Rusting SL

[acj]

I have a 1989 500sl (W107) and rust is beginning to show through in several places especially around wheel arches ... Now i love this car and could happily keep it for another 5 years so what should i do as i can't bear the thought of it falling to bits around me! Anyone have any advice about stripping it back to the bare metal / new panels / resprays etc. ... Money is less important than getting it back into great condition

Any thoughts appreciated

Andy

 

[SLinKyjoe]

where abouts are you?

you may want to look around for a local garage who specialises in restoration. they should be capable and happy to restore the paintwork.

if not, nip in to your nearest MB dealer and see who they use for paint work. most dont have paint facilitys on site and often sub contract the work. you tend to find that going direct to them will give you an idea if they are worthy of helping you out, or trainees doing it cheap.

 

[classicsl]

i took my 88 SL down to a bodyshop recently, he had a good look around the car and i was happy to take his advice as he has done some work on a friends rusting E class. I have a small bubble near the offside indicator repeater on the front wing and some rust coming through on both wheel arches. he has suggested replacing both front and rear wings as anything he does to the existing panels would not be guaranteed at all. he seemed to be open and honest and not taking the pee, but said the cost would be over £1k for the repairs

 

[angela mccaw]

w107 body panels

i sorted mine out by going to eurocarparts nationwide and getting 2 front wings brand new £99 each and 2 rear wheel arch repair panels £140 each paying my painter £250 to fit and a £1000 full strip down repaint..it should now last 10 yrs before it bubbles through again

 

[stwat]

i sorted mine out by going to eurocarparts nationwide and getting 2 front wings brand new £99 each and 2 rear wheel arch repair panels £140 each paying my painter £250 to fit and a £1000 full strip down repaint..it should now last 10 yrs before it bubbles through again

The aftermarket body panels can be very suspect. They are made out of thinner and cheaper steel than the originals, so obviously they rust a lot sooner. If you are going to replace panels id recommend you always use originals. Put it this way, your spending quite a lot of money to restore your pride and joy in the first place, why would you skimp on cheap panels which will need need replacing again a lot sooner than the originals. Its false economy.

Stu