While most of your business likely comes from newer vehicles, perhaps just a few years old, you almost certainly have a few long-time customers with a classic Mercedes-Benz. It isn’t just that Mercedes-Benz vehicles tend to last longer than most other marques, nor is it that the timeless designs are still fresh today, or that Mercedes-Benz owners show a genuine love for their vehicles, but that these and other factors combine with the Mercedes-Benz commitment to astounding parts availability several decades after production has ended.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, located in Irvine, California, is ready, willing and able to support you for all your classic car needs. A classic in the Mercedes-Benz world is any vehicle more than 15 years out of production: A 163 M-Class, last built in Model Year 2004, is a classic, while a W220 S-Class is just a year away from that status. Customers and service shops contact the Classic Center every day looking for parts, and in most cases what is needed is available… But sometimes, some parts aren’t in production any more.

In these cases, if the Classic Center can register enough interest, the original blueprints are dragged out and the parts are manufactured again in a small batch. Some recent examples include some classic rubber trunk mats for the R113 SL models (A113 684 01 01) and the W108 models (A108 684 01 05), which haven’t been available for a couple of years.

The friendly team that the Classic Center can sell you classic parts directly, or refer you to a local dealer who can procure the parts for you. They are also a wealth of knowledge on these vehicles, having been there and done that, so they can make your life easier. For example, the crankshaft bearings for a Gullwing engine, unlike modern engine parts, need to be fitted to the block. They are delivered a little bit long so they can be trimmed to fit perfectly. If you didn’t know that, just bolting them in could result in engine damage, which, when dealing with literally priceless and rare engines or vehicles, might be a disaster.

The parts they sell carry the same parts warranty as any Mercedes-Benz parts: 24 months with unlimited mileage for most parts, with selected parts (engines, certain accessories like trailer hitches and step bars) warranted for 48 months or 50,000 miles. You can see the full terms of the Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Service Parts and Accessories Limited Warranty at
www.mbusa.com/en/owners/service-maintenance.

So, if you have a customer who wants a genuine Mercedes-Benz part for his or her classic, be sure to give the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine a toll-free call at (866) MB CLASSIC (622-5277) between 8 am and 4 pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday, or email them at classicparts@mbusa.com. Even if the part really is out of production, your call might be the one that ‘tips the scales’ towards commissioning a new production run. Parts availability is dynamic, so stay in touch with the Classic Center for the latest information. Follow along on social media (@MBClassicCenter on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) for the latest official news.

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