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  #16  
Old 01-28-2011, 06:53 PM
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Well, it's been a little over two months since I turned my "baby" in for a body and paint makeover. The right rear 1/4 panel is looking real good and the rest of the minor dings have been fixed. They also found a little rust behind the right wheel well, and caught some just starting behind the left rear wheel well. I did take 280EZRider's advice and had them remove the side marker lights. I am also toying with removing the 280C from the decklid, as I have always hated cleaning around it. Anyone have thoughts (pro and con) on doing this?? I am also on the lookout for the Euro headlights. I might be able to get some from a friend's contact in Germany. Can someone please post some closeup pix of them on a 280? Here are a few more pix of the progress. More to come as it progresses.

Hey, Tomguy, I see you have an 06 Charger R/T!! I've got a slightly modified 05 Hemi Magnum and a slightly modifed 06 Hemi Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Are you in any of the LX or WK forums?? You're right...great fun. Do you ever race yours?

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Last edited by mbbuff; 01-29-2011 at 02:34 PM.
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  #17  
Old 01-28-2011, 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by mbbuff View Post
Hey, Tomguy, I see you have an 06 Charger R/T!! I've got a slightly modified 05 Hemi Magnum and a slightly modifed 06 Hemi Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Are you in any of the LX or WK forums?? You're right...great fun. Do you ever race yours?
Never raced it. I am registered (same name) on LXF, chargerforums & chargerforumz, challengertalk & 300cforums. Yeah, a lot but I don't post nearly as much there. AFE, Diablo 91 oct tune, R1 rotors, EGR delete and 180° stat are about all I have (off the top of my head) as far as perf mods, never have raced it but I have had it pretty fast. I saw the '11 in Robesonia on the Hemi Highway tour and I'm sold on it or a GC (SRT most likely) as my next vehicle.

IMO, I know it's a pain to clean around but I'd keep the trunk badging.
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  #18  
Old 01-29-2011, 12:14 AM
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Good that you removed the side marker lights. They look far better without them.

Quote:
I am also toying with removing the 280C from the decklid, as I have always hated cleaning around it. Anyone have thoughts (pro and con) on doing this??
I would not remove it. I think that Mercedes without the trunk lid badge look unfinished and kind of tacky. It is a pain to clean around it but that's just part of the nature of ownership of these cars rather than some nebulous piece of asian crap, for instance. One thing I would do myself is remove the bumper overriders as I also think they spoil the lines of the car. These were typically not seen on Euro cars and if you want to revert to as close to original as possible I'd get rid of them, but to each their own. I think you're doing a fantastic job of it. No doubt the car will look incredible when it's finished.

- Peter.
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Formerly...
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1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S
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  #19  
Old 01-29-2011, 12:39 AM
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I really need to pull my finger out and get cracking on my 280CE. I'm still waiting for the parts that I ordered from Europe.
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  #20  
Old 01-29-2011, 09:20 AM
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This is something that I looooong to do with my car. I envy you in a good way. Keep the badge (280C) is my 2 pennies worth. I love cars with numbers and letters (280C, C63AMG, 911S, A8, etc.) rather than names (accord, camry, sonata, etc.).
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  #21  
Old 01-29-2011, 10:12 AM
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I added a later, wider trunk-lid handle to my '73 sedan when it was repainted--looked better to me than the stubby original


Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net
Four M110's
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  #22  
Old 01-29-2011, 02:29 PM
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I like the longer trunk lid handle, Kraakevik. Only problem is I'd have to have all the decklid stuff (star, 280C and handle) replated so they'd match. If I did that, I might as well redo the gold stars on the wheels, the hood star and the MB hood emblem. Isn't it great how when you do one thing, it leads to a bunch more to make it all look right? Hmm, wonder what that would cost these days? Anyone have any idea? It's been about 20 years since I had them done. I still have an extra gold hood star, as I had an extra done when kids were ripping them off Benz's and wearing them around their necks. I usually never leave it out of my sight though, so it wouldn't be an issue anymore.
Tomguy, I am a member of LXF, Chargerforum, and Dodgetalk. Joined LXF before I took delivery on my LX, back in July 04. My screen name is, magnuman, on all of them. Like you I don't go there much anymore, but used to be very active. I came up with the MDS "ON" light which many use today on MDS Hemi engines. Also came up with the variable IAT control and cooling fan jumper, which are both mostly for racing. My mods. on both LX and WK are headers, high flow cats., DS tuner piggybacked onto an SC tuner, my home built CAI, catch can, and a bunch of other minor stuff.

