Originally Posted by LantanaML320
Hello, I am new on here and this is my first post. After going to a dealer today and looking at Crossfire's for the first time this thread caught my eye. I read the attached article which read like propaganda. I also want to confess that I am an owner of a Mercedes ML320 and post regularly on Benzworld Forum. I also think that most MB owners would not like to think of the Crossfire as anything but a Chrysler. After looking closely at the Crossfire, I couldn't find any evidence that is was a Chrysler (except the badges). Are there any parts on a Crossfire that I might find on other Chryslers? I was very impressed with the Crossfire I looked at today. Everywhere I looked I saw familiar Benz parts and build quality. I saw nothing in common with a Detroit built Chrysler. If a Crossfire is only 30% Benz, what is the rest of it? I fell in love with the Crossfire today and intend to trade my Mercedes for one. It has to be the best value you can buy (used). An SLK that looks twice and nice for half the price!
I can't recommend anything to you Lantana... All I can say is that I have had a Limited Edition Crossfire 6 spd since March 2004 ... I drove it as a daily driver for about 18 months and then decided it would be a fun "unique" car to race with SCCA and NASA... So, slowly but surely it was disassembled and modified... I found that EVERY part of the engine, drivetrain, suspension, brake system was swappable... And every "engineering" component on the Crossfire has a MB product number, and most have the MB logo or bar code...
I don't have the time to generate a list for you, but if you look at my posts you will see this is true and correct...
Now... The body parts are definitely not MB... They were not built by Chrysler either... It was all sub-contracted to the Karmann Co and others. But then again... Some of the engine components were not manufactured by MB either, (Bosch, etc) but they still have the MB logo attached and MB part numbers...
So, if you ever doubt that this car is a Mercedes Benz "product" order a replacement part... something simple and cheap, like a "brake sensor" or perhaps "fuel injector" or perhaps something as inane as the cap that covers your front wheel bearings...
Now then, if you still don't believe me... order a piston... order a clutch, order a rear differential, order an airbag, order a spring... If they do not get delivered to you with a MB product number attached to them, I will eat my hat...