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  #1  
Old 01-20-2020, 03:56 PM
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Finished my W124 and had a crash, unsure how to proceed

Hi guys,

Thanks to years of your expertise on this forum I was able to complete a lot of repairs on my W124. It was $1400 a year ago, it's a 1992 with 1987 300SDL engine. Then I spent over $3500 on parts, rebuilt transmission, turbo, complete new front suspension and tires with alignment (less than 1000 miles ago). All vacuum pods replaced. Now, that the only thing left was front door alignment and wiring the door speakers to sound system amps, I unfortunately hit a garage pillar while backing up on a dark afternoon (I have very dark tint on rear glass). The damage doesn't look terrible and I've already purchased tail lights and a spare bumper, but I have no experience in body work.

Here are estimates I've got so far: Maaco $1400, private person $1900, another shop $3000.

I always liked W126 more. I'd dump this car but I've put so much work into it, all in residential parking lot...Of Course the rear suspension squeaks but I could drive it anywhere.

Is it worthwhile to have this repaired in Mexico?
I'm 10 hours from the border.
Doing it at Maaco will put me in debt at the moment.
Any recommendations?

Attached Thumbnails
Finished my W124 and had a crash, unsure how to proceed-736745f2-c7ff-4955-9b29-571e963be981.jpg   Finished my W124 and had a crash, unsure how to proceed-img_6194.jpg  
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  #2  
Old 01-20-2020, 04:30 PM
Hogweed's Avatar
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that totally sucks, man~
bodywork translation, as if you didn't already know--
Maaco $1400, (tons of bondo, repair visible from 25 feet away)
private person $1900, (less bondo, repair visible from 8 feet away)
another shop $3000. (new panel welded in, minimal bondo, repair invisible)

since you live in a dry climate, i would watch a video of how to do body work, do the best you can (as long as you get the tail light to fit, you win) and call it good until you can afford to fix it right....

translation for mexico- \never had any work done in mexico but it either works out great or it turns into a Judd Apatow film!

Quote:
Originally Posted by filp View Post
Hi guys,

Thanks to years of your expertise on this forum I was able to complete a lot of repairs on my W124. It was $1400 a year ago, it's a 1992 with 1987 300SDL engine. Then I spent over $3500 on parts, rebuilt transmission, turbo, complete new front suspension and tires with alignment (less than 1000 miles ago). All vacuum pods replaced. Now, that the only thing left was front door alignment and wiring the door speakers to sound system amps, I unfortunately hit a garage pillar while backing up on a dark afternoon (I have very dark tint on rear glass). The damage doesn't look terrible and I've already purchased tail lights and a spare bumper, but I have no experience in body work.

Here are estimates I've got so far: Maaco $1400, private person $1900, another shop $3000.

I always liked W126 more. I'd dump this car but I've put so much work into it, all in residential parking lot...Of Course the rear suspension squeaks but I could drive it anywhere.

Is it worthwhile to have this repaired in Mexico?
I'm 10 hours from the border.
Doing it at Maaco will put me in debt at the moment.
Any recommendations?
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Centrally located in North East Central Pa.
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  #3  
Old 01-20-2020, 04:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hogweed View Post
that totally sucks, man~
bodywork translation, as if you didn't already know--
Maaco $1400, (tons of bondo, repair visible from 25 feet away)
private person $1900, (less bondo, repair visible from 8 feet away)
another shop $3000. (new panel welded in, minimal bondo, repair invisible)

since you live in a dry climate, i would watch a video of how to do body work, do the best you can (as long as you get the tail light to fit, you win) and call it good until you can afford to fix it right....

translation for mexico- \never had any work done in mexico but it either works out great or it turns into a Judd Apatow film!
Haha, I have a friend I trust in Mexico who knows someone, so it wouldn't be totally bad.

