I have an 1986 230E European model (4 cyl, stick shift, same body as 1986-95 300E) with cloth seats for which I'm going to buy a parts car to swap leather seats, alloy wheels etc. I also would like to swap the lower body mouldings from the 1990-95 models. Will they fit the older models. How hard is it to remove them from the parts car without damaging them. Should I even proceed in "luxuriating" this euro model, I mean, is it just as desirable in its uniqueness as a plain jane model? I plan to sell it soon so I'm asking for suggestions.

You are not going to believe just how expensive all those lower panel items add up to! You could spend a lot of time and easily $500-$1000 doing what you suggest. Also, if you modify it, you will narrow down the field of potential buyers. If you are planning on selling it, unless the seats are torn and need replacing, I would clean it up real nice, maybe repaint the wheels, detail the car, and put the money into any mechanical upgrades it needs before selling. Let the next owner decide on whether they are going to restore it as an unusual model, trick it out as a '95 wannabe, or just drive it as transportation. Do the trick stuff on the next one you plan to keep. If you are really keen to modify it, monotone the bumpers, rocker panels, and side trim for a lot less money and effort. Just an opinion, and good luck!

Or just monotone the bumpers and side cladding which looks very good ont he older cars as well as the newer ones.

I think the side mouldings are just clipped on so removing them probably wouldn't be too hard if you went very slowly and did not bend them much.

If you are selling the car, JCE's advice is very good, keep it all original.

If you are keeping the car, then I would suggest monotoning it, swap the interior if you want, and do some good mechanical upgrades to give it that extra oompf.

Alon

Each of those panels cost in the vicinity of $400-$500 each, plus the chrome trim, plus mounting hardware,etc, etc. Find another part of the car to dump your hard earned bucks into. If you have 4 doors, the math is easy..

As a 100% modifying idiot I can only advise you to modify a car that you want to keep for a longer time. If you want to sell the car, it is a waste of money...

You say you can buy parts from an used car...If you can get the door and fender panels incl. the lower body moldings (I presume that these are the skirts over the thresholds?) for a reasonable price and you think you should modify your car anyways; it is a very easy job.
In the Netherlands I would have to pay approx. $450,- for a used set of panels and skirts. The front and rear bumpers are the same as on the 1989-1993 W124's. The chrome trims on the front and rear bumper can be drilled onto your own bumpers) you only need to repaint them).

Fender trims can be pulled of; they are clicked on. Start at the wheel bottom side of the front fender panels and at the door top site of the rear fender panels.
The door panels are fixed with two screws each (to be removed from the inside of the doors). The bottom of the panels can be pulled loose (simple clamps) and the top of the door panels has to be shoved to the back.

The lower body moldings have a rubber trim in it. Remove this rubber trim and unscrew the screws you get to see. At the underside of the moldings is another set of screws to be untightened. After these screws, the front and rear fender panels and the door panels are removed the molding can be taken off.

If you want to mount this molding to your own car, you have to file the currently round upper holes square and you have to drill in the bottom fixings (and file them square as well).

I only modify a car when I want to keep it for a longer period; you will never get the extra financial input back when you sell it.

greetingz,