my 87 300D has been painted!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

greasybenz · #1 09-02-2006, 03:11 AM

at earl shiebs....yes i know they can suck but the redwood city shiebs has a good reputation...well sorta in my case (few things need to be fixed)
Overall the paint job is amazing! i got their "top of the line" pro-4 paint job (there are 4 stages of paint jobs) normally costs $700+ but was on sale for $500 at the redwood city location. There are some things that they are going to redo.

They have to re-sand and paint the rear truck lid, i had removed all the trim myself and specifically told them to remove the glue that holds the "300D" "turbo" badges in the back. and forgot to do it! twice!!

So i have to take it back in on tuesday, but the owner of the place is a nice guy. He said because of all the inconveinances he will add a second clear coat and paint the back of the mirrors for free! So the second clear coat should make it shine more. But after i let the paint harden for a month or so ill use liquid glass or that british auto glym stuff.

Here are the pics.

Before

After

On my crappy camera the paint looks white. But its really a cool vanilla like whats on the limited chrysler 300C's and PT cruiser's.

greasybenz · #2 09-02-2006, 03:17 AM

gatorblue92 · #3 09-02-2006, 04:04 AM

looks pretty good

greasybenz · #4 09-02-2006, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

looks pretty good

thanks, i like how they painted my muffler tips

but ill probably change my exhaust later on so no big deal.

sixto · #5 09-02-2006, 01:56 PM

Is it me or is your car riding high?

Is that an xB between the Ford and GM vans in the second picture?

Does that location do touch-up work? I pulled the misaligned 300SD badge from the SD (duh) and it looks like someone took the badge off with a chisel previously.

Thanks,
Sixto
93 300SD

greasybenz · #6 09-02-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

Is it me or is your car riding high?

Is that an xB between the Ford and GM vans in the second picture?

Does that location do touch-up work? I pulled the misaligned 300SD badge from the SD (duh) and it looks like someone took the badge off with a chisel previously.

Thanks,
Sixto
93 300SD

no your right my car does ride pretty high, its these damn gabriel ultra shocks. The old and worn KYB's made it had the car lowered as if it had a sportline suspension

Yes thats a xB near some ford and gm work vans, i took the pics at my dads work (my ex-job)

And yes they do touch up work! just tell them what you want done and they can give you an estimate on the spot for free. There was a audi there that seemed it was hit on the passanger side fender, must have been insurance work. When i picked up my car, i looked at the audi and the black earl shieb paint matched well with the oem audi paint.

matt87_300d · #7 09-02-2006, 02:38 PM

Do you think the paint on the plastic / rubber bumper strip will last? Did they do any different prep work for those panels?

greasybenz · #8 09-02-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt87_300d

Do you think the paint on the plastic / rubber bumper strip will last? Did they do any different prep work for those panels?

Cant say for sure how long they will last, but its the reason why i went with their pro-4 paint job. It has a lifetime warranty so if it starts peeling, fading, cracking, etc. they redo the paint for free.

I didnt have them paint the rubber strips on the sides of the doors, they arent on the car yet just sitting in the trunk.

Boardmonger · #9 09-02-2006, 04:50 PM

That looks pretty good. Do you tell them what to paint or do they just go and paint everything they think should be painted? I might be interested in doing this to my blue euro because even if I put in hours and hours into sanding and polishing there are still going to be some major blemishes. How is the shine in yours? Even at the regular $700 it sounds like a fair deal if they give you a lifetime warranty.

greasybenz · #10 09-02-2006, 11:14 PM

The shine is impressive, its not MB shine of course but you can see reflections of the trees, other cars, etc. Some liquid glass or that auto glym stuff should bring out the shine more. Also since they are adding a second clear cloat for all the troubles it will be even more shiny.

And yes you tell them what you want painted. If i didnt tell them i wanted my bumpers painted they would have masked them and just shot the car. But id suggest you remove all the trim yourself so they wont overspray it.