I'm not sure about using a ton of bondo at Maaco. The estimate includes stuff like structural pull and frame machine. Seems reasonable.
I've just got a quote for $700 from a private person and that's probably what you say - hammer plus bondo visible from 25 feet away
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  #4  
Old 01-20-2020, 04:51 PM
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hard to tell from the pic but unless you were going 30 mph when you hit the post in your garage it shouldn't have any structural damage or need to touch a frame puller. the body line still looks pretty uniform to me....again, hard to assess from a pic but.....
the mexico trip would be on for me if i could get a $2k job for a grand, but it's still a 20 hour drive round trip

Quote:
Originally Posted by filp View Post
Haha, I have a friend I trust in Mexico who knows someone, so it wouldn't be totally bad.

I'm not sure about using a ton of bondo at Maaco. The estimate includes stuff like structural pull and frame machine. Seems reasonable.
I've just got a quote for $700 from a private person and that's probably what you say - hammer plus bondo visible from 25 feet away
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0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.
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  #5  
Old 01-20-2020, 04:59 PM
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search porto power 4 ton on Amazon....$110 shipped and give it a shot yourself.

you could probably get most of that pushed out in about 15 minutes
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0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.
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  #6  
Old 01-20-2020, 05:09 PM
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Getting repaired over the border probably the best option imo.
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  #7  
Old 01-20-2020, 05:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Of Giants View Post
Getting repaired over the border probably the best option imo.
It's $130 in fuel plus cost of food, I can sleep for free at my friend's place. So I'm leaning towards that option.
Last time I touched body work, I burned clear coat in 3 minutes using megs ultracut compound and had a respray at Maaco the next day haha
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  #8  
Old 01-20-2020, 06:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hogweed View Post
you could probably get most of that pushed out in about 15 minutes
Rough body work is easy, getting everything back into original shape is what takes time. Pulling too far during rough out can make for much more finish work.

Our guy needs to take a trip to Lithuania and see Arthur Tussic ( see his You Tube channel )
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  #9  
Old 01-20-2020, 06:23 PM
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Best bet is to find a w124 at the junk yard, snip out that whole rear quarter skin and swap it onto yours. Assuming no damage underneath., doesn’t appear that there is but never know. Grind and bondo the welds then painT
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  #10  
Old 01-20-2020, 06:27 PM
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Thanks for the link. I tried my hand a body work a few years ago when I purchased a 60s MB diesel. I got as far as cutting the floor pans out. It takes a certain kind of patience that I don't seem to have.
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  #11  
Old 01-20-2020, 07:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by filp View Post
Here are estimates I've got so far: Maaco $1400, private person $1900, another shop $3000.
For reference, this guy got the insurance company to " total " his car over this dent that would be far easier to fix than yours and was happy about it getting $ 3,000 . https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/402998-end-era-1995-e300-w124.html

The car at the salvage auction https://www.copart.com/lot/25958000
See attached pic )

I'd see if you could get a body shop to pull the body enough to hold a tail light then you could spray can the corner to keep you going until you can generate some $$$ for a proper fix. Just be sure to seal the tail light area so water does not enter.

Or for a really Getto temporary fix, remove the tail light, use a piece of aluminum or sheet metal to fill the hole then mount some universal lights on the cover.

I don't see a 20 hr drive + lost time + exposure to something happening along the way being worth " saving " $ 1,100. But making the trip isn't really saving that amount.

$ 1,100 - 130 fuel = 970 - wear of tires / engine / other parts. The IRS allows a mileage deduction of $ 0.575 per mile subtract for fuel $ .15 leave you with an operating cost of $ 0.425 per mile ( assuming $ 3 gallon and 20 MPG ) If 20 Hr is at 65 MPH average, this is 1,300 miles * 0.425 = $ 522.50

$ 970 - 522.50 = brings the actual " savings " to $ 417.50. The repair is going to take a min of 2 days and figure 2 days of travel time. 4 days * 8 hours you could be at a part time job = 32 hr. 417.50 / 32 = $ 13.04 that you need to make in order to cover the difference between the $ 3,000 fix and the $ 1,900 Mexico trip

Get a part time job / pickup more hours at regular job.


