I currently have the common beige color on my W116, but I have always been a sucker for black. For $800 more my body shop will change the color to black. The dilemma is to change the color or stay original? They would paint the door jams, under hood, etc.

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'86 500SEL 43k miles-sold
'82 240d-sold
'82 240d#2 200k miles simply beautiful
'80 300SD 184k miles "Sheikh Diesel"

Do you remember the pics of Chamelon --- the 1980 300TD (wagon) that I use to own? I would not recommend a color change ..... not even in an off the frame total restoration.

My Recommendation: Start your hunt for the color you want and then sell your current car.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

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

X2, stay with the same color. changing from a lighter color to a darker color is a bad idea. anything missed, will show up like a sore thumb.

all depends on how much of a detail person you are, and the level of perfection you want. Is the car a beater, rusty, and you just want to give the old girl a face lift, some Botox to pull a wrinkle out, maybe some up lifting enhancements for some saggy parts. then go for it, and she will look good for a while.

Preperation is the main thing here on a paint job. the better the prep, the better the long term out come will be. there is trim, door handles, door sill kick plates, door gaskets, door panels, bumper and rubber ends, tail lights, trunk gasket, windows, etc.... these are things that will have to be masked off or removed.

think of the under hood task of cleaning, sanding and painting, masking etc... w/o over spray on wiring etc....

Just some things to think about.

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