Are full rear quarter panels available for 300D? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Sugi · #1 09-26-2007, 02:16 PM

Howdy- a young college kid backed out of parking space and into the right rear of our nice 300D. His insurance co sent out an adjuster and he was actually pretty cool. I had 3 estimates (with copies ready for him), all of my maintain ace receipts in order, and a NADA "classic car" value guide print out off the internet (which says the 1981 300D retails for $4400 in daily driver condition!). Anyhow-2 of the shops showed that the full quarter panel was available for $810. Does anyone know if that is true?I'm glad they want to fix the car, I purchased it from a church who had it donated by the 2nd owner- she has a Metric Motors rebuild put in there before she donated it- wasn't that nice! Runs like a top, no blowby at all...

#2 09-26-2007, 05:24 PM

It's a unibody car, the back quarter panels are part of the main body. The front ones are removable though.

Paulc66t · #3 09-26-2007, 07:19 PM

Most cars can get repair panels that are welded into place by
the body shop.

Mustang_man298 · #4 09-26-2007, 08:23 PM

I'm sure replacements are available. They are a welded part on the rear structuring, so they would best be replaced by a shop with a unibody rack to hold the car straight during the cut and replace process. Even if new panels couldn't be found, there are many wrecking yards who can cut the panel out for you around the origional seam, so the body shop can drill out the old spot welds on the seam and fit it to yours.

t walgamuth · #5 09-26-2007, 09:52 PM

there is a place in michigan which i posted here over a year ago, i cannot remember the name, which sells fenders that go from the trim line down and from the corner to the door. about 180 iirc. plus shipping i am sure.

Sherman auto parts?...yes, just checked. You will need to call them though, the part you want is not pictured....but i am pretty sure it is availble....at least it was last year or so.

Tom W

lietuviai · #6 09-26-2007, 10:50 PM

Just make sure that is not some sort of aftermarket crap.

sedecrem · #7 09-26-2007, 11:13 PM

I was just reading about the process in volume II of the 123 chassis FSM.

These is a something called a celette adjusting bench that they mount the chassis on. First all of the spot welds are drilled out, the flat welds are ground or cut and the metal ground bright at the weld points of both the chassis and the replacement section. Then, the chassis and the replacement section are mounted on the " celette bench" and various adjusting tools are used to align points on the two sections. Then plug welds are used in place of the spot welds and alnd the other welds are replaced to join the sections together in a way duplicating the factory assembly.

I found it fascinating. Mercedes really intended these cars to be kept on the road for a long time.

lietuviai · #8 09-26-2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedecrem

I found it fascinating. Mercedes really intended these cars to be kept on the road for a long time.

True but that doesn't seem to be the case at the US Mercedes dealerships. They really don't want to see our cars in their service departments.

Mustang_man298 · #9 09-27-2007, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedecrem

I was just reading about the process in volume II of the 123 chassis FSM.

These is a something called a celette adjusting bench that they mount the chassis on. First all of the spot welds are drilled out, the flat welds are ground or cut and the metal ground bright at the weld points of both the chassis and the replacement section. Then, the chassis and the replacement section are mounted on the " celette bench" and various adjusting tools are used to align points on the two sections. Then plug welds are used in place of the spot welds and alnd the other welds are replaced to join the sections together in a way duplicating the factory assembly.

I found it fascinating. Mercedes really intended these cars to be kept on the road for a long time.

That sounds pretty much like what I was mentioning earlier, just sounds like they go a little further with it, but I didn't realize they had it in the manual too..never occurred to me, now I'm going to go hafta look in there...

t walgamuth · #10 09-27-2007, 05:56 AM

Of course they are probably made in china or korea.

I think availability is the biggest issue.

Tom W

TimFreeh · #11 09-27-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugi

Anyhow-2 of the shops showed that the full quarter panel was available for $810. Does anyone know if that is true?

Part number is 123 630 02 21 - MSRP $810, wholesale $621.

As previous posters mention it has to be welded into place, lots of sheetmetal is available for collision repair although its not exactly cheap.

I've purchased factory fenders, quarter panels and rockers. They are all excellent quality and in my opinion worth the $$$ if you are interested in a quality repair.