Great! Thanks for the input everyone! Now I'm on the hunt for an affordable paintless dent removal place in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. Let me know if you guys have any recommendations. Thanks again!

I have a guy but he’s here in the Coachella Valley. Ask your local MB dealer. I’m sure they have someone.

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1985 300CD, CA
172 Anthrazitgrau/Palomino 154

1985 300TD, CA
040 Schwarz/Palomino 154/3rd row seat

1985 300TD, CA
473 Champagner/Palomino 154/Cargo cover

Although Coachella Valley is indeed kind of far for me it's not entirely out of the question. I would like to find someone closer, obviously, but if I can't find someone local that I think does quality work or is not affordable I would consider going to the Coachella Valley. That's if their rates are reasonable and the quality of their work is good, obviously. Does your guy have a website, instagram or any other contact info you could pass along? Thanks!

Desert Dent Repair | Mobile Dent Repair

Troy has worked on 3 vehicles I've owned. I usually take the cars to him before the leases are up so I don't get charged for dings. He was supposed to take some dings out of my CD but I haven't had time to get it done.

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1985 300CD, CA
172 Anthrazitgrau/Palomino 154

1985 300TD, CA
040 Schwarz/Palomino 154/3rd row seat

1985 300TD, CA
473 Champagner/Palomino 154/Cargo cover

Great! Thanks! I'll add him to my list of people to reach out to.

Johnbob,

I've been following this thread with interest because I've been in this position many times.....

In addition to Mercedes, I've owned several original cars that were competitive in national club events, and if you'll bear with me, here's what I've learned:

Two of the cars were cosmetically 100% original and scored in the mid to upper 90s when judged. I found that at that point the cars were essentially undrivable. Any damage would affect the cars value and points. I did enjoy showing them, but eventually sold both.

After that experience, I focused on nice, solid driver level condition. For example, 20 years ago I bought a 68 MGB roadster for Linda. It was a one owner, full record, low mile car. Very original and rock solid. BUT....... The original owner had the car repainted with a poor quality job. Still was a stunner from 10 feet, but I could drive it with out the fear of losing the originality. Linda loves the fact that she can drive it to the store without guilt.

Looking at your pictures, your car as is, is very presentable. You may know every wart your car, but most people don't focus on the detail, just see the overall effect. Remember, it's only original once.

Lacking a garage, coupled with cost and affordability of a quality repaint, if it were my situation, I'd be inclined to try to preserve what currently exists. And further, I'd not be in a hurry to spend money pulling out minor dents if other areas need improvement.

Which brings us to the mechanical condition. Are there any issues, wants or needs? Be honest, if the driveline and/or suspension is original, there's a lot of rubber that can need refreshment, plus seals. Youd be amazed at how you get used to the degradation over time. A car with refreshed suspension and steering is much nicer!

These are not high value cars. It will be very easy to go down the slippery slope and get upside down. Better in the long run to sell the one you have and buy a nicer example. I've gone down both paths, and it was a hard lesson to learn.


Very pretty color, good luck in making your choice.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Thanks for you input. Yeah, I'm definitely going to try to preserve the original paint at this point. In all honesty, that was what I wanted to do all along. I just wanted to get some opinions about whether or not I was going down the right road, so to speak. Since this is my first old/classic car I wanted to get opinions from people that might have some experience with this stuff. I didn't want to put all this money and work into the old paint when it seemed obvious to people with experience that I should've just been focused on a repaint the whole time.


I totally agree. I'm coming up on 2 years of ownership of this car so I'm definitely not rushing into pulling the dents. I considered doing it a year ago but I had to take a step back and take a better look at it and do exactly as you said, figure out the mechanical stuff first and make that the priority. I've spent the last 2 years going down my list and making tons of repairs/improvements. As of now, all the major stuff has been taken care of. Obviously, the car is almost 40 years old so something could pop up anytime, but for now I'm good. The only thing that's not working correctly, mechanically speaking, is the cruise control but to be honest, I've never in my life used cruise control on any car I've owned so I'm not really too concerned about that right now. That being said, I'll probably fix that too at some point but it's definitely not really a priority for me right now.

