Hit and run on my 300SD
 

I was having a great Holiday weekend until I walked out of my studio to find a huge dent in the door of my mint condition 300SD that I've only had for 3 months. It was parked on a side street and appears to have been backed into by some ********* making a 2 point turn.
I'm going to call a couple different PDR guys Monday, but I'll most likely end up looking for a metallic blue door in the junk yards over the next few weeks. I don't have enough insurance to cover this. Does anyone have a link to info on door panel removal on a 126? I broke 3 tabs when I removed the passenger side a couple of months ago.
The bright side is that the door functions properly and the window works.

may be able to pop it out, I dont know if its possible but get inside the door and push on the dent and see if it comes out, may need a rubber mallet (dont hit too had) and see what happens

Dang! Sorry to see that.

Can you pop it out from the inside? Looks like the majority of the damage will disappear if you do.

Wow, that really sucks... I wouldn't try to do it unless you don't really care about the final results or if you have a body repair business yourself. I did something like that on my 300SD and it DOESN'T look good afterwards. Better have the pros at it.

126 door panels are held to the door with hooks, not the buttons like on the 123. If you try prying the panel off you will break the hooks. After the screws are removed, lift straight up on the panel and the hooks will release from the door. To replace the panel, put it against the door about 1" above the normal position and slide straight down to engage the hooks.

Find a reputable PDR mechanic. Do not hire one from craigslist. Some of them are unreputable, and do shoddy work if at all.

If the metal has been stretched, it won`t just pop back out. It may come out some.

I had a new 72 3/4 ton ford PU, once in a while the lower panel of the door would pop in on one side. hit the other side with my hand, and it would pop over to the other side. I finally used a plumbers helper, and it pulled right out.

the door being backed into like yours, might be a little different.

we aren`t too far apart, and we have a good supply of PNP in the area. One south of me in Moss landing, 2 in S.J.. then one up in Newark. there are probably a few in your area. I do see these 126`s in this color form time to time. a complete door is about $60.00 out the gate.

www.picknpull.com from thisyou can see the inventory of the yards, but doesn`t tell you the color or contition.
there is also a list of where all their yards are. and also you can bring up their price list.

It sucks it happened, but at least it isn`t structural.

Charlie

It figures that when you try to preserve the condition of a great automobile, pour time and effort into it, and take extra measures to do the same unto others' that some ignorant, uncaring, leach with no respect of the personal property of others, would come and commit something such as this! I agree that trying to push out as much as possible should be your first attempt. But the metal is more than likely stretched. If it needs replacement, I would search for a used door. The only thing is that it will probably not be 100 percent either. If I could, I would try to reskin it, if still available, then paint it.

Since it does not look like the paint is cracked/broken it might be popped out however there are some paintless dent removal companies that can handle it.
In my area they run about $80.00-100.00 bucks Good luck !

Do you have any that are of national affiliation? I like that price and need a "pop."

If I can find a PDR guy for that price, I'd be more than happy to do it. It seems like a soft dent in the sense that there is no chipped paint or creasing. $300.00 is my ceiling for this repair, be it either through a pro or a pic n pull door with a repaint.
I already had some money put aside for my oil cooler hose, oil filter housing job that I was going to do this winter. I hate it when unexpected stuff like this sets you back.

A good body shop could probably reverse most of that damage. I'd have a shop look at it.

Our parts car is that color and has an "ok" drivers door.....and both of our 82's are that color too!

The scam artists are as much or more than reputable guys is what I'm finding. Be da# careful saying yes to any of them!

I recommend using a PDR guy that the local dealership uses. They are usually very reputable and do great work.

The door is cosmetic stiff right now. It is still finctional, opens and closes and doesn`t leak. I know you don`t want to drive around in a junky looking car. but if the oil cooler hoses are of a concern, I would do the mechanical stuff first. a blown hose could be the cost of an engine and then a parts car, unless you start looking for another engine.

Just a thought.

Charlie