Spare parts on older cars

CrustyClam

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Hi,

Just wondered if anyone knows what's MB's policy is on spare parts for older cars now.

Someone in a Facebook group has posted a reply to someone that replacement pistons are now no longer made / available for m156.

Slightly worrying if that's the case that some parts are being discontinued already. I alway though parts for Mercedes were available for many years afterwards.
 

Craiglxviii

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Legally parts have to be available for 10 years from end of production of the model. The production line & jigs/ tooling for those parts has to still be in existence too.

The M156 was in production cars to either 2011 or 2015, so parts are still available...
 
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CrustyClam

CrustyClam

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Hmm, that's sad. You could spend a few bob maintaining your car, suddenly to be prevented from keeping it going, unless you use second hand parts if available.
 

Rory

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Legally parts have to be available for 10 years from end of production of the model.

Is that correct? I think it's one of those folklore things.

And what does "available" mean? I had a new car off the road for months waiting for parts.
 

Frontstep

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I was told that spare parts prices can be kept artificially high to put people off buying them as small production runs when stock runs out are an expensive nuisance.

Perhaps its just folklore or been subject to chinese whispers.

There is an EU directive on spare parts availability but how tight it is I don't know never read it.

It probably allows one part in the EU for 10 years.
 

LostKiwi

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Is that correct? I think it's one of those folklore things.

And what does "available" mean? I had a new car off the road for months waiting for parts.
Craig works in automotive manufacturing. He knows what he's talking about.
 

Craiglxviii

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Is that correct? I think it's one of those folklore things.

And what does "available" mean? I had a new car off the road for months waiting for parts.
No it’s not folklore. It’s contractual.

The car may have been waiting for parts (most likely) because the supplier had to setup a new production run...
 

Rory

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It’s contractual.

Ah, OK, so not 'legal' as in there's a law which demands this.

Even contractually - are Mercedes going to step in and enforce the contract when a customer can't get parts?

My older C Class needed a new exhaust a few years ago - they could be ordered OK, but there were none available and no indication when they would be.
 

Craiglxviii

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Ah, OK, so not 'legal' as in there's a law which demands this.

Even contractually - are Mercedes going to step in and enforce the contract when a customer can't get parts?

My older C Class needed a new exhaust a few years ago - they could be ordered OK, but there were none available and no indication when they would be.
Yes legally. There is a requirement on the manufacturers of cars and many other vehicle types that spare parts be available for n years after final production has completed. Anything military has a 25 year support lifespan for example. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear.

Mercedes and most carmakers that I know of hold their spare parts organisations very closely to account, as owners of used cars of that brand/ marque are usually most common buyers of new cars of that marque too.
 

Chrishazle

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MB are not alone in this problem - those of us with older front engined Porsches like my 968 are finding that either the price of an available part has sky rocketed over the past few years - for example, the 968 driving light and indicator I bought in 2000 for £214 would now be about £500 - or are no longer available. When the garage could not change my fuel filter because the connectors were rusted solid, we had no option but to change everything from the fuel pump to under the bonnet to MY93-> as a couple of flexi hoses for MY92 are NLA, so a 10 minute £30 job became 4 1/2 hours and £300 of parts!
 

Rory

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Yes legally. There is a requirement on the manufacturers of cars and many other vehicle types that spare parts be available for n years after final production has completed. Anything military has a 25 year support lifespan for example. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear.

Can you point to the Act that mandates this?
 

Craiglxviii

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Can you point to the Act that mandates this?
Certainly. For MB, German Civil Law Code Art.242, “Post contract fiduciary duty to supply spare parts”.
 

Rory

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So that's a 'no' then.
 

LostKiwi

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So that's a 'no' then.
Given MB are legally obliged to maintain parts supply in Germany and that MB don't do specific models just for the UK (aside from mounting steering wheel on the other side) it means at least the bulk of parts are legally obliged to be available for 10 years.
 

Rory

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Yes. Per Craig's post.

Try Googling that.

Even if it was correct, German Civil Law Code is a civil (contract) law thing. It's not like you can call 999 when your local dealer shrugs and says they can't get a part.

The link posted above is a discussion document on REACH, which is about the use of hazardous substances!
 


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