question about 500E/E500 front fender - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DuckMuck · #1 03-06-2003, 01:23 AM

I think everybody is familiar with the BMW E46 M3 and the flared front fenders...a lot of people in stock E46's order the flared M3 fenders and bolt them onto their cars...can the W124 500E/E500 fenders be ordered, and bolt on in the same manner onto a stock W124? Odd that nobody has attempted it...

DuckMuck · #2 03-06-2003, 01:29 AM

This is what I was referring to...you see...Bekkers even sells a kit that includes the E46 M3 front bumper and fenders which can be installed onto a stock E46...why can't the same be done for the W124? Just curious...

Bekkers kit

Michael · #3 03-06-2003, 07:11 AM

The 500E front fenders won't match up to the front bumper, fender liners, or lower body cladding of a narrow-body W124. And given the wider track of a 500, the wheels would not align properly in the fenderwells.

I know someone tried some time ago, but gave up on it. To do it right, you'd have to nearly replace the entire front clip; then you'd still have an awkward-looking car becase of the narrower tail! And doing the rear flares requires new rear doors too!

No cheap way to do this-better off trading up

DuckMuck · #4 03-06-2003, 11:30 AM

In terms of the front, a new bumper and lower body cladding is obvious...in terms of a wider track, I think wheel spacers should do the trick? What are you referring to when you say "fender liners" and "front clip" though? Could you please elaborate? Thank you!

Michael · #5 03-06-2003, 11:48 AM

A 500E, much like a 300 or 400, has a plastic liner that mates the unibody/frame to the fender, and keeps road debris from coating the chassis & other mechanical bits. If you pull a front wheel, look up inside there and you'll see. This liner not only surrounds the wheel, but goes forward and serves an aerodynamic purpose of sealing the underside of the bumper and in front of the wheels.

A front "clip" as I understand it is that part of a car that includes the entire front assembly: fenders, bumper, lights, grille, and all related bits (anyone knowing better please chime in).

As to the body cladding, 500E cladding would have to be used front to back; every piece is unique to the model including the parts attached to the doors, and below them.

Jim's500E · #6 03-06-2003, 01:22 PM

Didn't Al from Houston do the 500E body conversion to his black 400E? I'm sure it involves many sight unseen parts to make work correctly. Without a doubt the front fenders just bolt on....but there's more to it I'd imagine.

Mosselman in Germany did the whole 500E kit as well, front anyway, to a W124 coupe and flared out the rear fenders. All the lower body cladding has to be done too as they are thicker, from where I stand at least.

need2speed · #7 03-06-2003, 02:23 PM

An article in the performance supplement to Mercedes Enthusiast a few months ago described the Mosselman 300CE Silver Arrow. They grafted the front fenders and bumper from a 500E onto their coupe. The article suggests a fair amount of bodywork was involved.

ke6dcj · #8 03-06-2003, 02:31 PM

I just updated our 1988 W124 wagon with 1995 W124 body cladding.

The side panels are all the same between the sedans, wagons, and the 500E. Only the front & rear bumpers are different on the 500E.

The side cladding is difference on the door's of the coupe.

:-) neil

placo1 · #9 03-06-2003, 02:36 PM

Neil,

Is the rocker panel cladding the same as well?

BTW, you are posting pics of the wagon right!

ke6dcj · #10 03-06-2003, 06:10 PM

The lower rocker panels are different on the 500E.

:-) neil

BlackBeauty · #11 03-06-2003, 09:28 PM

Anybody got Part Numbers for the 500E front fenders and the fender cladding? I would like to find the cheapest source and try to do this on my W124 Coupe. Thank you.

ke6dcj · #12 03-07-2003, 12:21 AM

Give Tom Hanson of Caliber Motors a call at 1.800.CALIBER and tell him Neil from Santa Barbara sent you (FWIW- no financial interest).

You will need front & rear bumpers; cladding; rocker panels; fenders; and fender-well plastic partitions.

You will also need lights for the front bumper, plus a paint job for the bumpers (and maybe cladding).

Wholesale will be about $4500 and that doesn't include paint!

What year is your W124 coupe? Hopefully the year with the cladding . . .

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

ke6dcj · #13 03-07-2003, 12:27 AM

BTW- I double checked the cladding part numbers.

Only the fender cladding (Front L&R; Rear L&R) and rocker-panels are different on the 500E less coupe. The door panels are the same as 1993-1995 sedan and wagon.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E