Hollow Sounding Door

[David C Klasse]

Well I have come to the concusion that my car HAS been in an accident. The front passenger door is the only prevelant problem. First of all, there is no VIN number on the door, the door sounds cheap and hollow when you close it, there is no clear coat on the paint under the weather stripping, every screw on the inside of the door is loose, there are cracks on the plasctic panels inside the door handle and behind the power seat controls, the clear protective cover on the inside of the door is not OEM, and on and on. So my ca HAS been in an accident! Overall though, I suppose the repair place did a pretty good job (for an auto body shop with ins. paying) on repairing. The door looks perfect inside and out for the most part (albeit the 2 small cracks on inside panel, and they don't fit right either).
Now to my question... Is there anyway I can make door sound solid again? atleast somewhat? Maybe some insulation pads on the inner door panel? It just sounds CHEAP and I don't like it. Thanks.

[MBenzNL]

If the tar plate is still stuck to the inner side of your doors' skin/panel, you can do nothing else but tighten all the bolts and screws again.

If the sealant/kit on the door is smooth, the inner side of the door skin/panel does not show any sign of dents, hammers, or other tools used to reshape the door skin again, I doubt that the car has been in an accident. Maybe the surface of the door was repainted because of a scratch or something minor like that.

greetingz,

I took out my door panel for a window regulator problem. When I was driving without the door panel. It made a much different sound than with it. I would suggest what the previous post suggests and also making sure that the panel is set right. Also, in Japan the cars have no safety reinforcements or safety beam in door. It is not mandatory. If your car was hit. I would assume the safety beam in the door would be damaged if, it was not exchanged out for another door. The reason why I am saying this is, b/c my friend in Japan opened and close the door of my former 300ZX TT in the US. He drove one in Japan and said there was a huge difference in weight and sound of the door vs. the Japanese versiou due, to the safety beam or reinforcement in the door. You can see the safety beam in the door if, you take off the panel I assume but, don't know if the tar-like material is hindering this view. On my 560, you can see it and touch it after, removing the panel. Hope it helps but, I honestly don't know the specifics of your model. It is just a guess.

[jeffsr]

If the tinny sound is really bugging you, you can remove the trim and the moisture shield and spray the inside of the shell with sound deadening material, also know as spray under coat. This sounds like an aftermarket shell. OEM doors come with the material in palce.

[ymsin]

I'd go with MBenz.

If you want the door to be more solid - you could add some extra carbon/tar insulators. They come in pieces of about 1 x 1 ft. I had that done on the W126 and the door sounds a little heavier than usual.

To be sure, run a magnet test and see if it sticks to your door. Don't use a too-powerful magnet otherwise it could attract through the paste/cement that was deployed if at all any repairs were dont to that door. If it doesnt stick, that means your door would have been HEAVILY pasted on.

Do make sure the inside panels are tucked in and bolted/clipped properly as it would make a difference on the sound if loose.

Then make sure too that the exterior panel is well clipped, for that too could make a difference when the door is shut.

[David C Klasse]

I did run a magnet over it and it is perfect, the same as the rest of the car. I will check and make sure everything is tight and perfect. But some of the places where the screws go in, the thing is stripped. The screws just keep spinning but never tighten in place.
I think I will go ahead with using that stuff to make the door more solid sounding. Thanks guys.

YMSIN, where do I get those carbon/tar strips??

[ymsin]

David - I'm inclined to believe that your door's fine, and not involved in any major accident - unless of course it was a minor knock or the door changed completed.

The product I used : WURTH (Germany). I know where to get them if you were in Malaysia. But the States? I think I may be lost - geographically.

[David C Klasse]

You really don't think it was in any somewhat major accidnet? I suppose just repainting the door is a logical explanation, but what about the lack of VIN # sticker on the door?
But the door could have just been a brand new door right? Then Jeffsr's explanation would make sense. Either way I will do what I can to fix this problem and look for WURTH. Or maybe there's another brand over here in the US of similar use?? Thanks all.

[ymsin]

Do post us the updates when you have fixed the problem. Would love to hear another success story ...

[David C Klasse]

wow, that was my 3rd Hundred Post!! this is post # 301!!

[J.HIDALGO]

David,
May be you do not have a problem with your door but, you needed a few more posts to get you over 300...just kidding!!
On the other hand, check your windows. There are different manufacturers...

[David C Klasse]

J Hidalgo. Yes, this entire post helped me get there. And I am in competition with Longston. I have a big advantage because I have only been on for 71 days (and in Posts per day, I am passed him now ), and made over 300 posts, that makes about 4.3 posts per day.

Also, what do you mean by check my windows? See if it's a Mercedes-Benz window?? Good idea...

[J.HIDALGO]

Yes! On each corner, all the windows have a manufacturer's brand name. If it is different than the others...BINGO.

[David C Klasse]

Clever Hidalgo... When I am done with my class (I am in my English class right now ), I will go out and check on that, and let you know when I get to work and get online again. Thanks Hidalgo.

[David C Klasse]

ok, the window is a Mercedes-Benz window. Is there anyway I can tell if the window is an original??

Well I found out that my door HAS been in fact repainted. ON the inside side of the door, where the VIN number would be, I did some investigating. I pulled off a small peice of black take that ready fainlty, "Remove this protective mask after painting part." So the door was painted.
Ok, but where the tape was covering, there was a marking reading: RODOVE, where the first O is, it is a Mercedes-Benz Emblem. Is that an auto body place I wonder? I will look online for it to see.