124 coupe claddings

[BillyW124]

Chapps,

what the opinion on the claddings in terms of paint?

keep them matt finish or have them finished in the same as the body i.e. gloss?

 

[300CE24V]

i'm going through the same issues at the moment. and i have decided to leave the cladding in Matt with the rest of the car in gloss. think the two tone helps break up the car a bit

 

[BillyW124]

thats what i was thinking too, but i think it will look quite nice. its going of for some work so i thought why not get it done?

 

[BillyW124]

courtesy of del320's marvelous refurbish:

looks really nice!

 

[grober]

TWO-TONE is the authentic look for the car- even with colours that are close match the change is surface texture highlights the different materials used. Spraying everything the same doesn't work for me. The car ends up looking as if it has been resprayed sorry.

 

[300CE24V]

it does, you got a full car shot of it?

 

[scillyisles1]

On the facelifted W124 (93 onwards) the cladding panels are not Matt they are sprayed in a different colour e.g. my Brilliant Silver Cabriolet has Altas Grey cladding. This consisits of Atlas grey metallic basecoat with a normal clear coat top. When cleaned and waxed they are a gloss finish just like the rest of the car.
Colour coding the cladding the same colour as the rest of the bodywork alters the look and stance of the car. I think it depends on the colour whether this works or not.

 

[BillyW124]

mines is Azurite blue, i think with darker colours you can get away with it?

but im totaly with the opinions on how the two tone effect separates the car and gives it that character quite a difficult choice..

 

[300CE]

Mine is colour coded and prefer it compared to two tone - it also comes up lovely when polished. I do however agree with scillyisles in that it depends on the colour of the car. Attached the link of mine after polishing it the other week:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/detailing-mbclub/111702-started-clean-300ce.html

 

[scillyisles1]

Yes I would agree that colour coding the cladding seems to work better on the darker colours.

 

[Sp!ke]

I prefer the monotone look myself but it is much harder to keep looking clean.

 

[GP801]

Personally I prefer the 2 tone look. Its the more classic 124 style but monotone was available as an option when new. It was expensive so very few were delivered monotone from the factory. I think it works better on the darker colours. 2 tone much better for silver and the paler colours.

 

[BillyW124]

i actually find the two tone cladding as we should now refer to it as actually harder to clean?

I feel it's prone to show alot more marks etc, its a really strange finish.

 

[300CE]

Personally I prefer the 2 tone look. Its the more classic 124 style but monotone was available as an option when new. It was expensive so very few were delivered monotone from the factory. I think it works better on the darker colours. 2 tone much better for silver and the paler colours.

Interesting to know GP - i haven't seen that many in monotone and that may explain why - i actually thought that the two tone was an option. Any ideas how much it would have cost when new?

 

[GP801]

Not sure. It is not on the price list I have. I was told it was one of the special request options - a bit like designo is now - and cost more than metallic paint at the time

 

[scillyisles1]

Not sure. It is not on the price list I have. I was told it was one of the special request options - a bit like designo is now - and cost more than metallic paint at the time

Hmm I am not sure this is correct - i have quite a few of the original price lists and catalogues and none of them mention this option. I also have never heard of it as a factory option nor seen it on any press car etc.

 

[GP801]

The info came from a well respected expert on the 124 but I cannot confirm that it is accurate. It could be that they were done in the uk at the purchasers request.

 

[312 Sprinter]

When the cars were new there were several dealers who routinely got rid of the two tone. Mercedes Hertford used to do it for instance. Personally I dislike the two tone look, it makes the design look awkward to my eyes.

 

[kth286]

the very late 124 s all came in single colour from factory.

my Aug 95 coupe in Azurite did.

 

[scillyisles1]

the very late 124 s all came in single colour from factory.

my Aug 95 coupe in Azurite did.

my late May 1996 built E320 Carbriolet did not - have you had your car from new?