Hi guys,
The roof on my w124 87 300d looks like somebody ran my car through an automatic carwash sized Easy-Bake oven. It's a dull and cracked as could be. So here's where I need your help:

1. the roof trim channels-one has some bubbling rust.
What's the best way to remove that? It's still surface. I scrapped some bubbles out with a razor blade.
Is there a good rust stopping spray? Or is just cleaning it and repainting all I need to do?

2. I know nothing about the Mercedes paint process. But I do know that there are a lot of 20+ year old cars that still look great vs. 10 year old Fords that look like trash. What do I need to buy??? DuPont was what I was planning on using. I'm not sure of single coat or Basecoat Clear Coat.

When I paint guitars (building is my occupation) I use lacquer. It's very easy and looks amazing but it's not at all durable. I'm looking for something that will hold up very well to time and weather.

__________________
-E300d '99 350k
-Suburban '93 220k
-TDI Jetta '03 350k
Sold
-F250 '96 7.3
-Dodge Ram 12V
-E320 '95 200k
-E320 Wagon 1994 155k
-300d Turbo '87 187k miles
-E320 1994 200k
-300d Turbo '84 245k (sold to Dan62)
-300d Turbo '84 180k
-300sd '80 300k
-7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 15P Van 500k+ miles
-190d '89 Non Turbo 2.5 5cyl 240k (my first MB)
Tom's Imports of Columbia MO Ruined the IP in changing leaky delivery valve O-Rings - Refused to stand behind his work. Mid-MO MB drivers-AVOID Tom's.

It should be taped and in the paint booth next week. In '87 they did use base - clear (at least on 300s.) The best way to get rid of rust is sand to clean metal. If you can't get to it all, there is a chemical called Ospho that will stop the rust. If you use only Dupont (I'm using PPG polyurethane mixed in DBC, so the left over will be good in the can for touch ups years from now) velva-seal primer is a good self sealer once you get the rust out. If you go paint on paint be sure to scuff well into the top layer with a scotchbrite pad.

__________________
1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

What tools do you have? DA Sander, Paint Gun?

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Got all those tools.

__________________
-E300d '99 350k
-Suburban '93 220k
-TDI Jetta '03 350k
Sold
-F250 '96 7.3
-Dodge Ram 12V
-E320 '95 200k
-E320 Wagon 1994 155k
-300d Turbo '87 187k miles
-E320 1994 200k
-300d Turbo '84 245k (sold to Dan62)
-300d Turbo '84 180k
-300sd '80 300k
-7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 15P Van 500k+ miles
-190d '89 Non Turbo 2.5 5cyl 240k (my first MB)
Tom's Imports of Columbia MO Ruined the IP in changing leaky delivery valve O-Rings - Refused to stand behind his work. Mid-MO MB drivers-AVOID Tom's.

It's not a complex job. I would use a two step base/clear coat.
Knock off all the rust and repair as necessary.
Prime the areas you needed to take down to bare metal for rust removal and do progressive sanding with a DA from 180 to 500.
Wet sand the remaining areas progressively from 500 - 1000 using a block sander (straight line pneumatic works great on roofs)
Check your prep work and then check it again.
Apply the base color - applying wet but without creating runs (it's that nano second between good and great). Some base coats will instruct not to finish sand follow mfg's. instructions.
Shoot with clear coat - sanding 500 - 1000 progressively and applying additional coats until you reach desired finish. Be careful you could actually put a higher level of finish than the rest of the car. Follow curing time by manufacture - usually 72 hours then -
Use a "cutting" foam pad and a high speed buffer set at no higher than 1200 rpms and a medium grade rubbing compound (not polishing compound) to bring finish out.

I made some assumptions that you are familiar with wet sanding and using rubbing compound to bring out a finish. This is the short version.

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Great, easy enough. Well easy to read anyways I am very familiar with finishing and buffing since I paint guitars all the time.

The tips you've got seem like they'll work great! Can't wait to try them.

__________________
-E300d '99 350k
-Suburban '93 220k
-TDI Jetta '03 350k
Sold
-F250 '96 7.3
-Dodge Ram 12V
-E320 '95 200k
-E320 Wagon 1994 155k
-300d Turbo '87 187k miles
-E320 1994 200k
-300d Turbo '84 245k (sold to Dan62)
-300d Turbo '84 180k
-300sd '80 300k
-7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 15P Van 500k+ miles
-190d '89 Non Turbo 2.5 5cyl 240k (my first MB)
Tom's Imports of Columbia MO Ruined the IP in changing leaky delivery valve O-Rings - Refused to stand behind his work. Mid-MO MB drivers-AVOID Tom's.

Nick, how much do you charge to shoot an axe?

Hi Gene,
I finish guitars differently than most finishers. Well it's a growing thing lately. But anyways, I use lacquers as they did in the 50's and 60's. I don't use the poly most factories use today. Anyways I normally start from scratch. Refinishing a guitar is pretty hard and time consuming so I usually don't even mess with it since brand new guitar bodies are available for cheap compared to the work it takes to do a re-finish. Anyways, P.M. me with what you're looking to do. I'll see if I can help. Glad to help if I can.
Thanks,
Nick

__________________
-E300d '99 350k
-Suburban '93 220k
-TDI Jetta '03 350k
Sold
-F250 '96 7.3
-Dodge Ram 12V
-E320 '95 200k
-E320 Wagon 1994 155k
-300d Turbo '87 187k miles
-E320 1994 200k
-300d Turbo '84 245k (sold to Dan62)
-300d Turbo '84 180k
-300sd '80 300k
-7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 15P Van 500k+ miles
-190d '89 Non Turbo 2.5 5cyl 240k (my first MB)
Tom's Imports of Columbia MO Ruined the IP in changing leaky delivery valve O-Rings - Refused to stand behind his work. Mid-MO MB drivers-AVOID Tom's.

Dont "fret":. Just dont dig the red of a new ( and inexpensive) 5 string bass. Its getting a DarkStar pup and might become my main gig bass ( slap MONSTER!). Maybe I'll have it shot the same red color as the Chevelle, as the shop is going to mix some paint up for me anyway. And that's a scuff and shoot. Anyway, sorry to ramble selfishly...

good luck on the paint job!