How should I go about fixing this? In January of 2011, I was rearended. Now, as I'm bringing the car back to roadworthy condition, I need to address this. I found a NOS rear panel, but the few friends I have with welders don't want to do it. Anyone ever bang one of these out? I'm planning on painting the entire car once this is taken care of, fwiw.

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1980 240D, 197580 miles - "The Stuttgart Stomper"

I think steeleygreg is your man

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/body-repair-restoration/324191-my-car-broke-needs-fixing.html

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

It doesn't seem like there's any damage to anything other than the rear panel. His looks much more involved.

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1980 240D, 197580 miles - "The Stuttgart Stomper"

Well if I were you I'd send steeleygreg a PM and ask him to join in. He was talking about pullers and frame straighteners so help solve his problem. He's the only person who I can think of that has actually done something similar.

If you want to see more information about how the rear end of the car is constructed you might be able to glean some information from my thread here =>

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/body-repair-restoration/303669-my-w123-saloon-sedan-old-accident-repair-bit-rust-repair-thread.html

After an inwards bash and an outwards pull I would expect that the spot welded seam along that panel at boot / trunk floor level will be knackered. That is a tricky bit to reach with a spot welder - you might be able to plug weld in a repair if it is needed.

If you tell us where you are located someone here might be able to recommend a repair shop.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Thanks stretch, all solid suggestions. I'm in western Massachusetts by the way.

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1980 240D, 197580 miles - "The Stuttgart Stomper"

My 1978 is a totaly rust free frame. an old CA car. It has almost the exact same damage. If you figure it out post it up! I got a stud welder and slide hammer and have not had much luck!

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1978 Mercedes 240D
1981 Mercedes 240D
1982 Mercedes 240D

How involved would it be to cut and weld the new panel?

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1980 240D, 197580 miles - "The Stuttgart Stomper"

I would say pretty involved. If you remove that panel then you loose lots of rigidity on the sides of the vehicle - you'd have trouble straightening the side damage if you take out the back. Same problem if you take out the side I guess...

...as for replacing the panel - the problem I have had with pattern parts so far is that they don't fit well at all.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!