So I was looking for some used injectors at the u-pick so I can play with my new homemade pop tester but instead found a 300td wagon!
I scored a rear cargo retracting cover, A full first aid kit, a good wagon rear bumper (PO replaced mine with a sedan bumper=no reverse lights!), a bunch of little trim items and a rear hatch in good shape. The tailgate on my wagon has a dent that includes a creased section along the ridge formed next to the license plate. My question is what do you guys think will be cheaper-fix the dent myself (I’m pretty sure I can do it but am worried about that crease) and pay to have someone spray and blend the repaired area, or-have my dent free tailgate painted to match (it is gold, my car is beige)? Has anyone had just a door painted-what did you pay? I’m thinking If I sand and prep the new tailgate so all it needs is to be sprayed it shouldn’t cost very much-I mean earl shiebe will paint a whole car for a few hundred bucks. Also would my 82 300td have come with clear coat? On a side note what would a dent free tailgate be worth? (I may have an extra to sell once I sort this out) Thanks in advance

Unless you are sure of proper preperation meathods you might be better of paying the shop to do it right.......90% of a good paint job is in the prepareation........and that includes dent repair.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Where are you, sleeeper? that sounds like a nice find, how is the interior in that wagon?
I have a tailgate on my '85 TD that also has a little crease near the window, its in a spot that can;t be beat out from behind, and pulling it out with a welded wire is probably not gonna work, so I figured finding another tailgate would be the best solution unless I wanted a hunk of Bondo on my car.
I think painting it will be easy, masked off and shot on the car, a few hundred $ at most for a super job (if you find the right autobody shop).
Let me know if your selling a lid (man they are heavy and I hate thinking about shipping one!)

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!