My dads 78 300D is next up for a paint job, but for that one we are removing the bumpers.

dieselmania · #11 09-02-2006, 11:27 PM

Ruben, that's a sharp looking 124. What size tires are those, the profile I mean.

greasybenz · #12 09-02-2006, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselmania

Ruben, that's a sharp looking 124. What size tires are those, the profile I mean.

thanks!
cant remember exact size but they are 16" wheels

Boardmonger · #13 09-03-2006, 02:44 AM

Hmmm, sounds like I am going to have to really think about this. I am going to need a new trunk and left rear door and some rust fixed and dents pulled but it would really improve the car. I suppose I don't really mind painting this one since it has already been painted at least once. Maybe I'll call them up sometime soon and see what they say. Ruben I'll be sure to mention you if I go that route.

Have you considered putting on the later style taillights? I think they have more of a smoked look which would fit in very nicely with the euro lights and clear corners. Also that white tailpipe won't be staying that color very long

Jim B. · #14 09-03-2006, 04:36 AM

Hey Ruben you got a LOT for your money by willing to do some prep with pulling the trim yourself.

LOTS different than the white sedans with the gray lower body cladding.

Yours looks like it got dipped in white paint! A really monochromatic look!

The W124s were great Mercedes, many people, inlcuding me, think they have
the handbuilt quality of the great old Mercedes built to a cost no object by the German engineers and were the LAST of the E class series to have had it - we all know what came in 1996 and it was a lot less good.

This is the one you'll keep for years and years, after you get out of school and be working on diesels full time, right.

You really got a great deal from the paint shop though. Compare what you paid to the typical price you'd have to pay in the Bay Area for a good Mercedes paint job if you walked in off the street, it would be about $8,000.

When I lived in the City till 2 years ago, when the Volvo or SEC got hit, we always went to Eurodesign in South City (San Mateo Avenue) and Rick Martinez, it was Insurance work for us, so we could afford to have the best, and he did Ferraris, Bimmers, highline Mercedes, last time we were in, there was a Brand NEW S55 AMG sedan in, the owners wife got pissed at him and keyed EVERY PANEL on the brand new car (So new it still had the dealer's temporary sticker on the wsindshield). I wonder what made her so mad at him.

My ex wife was from Peru, and the attitude towards paint jobs on cars there was decidedly different.

There used to be an assembly plant in Lima that assembled CKD (completely knocked down) Dodge Coronet sedans from about 1968 to 1978 (when they were called Dodge Monaco's. There were also mid 60's Chevy Bel Air and Ford Custom 500 sedans, everywhere around, and they used them for "Collectivos" they all had the 6 cyl. engine.stick shift engines, and they would be used for trips to the Andes cities, up in the Sierras, load up the passengers with their luggage and off they'd go.

They were painted with a very straightforward approach. Color was chosen and buckets of house paint were purchased. The cars looked like they'd been approached straight on with a broom, and the paint applied broadside on.

Trim , preparation? No me tomes el pelo. Ja JaJa.

greasybenz · #15 09-03-2006, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boardmonger

Have you considered putting on the later style taillights? I think they have more of a smoked look which would fit in very nicely with the euro lights and clear corners. Also that white tailpipe won't be staying that color very long

I have the later style taillights sitting in the garage, going to put them on after they fix the trunk and put the second clear coat on. And as for the tailpipe, the paint is already burning off

especially after tonight. My dad and i drove over to the 24hr walmart in union city from his house in SF. We tried going 100mph on the freeway since it was clear due to the closing of the bay bridge

But my dad got chicken at 85 and said that was enough of a thrill

EDIT:zack, from the looks of your pics. I see your blue euro will need a new bumper and bracket?
Well they have a W123 euro at all auto dismantlers on 398 Quint St in san francisco. Its a dark blue 300D, we took the passanger mirror off that car to put on my dads 78 300D. If i remember correctly the bumper was in good shape.
That place sells the parts really cheap, he sold us a clean pair of rear MB tex seats for $45. While american imports in san jose charged us $200 for the front seats!!

And all auto wanted $60 for the pair of front seats!! oh well at least we have nice comfy seats in the 78.