Trip to Texas to pick up parts car, found out it is the wrong color!

[ROLLGUY]

I went to Texas to purchase a fairly inexpensive parts car ('04 E320) to use as a donor to repair the wrecked '07 E320 Bluetec that I bought from a friend. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/389140-tucson-houston-road-trip-today-anyone-need-anything-moved.html
I removed the fenders today, and brought them over to where the '07 is being stored so I could start installing parts on it. My friend said "wouldn't it be a bummer for you if Mercedes had two different colors of white". I thought he was just kidding, as I put the donor fender up next to the bent '07 fender. My heart sank as I noticed that the '04 fender was more like an appliance white, and the '07 was more creamy. The whole idea of getting a white car was so I would not have to paint body parts. I could not find an affordable white car around here, and the major MB parts yard wanted almost $4,000 for all the color matched parts. I am not sure what to do now. I do know that the '04 is 960U Alabaster White (thank you GregMN), but not sure of the '07 color. I suppose I could get the VIN and Greg could look it up if it is not readily available on the car......Rich

[tangofox007]

Touch up paint | Touch Up Paint | AutomotiveTouchup

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by tangofox007

Touch up paint | Touch Up Paint | AutomotiveTouchup

Thanks, I already looked at that, and there are two whites. It did give me the location of the paint code, and I will drive over tomorrow and have a look.

[torsionbar]

Bummer. At least you can remove the parts you need, and have them painted the correct color at a body shop. Should be a fairly inexpensive job if you bring them the parts, as they won't have to do any masking prep.

One shade of white over another will be easy, no worries about the old color bleeding through. It's not like painting dark parts white, where the only way to do it right is to sand the old color off first.

[Clemson88]

Learn to paint. It's not such a big deal if you don't have to straighten out wrinkled metal or fill dents. When I started refinishing the interior of my project car I found a SEM dealer here in town and ordered two quarts of paint. I asked and they gave me a pint of mismatched paint to practice with.

I bought a HF HPLV professional touchup gun and lined up a few door panels I didn't need for the job and learned to paint.

Body parts not on the car should be easy to handle and prep. The painting will be simple with little or no masking and if you screw it up you won't be dealing with too big a mess.

[t walgamuth]

Sorry this happened to you Rich!

The points about just scuffing the panels needing paint and getting them painted by a shop before installation is excellent. You'll have all new paint for a fraction of the cost of getting it all done on the car and it'll be top notch.

[chasinthesun]

Resale, reboot ,relook ,replace ,enjoy .If your in no rush keep looking ,mean while resale the car to locals .could come out on top if you part individually.

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by chasinthesun

Resale, reboot ,relook ,replace ,enjoy .If your in no rush keep looking ,mean while resale the car to locals .could come out on top if you part individually.

This is my plan for now, but since I have removed some parts from the car, it will not be as easy to sell. If it was complete like the way I bought it, then maybe it might sell easier. I suppose I could put the parts back on (at least the fenders). Either way, I have already put the bumper structure and headlight/radiator support parts in the '07. The '04 will be mostly complete if I find another donor car for the body parts.

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by Clemson88

Learn to paint. It's not such a big deal if you don't have to straighten out wrinkled metal or fill dents. When I started refinishing the interior of my project car I found a SEM dealer here in town and ordered two quarts of paint. I asked and they gave me a pint of mismatched paint to practice with.

I bought a HF HPLV professional touchup gun and lined up a few door panels I didn't need for the job and learned to paint.

Body parts not on the car should be easy to handle and prep. The painting will be simple with little or no masking and if you screw it up you won't be dealing with too big a mess.

I have actually done my share of auto painting in years past, but this car deserves the best (it only has about 80,000 miles on it, and the rest of the car is near perfect). I don't have a place to do the paint work, nor do I feel confident I can lay it on as good as a body shop could (they paint every day).

[t walgamuth]

On my 99 Miata, it was black. Only after owning it a good while did I notice that there were parts that were metallic others not. I never did anything about it and sold it along without the buyer ever commenting on it.

I suspect the two whites would be more noticeable.

[moon161]

So, two wrongs doesn't make a right, but two whites makes a wrong?

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by moon161

So, two wrongs doesn't make a right, but two whites makes a wrong?

In my case yes, two whites make it look wrong

[Clemson88]

I had forgotten how difficult matching white could be. I regret advising you to paint it. I would not try to match a white that is over ten years old.

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by Clemson88

I had forgotten how difficult matching white could be. I regret advising you to paint it. I would not try to match a white that is over ten years old.

When I had my white SDL collision damage repaired, they had to special match the color, as the exact paint code color was a little off. When it was finished, one could not tell the fenders and hood were painted 20+ years later. I don't have the expertise to match the color, so I will not try painting the parts. Worst case is I will find a paint shop that is up to the task, but I am hoping I can find factory painted color matched parts so that will not be necessary. Today I will be looking at a local E350 with most of the parts I need. If it is in fact the correct paint code, I will try to buy the parts. If not, my search will continue......Rich

[ROLLGUY]

By the way, anyone interested in buying a partly disassembled '04 E320 in 960U Alabaster White?