Quote:
Originally Posted by filp View Post
Doing it at Maaco ( $ 1,400 ) will put me in debt at the moment.
Any recommendations?
You've got bigger issues if $ 1,400 puts one in debt, it is critical to get finances squared away.

PS, We are about ready for someone to have their hood fly up while driving or back out of the garage with it up, this seemed to happen pretty often a while back.
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Finished my W124 and had a crash, unsure how to proceed-dent.jpg  
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  #12  
Old 01-21-2020, 12:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97 SL320 View Post
For reference, this guy got the insurance company to " total " his car over this dent that would be far easier to fix than yours and was happy about it getting $ 3,000 . https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/402998-end-era-1995-e300-w124.html

...

I'd see if you could get a body shop to pull the body enough to hold a tail light then you could spray can the corner to keep you going until you can generate some $$$ for a proper fix. Just be sure to seal the tail light area so water does not enter.

Or for a really Getto temporary fix, remove the tail light, use a piece of aluminum or sheet metal to fill the hole then mount some universal lights on the cover.

I don't see a 20 hr drive + lost time + exposure to something happening along the way being worth " saving " $ 1,100. But making the trip isn't really saving that amount.

$ 1,100 - 130 fuel = 970 - wear of tires / engine / other parts. The IRS allows a mileage deduction of $ 0.575 per mile subtract for fuel $ .15 leave you with an operating cost of $ 0.425 per mile ( assuming $ 3 gallon and 20 MPG ) If 20 Hr is at 65 MPH average, this is 1,300 miles * 0.425 = $ 522.50

$ 970 - 522.50 = brings the actual " savings " to $ 417.50. The repair is going to take a min of 2 days and figure 2 days of travel time. 4 days * 8 hours you could be at a part time job = 32 hr. 417.50 / 32 = $ 13.04 that you need to make in order to cover the difference between the $ 3,000 fix and the $ 1,900 Mexico trip

Get a part time job / pickup more hours at regular job.




You've got bigger issues if $ 1,400 puts one in debt, it is critical to get finances squared away.

PS, We are about ready for someone to have their hood fly up while driving or back out of the garage with it up, this seemed to happen pretty often a while back.
I've seen that thread! There must be more issues to the car than that dent.
I like your math, we think very much alike.

There are some nuances and simple solutions are inapplicable here, that's all I can say.
I'm slowly working on my finances.

And regarding your PS: a friend of mine done that in December with his W140 300SD, we're going to replace the hinges some weekend. Also swap the rod bender with a 87 3.0. So BINGO!
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  #13  
Old 01-21-2020, 01:16 AM
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It doesn’t look that bad. You have the parts. I say take a whack at pushing the dents out yourself. Harbor freight hydraulics or the amazon stuff. A big hammer. Get it roughed in so you can get your light in and the bumper on.

Then drive it. Drive it till you can save up some money to fix it. Do not go into debt over this. Don’t spend your last dime on your car.

It’ll not b as lovely as you had it but you can still drive it.

I actually don’t think it looks that bad. A weekend with a hammer and some black rustoleum brushed on and you’ll be debt free and rolling.
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  #14  
Old 01-21-2020, 08:32 AM
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If you decide to push it out yourself, use the hydraulic body pushing jack. Push out at the point it was pushed in and take your time. Push against strong places like the inside of the wheel well. The hammer should be used only sparingly as it will stretch the metal violently and it will be hard to smooth out. You might need some small blocks of wood to tap on with a hammer to move it a little. It does not look too bad. Take your time and step away to look at the other side to be sure it is back in the right place. You might need to make cardboard templates to make sure the profiles are correct.

That is a nice looking car you have there....worth saving.
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  #15  
Old 01-21-2020, 08:45 AM
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Oh wow. I just checked amazon. You can get a hydraulic body ram kit for less than $100. Forget the hammer. Get one of these and go to town. You really don’t have much to lose. Good advice to go slow.

Yes it is a very nice car. It is totally worth saving.

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