Oh believe me, I know. Ha ha! I've definitely already put more money into the car than it's actually worth but not a ridiculous amount or an amount that I'm uncomfortable with. I've been super good about that and have been pretty thrifty about it all. I feel comfortable putting in some more to improve the appearance at this point. Oh and that being said... I do still keep my eye out for a better example and I've almost pulled the trigger a couple of times but so far I've held onto this one.

Thanks again for all the input/advice, it's definitely why I'm here.

Wow that's a pretty car .

Please let ue (me) know how the paintless dent repairs go, you might want to talk to some new car dealers as they use those places quite a bit although they may not want to admit it .

They'll know who and where , can't hurt to ask a few .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Thanks, it looks better in pictures than in real life. Ha ha! Don't get me wrong, it looks presentable in real life but the pictures make it look a little nicer.

And yes, asking the new car dealers is a good idea, it can't hurt. I'll update when I make some progress. Thanks!

Aww man, the voice of reason here. I agree with the others. The car is great. Don’t paint it. Even with single stage paint I haven’t seen many repaints come out as good as the non metallic mb job. I would carefully grind out the rust bubble and retouch the scratches.

The dent can be tough with PDR. PDR works on modern cars with super thin steel. Anyone who has pounded a dent out on a 123 knows it is a very tough job. It isn’t like gingerly working a dent out on a Civic. Luckily your dent is right up next to the light. I had one like that on my blue 300d and I just got in there with a pry bar and some wood blocks and gently pushed it out with rags wrapped around my bar. The key is not to go for the apex first no matter how much you want to. The dent needs to be worked out around it’s periphery and gradually towards the apex. Watch a few PDR videos to see the technique.

I’d tell you to go slow but you inevitably will because these cars are really strong. This is an easy fix because the access is good. With a new red trim insert and some trim straightening it’ll look great.

My blue car (diamond blue metallic) was a cheap respray. PO’s treatment for clearcoat failure. It really sucked and it is a bad replica of OE. It was an improvement over the measles but it looks bad. I’ve also come to the realization that the cars don’t have to be perfect. My SD is solid beige and it buffs out great. It has rock dings but getting a paint job that will compare to the 40 year old German paint will cost a bundle. I live with the imperfections.

You’d laugh if you saw my cars close up. They are drivers. Thirty foot beauties.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles
97 C280 147k miles

Oh man, don't give me any ideas about attempting this on my own. Ha ha!

Yeah, it seems that most PDR places do indeed prefer to work on newer cars so finding someone might prove to be difficult. Hopefully, I can find someone willing to do it though. We'll see.

Don't you think people on here would prefer cars with original paint and the general public prefers a car with nice paint?

As I said before in this thread, my black TD has been polished so much that the primer is showing on the tailgate and the body lines. I would love to have shiny new black paint on it because now it looks a bit ratty and I don't really want to drive it for work looking like it is.

Sedans aren't high value cars but the TD (and maybe Coupé) have become desirable. My Coupé was painted by the PO and it's OK, not great, but it's presentable.

__________________
1985 300CD, CA
172 Anthrazitgrau/Palomino 154

1985 300TD, CA
040 Schwarz/Palomino 154/3rd row seat

1985 300TD, CA
473 Champagner/Palomino 154/Cargo cover

That's not ratty, it is patina! People pay up for original cars now even with a bit of primer showing through.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The 'patina' thing was co - opted and ruined by the younger crowd .

A nice original with maybe some scratches etc. is one thing ~ this B.S. of destroying the paint by rubbing it with phosphoric acid soaked steel wool is madness ~ it speeds up the eventual rust and ruination .

I like an oldie but have spent my life with beaters and would rather have a nice proper (NO overspray !) repaint on my 300CD and 240D than the crappy original paint on them now .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Forgiven. I do the same thing. The subforums are generally pretty slow all right.

*ETA* Just went to the 'detailing and interior' section and got some good info in no time at all. Might need to stretch my legs around here.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K