W202 Wheel Arch Trims

[Trekker]

My 1996 C250D is rusting badly around the wheel arches. A respected local bodyshop guy tells me he has yet to see an effective repair on the wheel arch area of a Merc as the rust returns - sometimes within weeks.

He is reluctant to carry out a traditional repair for this reason and has suggested what seems to me to be a cover up. He recommends I get a set of chrome wheel arch trims from Euro Car Parts at about £30 (according to him). He will tidy up the rusted areas and treat them to inhibit the spread, before fitting the trims and matching them in to the colour of the car.

My first question is, has anyone else taken this course of action, and if so what was the outcome. Secondly, I don't see any such parts on the ECP website, but have found some on ebay - item No. 400027623528 at £56.95 plus £9.50 p&p.


Any comments folks?

 

[Xtractorfan]

A lot of truth in what he is telling you, rust is hard to stop adn if not done properly will return with a vengence, As your car is 13 yrs old then his suggestion is I think a very good method for tidying up your wheel arches,

 

[television]

I wonder what they would look like painted to match the car, like on the 201 cars

 

[Trekker]

I think I'll follow the bodyshop advice. I will post a few before and after pics when the job is finished.

 

[Alps]

depends on how bad it is, and how good the bodyshop is.... i had my arches done at my regular bodyshop and he treated them before painting, 4 years later... still no sign of rust...

dont put hose tacky chrome arch covers on.. they only trap water and make the rust worse!