'79 Mercedes 240D body question

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

runbiodiesel

2012-02-01 03:58:45 UTC

Hi all,
I'm deciding whether to repair the damage from a sideswipe I got while
my car was parked (no, they didn't leave info). Given it's age and
value I don't have full coverage so it's up to me to fix . . . or not.
The damage is to the front passenger side quarter panel and both front
and back doors on that side.

I can get junkyard parts pretty cheaply. And the doors are relatively
easy to hang, but does anyone know what is involved in the quarter
panel replacement? Is it weld on or just bolted? Difficulty level?

I'd love to fix it since the car is mechanically great but if it's too
much work I'll give up.

Thanks for any advice!

Tiger

2012-02-01 20:42:34 UTC

Permalink

Rear quarter panel is strictly cut and weld job. Everything else is bolted
on.

Rob. Smith

2012-02-01 23:17:40 UTC

Permalink

Post by runbiodiesel
Hi all,
I'm deciding whether to repair the damage from a sideswipe I got while
my car was parked (no, they didn't leave info). Given it's age and
value I don't have full coverage so it's up to me to fix . . . or not.
The damage is to the front passenger side quarter panel and both front
and back doors on that side.
I can get junkyard parts pretty cheaply. And the doors are relatively
easy to hang, but does anyone know what is involved in the quarter
panel replacement? Is it weld on or just bolted? Difficulty level?
I'd love to fix it since the car is mechanically great but if it's too
much work I'll give up.
Thanks for any advice!

Do you mean a front wing (maybe fender in the USA), or rear quarter
panel. As Tiger says, the front wing is easy enough (bolt on like
Tiger says), though you must be prepared to address any corrosion you
find on the inner wing/front lower valance when you remove the damaged
outer wing.
You will also have options on replacement wings. There are 'panel
parts', which are copies of genuine Mercedes, but are cheap but not
perfect and will take a bit of 'fettling' (adjustment) to get to
fit/look right. There are genuine new parts, which will be really
expensive, but will fit well, or there are 2nd hand parts, which may
need some minor repair work to the part itself to make perfect. What's
the donor car for the doors like?

If it is the rear quarter you are talking of? If the damage is fairly
localised around the rear wheel arch/lower rear quarter, then you
could get hold of a new 'panel part' repair section. This will as said
require fitting properly, which means cutting and welding. Its a lot
easier than fitting a whole rear quarter though.

Cheers... Rob.

runbiodiesel

2012-02-02 03:07:52 UTC

Permalink

Thanks for the replies Tiger and Rob. It is the front passenger side
(American) fender (I thought it was front and rear quarter panel but I
think fronts are fenders as you suggested, Rob). "Wing" must be
British. The villain hit me right at the front right corner and
proceeded backward as far as the rear door, missing the rear quarter
panel entirely. The front door isn't too bad, the rear is worse. Also
damaged the passenger door outside mirror.

So, Tiger, you're saying front quarter is just bolt on? Guy at a junk
yard told me there was welding involved. That's good news. I found all
three parts on a junked 300D in pretty good shape. No rust to speak of
as I'm in California. However, one other issue is that the 300D has
electric windows and mine are manual crank. Is it difficult to swap
regulators? If so, I can keep looking. The car runs great and I'm not
proud. :)

Post by Rob. Smith

Do you mean a front wing (maybe fender in the USA), or rear quarter
panel. As Tiger says, the front wing is easy enough (bolt on like
Tiger says), though you must be prepared to address any corrosion you
find on the inner wing/front lower valance when you remove the damaged
outer wing.
You will also have options on replacement wings. There are 'panel
parts', which are copies of genuine Mercedes, but are cheap but not
perfect and will take a bit of 'fettling' (adjustment) to get to
fit/look right. There are genuine new parts, which will be really
expensive, but will fit well, or there are 2nd hand parts, which may
need some minor repair work to the part itself to make perfect. What's
the donor car for the doors like?
If it is the rear quarter you are talking of? If the damage is fairly
localised around the rear wheel arch/lower rear quarter, then you
could get hold of a new 'panel part' repair section. This will as said
require fitting properly, which means cutting and welding. Its a lot
easier than fitting a whole rear quarter though.
Cheers... Rob.

Rob. Smith

2012-02-02 20:16:55 UTC

Permalink

Its a doddle (easy) to swap the window regulators over to manual or
electric.
Both mechanisms will pick up on the same attachment holes on the inner
face of the door. It looks from the parts book that the manual
regulator should pick up on the same holes as the electric on the
glass (i.e. the parts catalogue only shows one glass type), but there
are a few different glass tints, so you may have to swap your glass
over (assuming its not broken?).

