Has anyone purchased the replacement rocker panels?
I wanted to know how the quality is prior to purchasing.
I have a 79 300SD that is in great shape except for the front rocker panels on both sides which have the typical rust through.
I have a parts car that has good rocker panels that I could remove but for a $130 I could get new ones off the web.
Also does anyone have a cost estimate from doing similar replacements on their MB?
Better yet is there anyone in the Birmingham area that has done this work themselves and would like to "train" an apprentice on how to do body work.
I have the determination just not the skill for tackling this type of job. Wrenching is more of my comfort zone. Thanks for the help.

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Jeremy
1979 300SD
1980 300SD (parts car)
1982 300SD (WVO conversion Frybrid Kit) SOLD

If you got a spot weld drill, you could drill off the bad ones from the outside and drill the good ones from the inside. That way you have free panels that are correct and a spot weld drill.

I am always suspicious of aftermarket sheetmetal. Sometimes it is good but often it is not. Unfortunately, I don't think there is such a thing as aftermarket OEM sheetmetal because Mercedes stamps their own body parts so there is no secondary parts market.

Panel replacement is considered body work, but it is not like feathering out bondo or shrinking sheet metal. Drill out the spotwelds, attach the new panel with some Clecos to keep it in the correct position and spotweld it on. Of course while the old panel is off it is time to clean and rustproof any cavities that are exposed.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI