Yes the trim would be a good way to hide rust. I do remember seeing 126 and 116 cars tooling around with fender trim over there. Are there age-related exemptions to the TUV?

Do a search on 450sel at www.mobile.de and you will see that at least 50% have the fender trim.

Did you try and run a fender-trimmed car through TUV?

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E