Long story short my 84 SEL with only 62,000 miles was smacked by a Honda (Get this laugh, he said it was a show car Honda).

Ok down to the facts. Factory paint is one stage paint which is not made by manufactures or is not available in California. The body shop says they will paint fender and fade the paint back accross two doors then clear coat over that. The painter says you may see the difference down the side even though the paint is mid-night blue.

The problem is the original paint is not a clear coat paint and will never match the rest of the car.

Wow is me what can I do?

Get car fixed out of state, another country?

Get ins co to repaint the whole car ? (I'm sure they will like that). They're already having a crapper over an invalid vin cause it's a Euro car.

Has any one had this problem and have a good answer.

Signed PISSED AT RICERS

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

Beverly Hills Coach Craft

Have you tried talking to them? Nothing is better than factory paint, but you have to work with what you can get.

If the ricer is at 100% fault, then make him pay.

Remember factory paint is best, so if you dont have to repaint the whole car, dont. (unless yours is all faded, then go ahead.)

Yeah, I know what you mean about the Euro VIN, such a pain. Make sure everytime you get yearly paperwork or insurance, make sure the vin is correct. They like to make up US vins for you...so be really careful.

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Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

If they use base clear It's going to show. I would insist that they paint the whole car.If you can't get MB paint there are some very high quality paints out there. Then it's all in prep and the skill of the fellow using the gun.I had to change insurance companies after ten years with a perfect record because they said my Euro car was a non car because the vin showed a blank..........

William Rogers........

W Rogers
Is there single stage paint in Oregon? It may be worth going to Oregon to get the paint or have the whole care done there.

This car has been garage kept all it's life with a one a month polishing. The PO was a car NUT. 4MBz an 2 Carreras in his marble floored climate controlled garage.

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

Yes I think the laws are different here I have bought single stage paints from Industrial Finishes in Eugene Oregon. I know the EPA has really cracked down on body/paint shops in CA.
We dont even have emission testing here in Lane Co OR. If you let me know what you are looking for I could call them. There's a dandy paint/body shop in Florence OR (costal town about half way up the coast) I have seen their work and was Quoted $2350
for paint job on one of my 126's..........

William Rogers.........

The best coachman in California is in Burbank. Jim Torres at Burbank Coachworks. He's not cheap, he's the best.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman