Preferred suppliers?

[MarkCL]

Ladies & germs - I've just been thinking of getting a few bits and bobs for my car and was wondering if it might not be a bad idea to have a sticky somewhere that lists preferred suppliers & things like that? We already have the sticky for local indie servicing reccomendations, but what about for parts supply etc?

For example - I'm currently looking for a proper MB quality Avantgarde front grille to replace my currently slightly battered & generally worse for wear item, yet looking on e-bay there are dozens for sale! How do I know which is a good quality one and which is rubbish? Who are the better people to buy parts from? Or perhaps can this item be gotten elsewhere even?

So, what do you all think? To start the ball rolling I'm after any reccomendations for the following please:

1) Supplier of a proper MB quality chrome Avantgarde front grille for my W202
2) Supplier of things like gearknobs and interior trim items etc for the W202
3) A person/company in the south of England who can do good work re-trimming things like the grey leather section on my steering wheel as it's looking a bit more worn than I like (Ok, I'm picky I admit it )

I know that Mercman is suggested a fair amount for various parts etc but exactly what kinds of things can/does he supply for example? I'm off to trawl through the posts on here a bit more to try and answer that last question for myself, but in the meantime anyone may feel free to post an answer to that to save me the time if they feel generous

Cheers,
Mark

 

[MarkCL]

Oh good grief...just noticed rockbeer's thread from yesterday in the DIY forum!! :lol: Talk about great minds

Cheers,
Mark

 

[MarkCL]

So - nobody think this is a good idea then? And no-one with any suggestions re my request for a reliable source of the parts I'm interested in either - shame Ah well. Will dig about a bit more and update this thread with any info I turn up then anyway just in case it's of help to someone else in the future..

Cheers,
Mark