All to often owners need parts and don’t know where to start looking and end up ordering expensive parts overseas (mostly shipping cost), when they are readily available domestically in the US. The L300s shared parts with several USDM cars. Its USDM cousin the 1988 Mitsubishi Van, Mighty Max Pick up and the Montero (Pajero). This family of USDM vehicles are the reason why so many of these parts are here, making maintenance much easier when compared to other imports like the Hiace.
This guide will explain how to use the EPC (Electronic Parts Catalog) to find part numbers and check parts availability in the US Mitsubishi parts warehouse system.
The EPC is here: https://mitsubishi.epc-data.com
Here is an example for the front door seal on the L300:
1. Select your VIN family (the first three digits of your VIN)
2. Select your trim:
3. Select the category. You may have to look through a few to find what you are looking for:
4. Select your sub category:
5. Find the appropriate schematic and locate the catalog number:
6. Click the entry on the right hand list. This will load the part numbers.
7. The Actual part numbers (not catalog number) will then load at the top of the page. Make sure to check the listed production dates to ensure fitment. There is also a link (blue arrow) to the Japanese warehouse supplier Amayama. I consider this the last resort if the part is not available in the US or on ebay etc.
8. Take the part number (Usually in format MBXXXXXX) and plug it into one of the many online part wholesalers. These are usually just the online branch of a US dealer. If it is in stock in the US, then all retailers will have access to it. It is best to call in and check to see if the part is actually in stock. I have noticed errors in the US stock system before.All of these retailers have access to the same centralized stock (parts at dealers or on warehouse shelves). I just try a few to see who is closest to me and has the cheapest price or shipping. Price variance is minimal between retailers, but you may save a few bucks.
9. And BAM just like that, the door seal is available in the US, probably from the 1988 Mitubishi Van. In this case the US price is less than the Japanese price, without even considering the $40+ international shipping costs.
Here are a list of some of the retailers I have used. They can all be found on google.
https://www.mitsubishipartsnow.com/
https://www.mitsubishipartswarehouse.com/
https://www.mitsubishiparts.com/
https://www.mitsubishiautopartsdirect.com/
You get the idea. I have even had luck plugging OEM PNs on Amazon!
If you cannot find the PN here in the US, then it was likely never on a USDM vehicle or has no stock.
If there is no US stock plug the PN into https://partsouq.com/
If you still have no luck, then you will have to resort to ebay, Amayama, Megazip or other overseaes/cross country (CA) sources. But hey, at least you have a part number now!