PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

jjrodger · #5 06-29-2002, 11:35 AM

There is a lot you can do. Once you know what to look for, you can spot even well repaired accident damage quite easily.

Under the bonnet

Look at the tops of the headlights. They bear little yellow stickers. Is one sticker newer than the other?

Look at the top of the suspension turrets (on the W202 C-Class, look underneath the windscreen washer fluid reservoir). Can you see where a new frontal section has been welded in place?

Look for joins in the chassis members.

Look for overspray on the sides of the engine and the various pipes which would be a pig to remove or mask if you were repairing frontal damage.

Look at some of the plastic parts in the front of the engine bay. Do the date stamps correspond with ther age of the car?

Look at the leading edge of the bonnet. Can you see any paint runs where the bonnet and grille meet (this part of the car is very difficult to paint well)?

The side of the car

Look in the petrol flap. Is there evidence that a new side panel has been fitted? (Lots of slop)

On the W202 C-Class, open the boot and look at weld at the top front of the apperture, where the rear window meets the boot opening. Does the join look perfect? Or has it been remade?

Open the doors and look in the door jambs for signs of joins or paint. Bear in mind that these parts are never very well finished even from the factory. On the W202, look at the little triangles which mark where a roof rack should be installed (you will find them on the uppermost edge of the door jamb. Compare paint depth in the triangles in each of the four doors.

Take the car to a petrol station with sodium or neon lighting. Differences in paint colour or texture will be very visible.

Rear

Open the boot and look in the spare wheel well. Can you see new metal welded in place? Obviously even a new car has joins here, but they are relatively neat.

There is lots of plastic in the boot of the C-Class. Look at the date stamps on various pieces, especially the rear light clusters.

Interior

Lift the rear seat and look at the metal of the floor pan. Repairs will be obvious.

Generally

Any rust on a W202 and it has had paint. It is that simple.

Check the numbers and markings on the glass all match.

Take care to look at the edges of body panels. This is where you'll find paint drips and runs.

Borrow a micrometer. This measures paint depth. Try various parts of the car. The paint should be no thicker than 150 microns (I think that's what the unit of measure is).

Alternatively, ask a Porsche-approved body shop to look at the car. They will charge you (I doubt more than $150), but they will know for certain, even with the very best repairs. The charge is worth the piece of mind.

Good luck!