Looking for opinions on repainting my W126...

[Blu 420Sel]

I recently had my baby (88 420sel) shipped cross country. In the process she recieved a couple a nasty gouges in the hood. The company agreed to pay for the damages and I'm taking her to a top quality local shop on monday.

The paint overall is in very good shape but 15 years has taken its toll, there are a number of chips, dings and scraches that are only visable under close inspection. They tell me they can touch up these areas and make her look 'very good' for another $800, which I plan to do.

The big question is: Should I repaint the lower moldings? They have really seen the worst of the wear. I was debating if I should paint them to the same midnight blue as the body to give it a more contemporary look, or would a W126 look too massive in a single color? Another option that was suggested by the body guy was to paint them a light silvery metallic color that matched the replic Monoblocks that I just put on? It breaks up the colors and is only a shade or two off of the orignal grey color, but I'm worried it might look too 'big pimpin'.

What does everyone think? I'll try to put some pictures up tomorrow, but I'd love to hear some thoughts.

Thanks!

[DieselHead]

My neighbors have a really beautiful late model 560SEL in dark green. It's all one color and really beautiful. I think it makes the car look more contemporary.

Alex

[Blu 420Sel]

That does look good! Did you have it custom painted or did it come like that? Do you have any other shots of it?

[Blu 420Sel]

Sorry to here about your camera. The worst part of losing a digital is that you lose hundreds of pictures instead of just 36.

That's interesting your's is unmodified, I didn't realize the dark lower half was available stock. I have the 88 sales brochure and they're all pictured with the grey moldings. I wonder if that's a '91 option? Either way, it's beautiful. One day I think I'm going to upgrade to a '91 interior too, it just looks so much more plush and inviting.

[BenzOnline]

1989 was the year they made the bottom mouldings to match the rest of the paint color of the car and that lasted till the end of the w126 production.

[Blu 420Sel]

No votes for the metallic silver base? I'm surprised...

I think I might try to photoshop up one tonight.

[suginami]

I actually like the two-tone look very much, and think the midnight blue with the silver lower moldings looks great.

[Blu 420Sel]

Yeah, the silver that he was talking about is just a few shades lighter than the existing grey and more iridescent. The rims mix it with the crome to terrific effect. I think it would be a really cool but subtle change from the stock look.

I also put clear corners on and am hunting for some euro lenses. It made a remarkable difference already, kind of a blue and silver/white theme which goes with the ivory/parchment interior too. I guess I need to decide weither I want to blend in or stand out.

Hmmm, definately need to photoshop this up....

[Blu 420Sel]

Ok, here it is as it looks now.

[Blu 420Sel]

This is with a lighter colored molding. Try to imagine a metallic, slightly iridescent silver.

[Blu 420Sel]

And this is dark.

[suginami]

To be honest with you, looking at those three pictures, I like the dark the best.

Go figure...

[Blu 420Sel]

Just for kicks, this is a much darker base.

[Blu 420Sel]

I think the dark base is growing on me too. It just looks so serious, I'm a little more light-hearted than that.

What do you think about the very dark base? Something even a shade or two darker than the top side.

[suginami]

It's too hard to tell in the picture.

I still like picture #3 the best.