R129 consumables- Merc dealer?

[truck71]

Well, as of yesterday my R129 is now the daily- it will be doing 4-500 miles a week and I'm looking forward to getting to really know it. To date any odds and sods I've sourced from the local Merc dealer who have been very good, is this the best best way or is there a better alternative for parts?

[PositronicRay]

I shop around a bit for branded products. If it's an OEM shock absorber for instance I just go to the cheapest online supplier. I use ECP for everyday stuff, filters, plugs, brakes etc. I've found them pretty helpful and the website good.

[r129sl]

For filters, wiper blades and brake parts, I use the main dealer. Most of the consumable parts are made for Merc by someone else: ATE, Brembo, Behr/Hella, Bilstein, Bosch, Lemförder, Sachs/Boge. They all have excellent web catalogues. Find the part and just google the part number, you'll generally find it much, much cheaper than the main dealer. Often the part arrives with its MB part number marked on it but the three-pointed star burred off!

[truck71]

r129sl said:

For filters, wiper blades and brake parts, I use the main dealer. Most of the consumable parts are made for Merc by someone else: ATE, Brembo, Behr/Hella, Bilstein, Bosch, Lemförder, Sachs/Boge. They all have excellent web catalogues. Find the part and just google the part number, you'll generally find it much, much cheaper than the main dealer. Often the part arrives with its MB part number marked on it but the three-pointed star burred off!

Grand, thanks- just what I was after.

[truck71]

PositronicRay said:

I shop around a bit for branded products. If it's an OEM shock absorber for instance I just go to the cheapest online supplier. I use ECP for everyday stuff, filters, plugs, brakes etc. I've found them pretty helpful and the website good.

Cheers, useful to know.