Hello everyone! I'm hoping someone on the forum will know where I can locate a patch panel for the front fenders bottom section. Since the economy's at a dead stop at the moment and, finding a summer job is impossible (I work for the school district AKA 10-month employee) I have decided to start tearing into the Mercedes. There was a little rust issue on both the lower sections of the front fenders. I had my neighbor who is a body shop guy and his own seperate garage at his house with a lift and everything, grind off the paint on the bottom fenders to see what i was dealing with. Turns out the front right fender had been repaired some years back and, quit horribly at that. They didnt bother to remove the old paint, drilled LARGE holes to remove a dent and, slapped some bondo over the paint and repainted it.

Anywho, so the bottoms need to be replaced on the fenders and he said to look online for Patch Panel(s) and he would weld them on for me. after much searching, I've come up with no results. Anyone know of a place/ website where I can find these? Or would i be better off finding some used fenders and cutting those up to weld on/ repaint?


Thanks much for the help and, enjoy the pics

Attached Thumbnails

       

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1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

I would cut out the bad metal and mig weld in patch pieces from sheet metal

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

Here is a source for body parts:

mercedes w123 body patch panel
http://www.fixmyrust.com/Category/1976-1985_W123_Parts

mercedes w116 body patch panel
http://www.fixmyrust.com/Category/1973-1980_W116_Parts

mercedes w115 body patch panel
http://www.fixmyrust.com/Category/1960-1975_W114_and_W115_Parts



.

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Blue '83 300D "Domobile"
Red '73 Cimatti City Bike (moped = fun)

Do you have personal experience with this company?

I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has. I want to know how fit and quality compare to original equipment.

One of my front fenders has the same rust problem. Water seems to come down out of the hinge trough/composter. (Mine was full of Eucalyptus leaves and seeds.)

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

Guys.

Any reason why you wouldn't ask one of us "southern" boys to get you a rust free fender from one of our junk cars?

Scared of shipping? I shipped a fender to a guy in the middle of Missouri back in February.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

That would be awsome as it would be hopefully much cheaper. ALso, i plan on using as much of the original fender as possible. So, whatever i end up buying, will just have the bottom section tourched off and welded on to my rusted part.

ANyone looking to sell a right and left front fender

__________________
1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

You almost need the bottom donar section to do a good repair in this area. I usually have the donar part cut off above the first crease that is about 10 inches up the fender and shipped to me. Some forms of shipping used whole fenders in the states are or were reasonable.

It is almost easier if not easier to install a good used fender. A really good repair takes removing the fender anyways.

How many do you want? And will you come get them? Rarely do I find someone on this forum that wants to pay for shipping a fender.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

It looks like you have the whole fender off, I would just replace the whole thing with a junkyard fender. My new wagon has rust in this same area (oddly the only rust I can find on it). I plan to just patch it using sheet metal.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

That second picture you show, you have some serious rust on the wall and rocker. My 85 was a little like that. I have seen a lot of 123 like this, don`t think MB sealed this area very well. this should be a heads up for all you 123 owners out there to take a peek in there.

I striped the paint first, then used POR metal ready soaked with some rags to remove the rust. then going by the directions used their POR paint. then undersealed the whole area.

seems like a lot of work to cut off the bottom of a good used fender, to patch the rusty one. get some good used ones and bolt them on. gong to have to paint them anyway.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Barry, That's exactly what im trying to do. Since finding a patch panel is impossible for the car, im looking for a good used couple or I might have to have my neighbor tap out/ make a piece (though he might charge me alot). And as you said, he was planning on cutting up to the first crease and welding on the new piece.

Daw_two, How much would you be looking to get for the fenders and/ how much does shipping usually cost... Tennessee is sorta a long drive.

Charmalu, The rust in the pictures is not NEAR as bad as it looks. it was dusk out and the flash on the camera really made it look like it was rusted threw. I actually cleaned it up with a grinder/ wire brush, put rust inhibitor on it and now it's good as new. I completely agree with you about Mercedes didn't seal that area to well, or maybe the insulation is so old its crumbling. In any case, ive been working on cleaning up most of that mess. All things considered, I think my car's held up pretty well considering its A Euro that i hear are more pron to rust AND it's been in the Midwest for some time. That's the only rust I have which is nothing in comparison to what i've seen. I definently agree that its something W123 owners SHOULD look into. You wouldn't BELIEVE how much crud was underneath those plastic fender wells and behind the fender. Really isn't that hard removing fenders took maybe 1-2 hours... It's going to be hard putting them back on though.

ALso I feel it would be easier painting the patch area then having to paint the whole thing. The rest of the fenders are pristine with glossy paint. Even if the paint isn't perfectly matched, i doubt it would be noticeable since it be just underneath the first crease line in the fender. Also, I have the front mounted antenna (Euro Car) so trying to find a fender with that set up and space for an antenna i feel would be time consuming.


Thanks Agian Guys

__________________
1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

if you hold out for a good southern one of the right color the shipping will still be cheaper than fixing and painting one

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

I have never delt with this company but they seem to have all the body panels


http://www.mercedes-auto-and-parts.com/bodyparts/

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1983 300SD
200000miles

How hard is it to remove the fender?

I was looking at the hinge pockets under my hood the other day and noticed the factory caulk is starting to come out. I'm sure that is a sign of rust and leaks to follow. I'm planning to scrub the area, apply some Rust Bullet and re-caulk.

Now I'm wondering if that area behind the fender is doing the same thing?

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

Not easy to fabricate below the crease in my opinion. Could be done I suppose. Actually I have purchased at least two of those lower sections from a vendor on our used parts site. Plus obtained one from a yard.

If you want good used southern fenders or only one of them. Perhaps try to get someone to grab one for you when down there. Or remove the section you want with the fender still on the car and mail it to you. Guys it is pretty easy to remove. Help him out. Took me less than ten minutes. I cannot remember the tin cutters I used though. Perhaps it was a hacksaw type blade or cutter chisel. Whatever it was the metal was not distorted. If someone decides to cut one off for him remember to follow it around to the door jamb. The fender bolts on there.

I removed the lower section quite easily with hand tools as I remember. The patch panel you seek is not made to the best of my knowledge by anyone out there. Manufacturer or aftermarket. It should have been.

My own strange mercedes panel story. I needed a fender for a 114 coupe. The guy sent an earlier model fender. The general profile looked exactly the same except for the frontal area. So I grafted on the front of my old fender to his. Could not tell the difference when on the car.

Possibly indicated mercedes and I where pretty tight for money at one time. Or I like a challenge from time to time. Basically creating a new fender by welding on a changed front. Saved them the price of making a new partial fender punch press form.