I love them all, but the old Benz is probably still my favorite.
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Last edited by mbbuff; 01-29-2011 at 02:48 PM.
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  #23  
Old 01-29-2011, 06:33 PM
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mbbuff, your car is coming along nicely and it's great to see the pictoral progress!

It's just my own opinion, but I would keep your original trunk handle - it looks better than the wide handle, which tends to detract from the star.

I have seen a couple of w123 trunk lids without the model number and sometimes they look good to me and other times they don't. I suppose it's just a matter how you feel at the time. They have a cleaner look to them, but at the same time they give you the impression of a replacement trunk lid. Go figure.

I wouldn't fret about cleaning around the emblem though. Whenever I polish mine, I just take it off first. It's only stuck into plastic receptacles, so you just have to gently pry it off.

Keep the photos coming!
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  #24  
Old 01-29-2011, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by mbbuff View Post
Tomguy, I am a member of LXF, Chargerforum, and Dodgetalk. Joined LXF before I took delivery on my LX, back in July 04. My screen name is, magnuman, on all of them. Like you I don't go there much anymore, but used to be very active. I came up with the MDS "ON" light which many use today on MDS Hemi engines.
Small world. I did that install! I made the DIY for the trac off switch article on Chargerforumz.
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  #25  
Old 01-30-2011, 10:36 AM
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I may have a nicely weathered wider handle that fits in with your older brightware--let me know if you're interested


Tim Kraakevik
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  #26  
Old 02-01-2011, 01:18 AM
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Keep the model badge. After all that amazing work, you should be proudly displaying which Benz it is. Maybe you could make a quicker release for cleaning around it, but 280EZrider already makes the point. . .

If you're going with the authentic Euro look on the lights, shouldn't you consider changing out those "other" rims?
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  #27  
Old 02-02-2011, 08:04 PM
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I understand the newer Benz's have a different type (plastic) retainer for the model designation. The ones that are on mine are the one-way spring clip nut type. I'll have to do a little research on this. As far as the wheels go, I do have the originals, with the original hub caps, but I really like the alloys better.
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  #28  
Old 02-25-2011, 11:33 PM
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I went to check on the Benz the other day, and it is coming along real nice. Everything is painted except the trunk lid. It has some underlying damage that will be costly to repair. I finally told them to try and find another one, so that's where we're at right now.

I took the advice of some other forum members and had the side marker lights removed and have acquired Euro headlghts for it. They were used and will probably need new reflectors. The body guy has a friend in Germany and has already contacted him when we were looking for the lights. By the way, one complete new Euro headlight assembly costs about $400. I found a set for $160. Everything was good or repairable, except the reflectors. Will be pricing new ones from Germany.

Most of the vehicle is put back together with new front and rear window seals, new passenger and driver side door weatherstripping and all new window tint, including the added windshield visor tint. One thing I am finding is that the expenses never seem to stop. With the new paint, the 20 year old gold trim now looks cheesy, so I am pricing have it redone too. One thing for sure is that it will really look nice when complete.

Next time I go check on it, I'll try to remember to take my camera. The way it is going, I am guessing that it will be done no later than late April, unless we find more things to do.

At some point, I plan to change the 3rd member (again), but this time put one from a diesel in it. It currently has 3.90 (stock is 3.78) gears in it, and I want to make it more of a highway cruiser with something in the low 3's. Can't wait until it's done.
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  #29  
Old 02-26-2011, 10:03 AM
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Awesome, awesome!!!
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  #30  
Old 02-26-2011, 12:49 PM
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I've used higher-profile rear tires to effectively lower the drive ratio--215/75 14's are worth about 8%--and the bigger tires look pretty good on coupes.


Tim Kraakevik
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Four 114's, Four M110's
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