You will still have to pull the vacuum pipes through and out of the
door before you remove yours. Its easy enough, though you may well
graze your knuckles. Take a photo of your door innards before you
start so you can make sure you get all the pipes and regulator bits
back on in the correct way.

Oh yes, you'll need to swap the outer door handle too to get your own
door lock.

I'd go for it, and since you are in California then you shouldn't have
any issues with corrosion of the inner wings, which is great news.

Cheers... Rob.

Post by runbiodiesel
Thanks for the replies Tiger and Rob. It is the front passenger side
(American) fender (I thought it was front and rear quarter panel but I
think fronts are fenders as you suggested, Rob). "Wing" must be
British. The villain hit me right at the front right corner and
proceeded backward as far as the rear door, missing the rear quarter
panel entirely. The front door isn't too bad, the rear is worse. Also
damaged the passenger door outside mirror.
So, Tiger, you're saying front quarter is just bolt on? Guy at a junk
yard told me there was welding involved. That's good news. I found all
three parts on a junked 300D in pretty good shape. No rust to speak of
as I'm in California. However, one other issue is that the 300D has
electric windows and mine are manual crank. Is it difficult to swap
regulators? If so, I can keep looking. The car runs great and I'm not
proud. :)

Post by Rob. Smith

Do you mean a front wing (maybe fender in the USA), or rear quarter
panel. As Tiger says, the front wing is easy enough (bolt on like
Tiger says), though you must be prepared to address any corrosion you
find on the inner wing/front lower valance when you remove the damaged
outer wing.
You will also have options on replacement wings. There are 'panel
parts', which are copies of genuine Mercedes, but are cheap but not
perfect and will take a bit of 'fettling' (adjustment) to get to
fit/look right. There are genuine new parts, which will be really
expensive, but will fit well, or there are 2nd hand parts, which may
need some minor repair work to the part itself to make perfect. What's
the donor car for the doors like?
If it is the rear quarter you are talking of? If the damage is fairly
localised around the rear wheel arch/lower rear quarter, then you
could get hold of a new 'panel part' repair section. This will as said
require fitting properly, which means cutting and welding. Its a lot
easier than fitting a whole rear quarter though.
Cheers... Rob.

t***@optonline.net

2012-02-04 14:00:54 UTC

Permalink

Post by Rob. Smith
Its a doddle (easy) to swap the window regulators over to manual or
electric.
Both mechanisms will pick up on the same attachment holes on the inner
face of the door. It looks from the parts book that the manual
regulator should pick up on the same holes as the electric on the
glass (i.e. the parts catalogue only shows one glass type), but there
are a few different glass tints, so you may have to swap your glass
over (assuming its not broken?).
You will still have to pull the vacuum pipes through and out of the
door before you remove yours. Its easy enough, though you may well
graze your knuckles. Take a photo of your door innards before you
start so you can make sure you get all the pipes and regulator bits
back on in the correct way.
Oh yes, you'll need to swap the outer door handle too to get your own
door lock.
I'd go for it, and since you are in California then you shouldn't have
any issues with corrosion of the inner wings, which is great news.
Cheers... Rob.

Post by Rob. Smith

Do you mean a front wing (maybe fender in the USA), or rear quarter
panel. As Tiger says, the front wing is easy enough (bolt on like
Tiger says), though you must be prepared to address any corrosion you
find on the inner wing/front lower valance when you remove the damaged
outer wing.
You will also have options on replacement wings. There are 'panel
parts', which are copies of genuine Mercedes, but are cheap but not
perfect and will take a bit of 'fettling' (adjustment) to get to
fit/look right. There are genuine new parts, which will be really
expensive, but will fit well, or there are 2nd hand parts, which may
need some minor repair work to the part itself to make perfect. What's
the donor car for the doors like?
If it is the rear quarter you are talking of? If the damage is fairly
localised around the rear wheel arch/lower rear quarter, then you
could get hold of a new 'panel part' repair section. This will as said
require fitting properly, which means cutting and welding. Its a lot
easier than fitting a whole rear quarter though.
Cheers... Rob.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Before engaging in all that work, I would definitely look
into what you could get a whole similar car for. Depending
on where it's been, etc, it might be in equal shape or
better and not cost all that much. Or maybe you could
find one with a blown engine, great body and just swap
engines, etc. I guess it all depends on what you can or
can't do yourself. Just to get the car painted right around
here, which I can't do, ain't cheap.