Usually I have found that they order the part from the Classic center. That's when they find out the part is the dreaded NLA. No longer available.
Tony
1970 280SL, 4 Speed