Before Photo - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LOWMILE · #1 05-01-2003, 11:49 PM

Here are some "before" photo's of my 350SL in the paint shop after the body shop started on my car they locked a door handle inside the car and I had to go home and get another handle to get in to the car! I had taken the chrome off the car and kept it at home to "polish" while the car was being painted. After that episode they always keep one handle in the trunk. Also had to show them how to get the hardtop off after they had gotten the center pin stuck on it. I will be happy when the car is back in my garage next week with new paint and chrome! I will post some "after" pictures soon. Ernie

LOWMILE · #2 05-01-2003, 11:52 PM

Here is another before picture

RickM · #3 05-02-2003, 10:21 AM

Cool, can't wait to see the after shots. Is the color Light Ivory?

Is the 350 Euro version? What year?

LOWMILE · #4 05-02-2003, 02:47 PM

Rick M. Off white is a great color but with the low mileage on my car I am keeping it as original as possible.The Car is a 1972 350SL with just 23,000 one owner original miles! Assembled whole in Stuttgard Germany and shipped to the U.S.A. Although I did see when I was taking the car apart for paint some parts marked U.S.A (such as inside door panel) I have been told that some of these cars came SKD or semi knocked down. Benz did that in order to avoid certain import taxes. And certain parts were put together stateside. So it came with U.S.A. approved headlights and turnsignals, however the very next model year U.S.DOT made Benz put the somewhat ugly duckling five mile per hour safe bumpers. Also for 1973 cat convertors and smog pumps were DOT/EPA mandates put into place! And they rebaged the car 450SL. Certain dealers tell me when the 350SL would come in for service they sometimes would rebadge the 350 with a 450SL insignia. To this day I walk into the dealers part department I get a strange look from parts counter persons when i say "350SL" My car will get the "Euro" headlight treatment once out of the paint shop. These Euro headlights were really the original intended look for the car and add a sleek look to the nose of the car, my opinion anyways. The color is Sand Biege Metallic but looks gold to me! paint code 467H. and the interior is "Bamboo"
I will post some pictures of the repainted car when it finished next week!

4NDELIT · #5 05-03-2003, 03:21 AM

before you go out and buy boxy euros, consider getting E-codes. It keeps the stylish (in my opinion) round headlights while getting the benifit of a euro cutoff (straight, then up at 20 degrees) and replacable halogen H4 bulbs. Check the link for my install.

http://sl107.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=4936035941&f=8456047451&m=3246078652

sublettd · #6 05-05-2003, 02:49 PM

Robert,

I'm a little dense today. Would you amplify on the E-codes mentioned??? These headlights for a specific model MB??? Looks like something I might want to do to my SL since I need to replace one of the high-beams anyway.

Nice job of showing your install.

Thanks,

4NDELIT · #7 05-05-2003, 11:57 PM

just to clear some stuff up... the e-codes are made to replace 5 3/4" sealed beams which is what happens to be on the 107 (I think they are also on the 108, 109, and low beams for the 123, but double check). They drop right in, no fancy wiring, no cutting or custom fitting. The low beams (which I did) take H4 bulbs (high beam/low beam). So far, I have had not problem with bulbs or fuses whatsoever. Total cost was about 100 bucks after tax, and I got it at my local euro parts store. I would recommend it for everyone, but keep in mind they are technically not legal for street use because they do not have the US spec cutoff, so technically they are only for offroad and racing use

. Hope this helps!

LOWMILE · #8 05-07-2003, 12:35 AM

Boxy? Yes like i have previously posted it is my opinion that the Euro headlight treatment I spoke of was the originally intended lamp design for the model 107. A simple glance at the back of the euro and glance at the U.S.A. headlamp and you can see which lamp is built with "quality" The U.S. model is made of stamped metal that is prone to rust. The euro is a work of art constructed of aluminum and comes with a vacuum headlight adjustment that you can adjust from the comfort of the inside of your car. Handy when the trunk is full of groceries or golf clubs etc. If you read any of the post's that I have read it is the reflector that makes for a daylight effect of the darkest roads. And you can "aim" them just a little further down the road if you want to look out for animals on country roads. While in the city at dusk, the city lamp inside the euro provides a nice glow. And by the way you can use everyday halogen light bulbs that you can get from any local parts store in them. Again like I stated in my previous post that is just my opinion. You 4ndelit are entitled to yours. I will post pictures of my car with euros on Friday or Saturday when it gets out of the paint shop. Thanks for the suggestion all the same.

4NDELIT · #9 05-07-2003, 12:58 AM

it really is an opinion of style. I think that the fact that I come from a BMW family makes me favor the round lights more, but the other plus is the lower price.

PS: e-codes take replacable halogen H4 bulbs too!

LOWMILE · #10 05-18-2003, 11:57 PM

Paint color is on all but hardtop! Front driver fender has been sanded with 1000 and buffed. Body shop manager said whole car will be cleaned and buffed by wednesday I can't wait. Excuse bad camera and photoshop methods, I am trying to get this right, I will learn how to post a good picture soon I hope.

LOWMILE · #11 05-19-2003, 12:14 AM

I am sleepy post more pics later

LOWMILE · #12 05-19-2003, 12:27 AM

I think

LOWMILE · #13 05-19-2003, 12:32 AM

Very sleepy now

LOWMILE · #14 05-22-2003, 10:49 PM

Paint Shop is detailing interior, and by three thirty friday afternoon Chicago time I will be puting chrome back on this 23,000 mile Golden nugget! I saw the car completely buffed out... and I was a little weak in the knees. It is a show car paint job. I was literally shaking when I viewed the car for the very first time...all buffed out. I will have the brand new mouldings and chrome on this weekend and will post more pictures. I have restored a few cars in my day but none have ever moved me quite like this car. I am truly bitten by the Mercedes Roadster
Bug. Short of feeding my kids I will always own one of these fine automobiles. Much thanks to this awesome forumn board I read at least an hour of post's each and every eve.

ericdee · #15 05-23-2003, 04:36 PM

Very nice, can't wait to see it with the euro lights.