Front Wing - Genuine or Aftermarket

[wigs_1]

I'm going to be getting a new wing fitted very shortly (front drivers side).

Aftermarket - £29 (insurance approved apparently)
Genuine (unpainted) - £169! Over 5 times more expensive!!

I know aftermarket won't be perfect but surely it can't be that bad.....
How do MB sell any at that price? And they don't even galvanise them like the modern stuff so it'll rust just as fast!!

 

[maek11]

ssvg wings are always a poor fit sometimes they just dont fit at all and leave terrible gaps in most cases you have to elongate the wholes by filing them.
if do get a pattern wing try it on before painting it to see if it alligns ok.

the reason there cheaper is they have no quality control and use lower grade metals. ssvg went bust a year ago because that many bodyshops were returning poor fitting parts. but they have reopened again.

its the same with depo headlights they never fit properly.

if i were you i would buy either a good second hand wing or new genuine if your car is your pride and joy

 

[nick mercedes]

I'm going to be getting a new wing fitted very shortly (front drivers side).

Aftermarket - £29 (insurance approved apparently)
Genuine (unpainted) - £169! Over 5 times more expensive!!

I know aftermarket won't be perfect but surely it can't be that bad.....
How do MB sell any at that price? And they don't even galvanise them like the modern stuff so it'll rust just as fast!!

Which side do you need?

 

[nick mercedes]

ssvg wings are always a poor fit sometimes they just dont fit at all and leave terrible gaps in most cases you have to elongate the wholes by filing them.

The indicators can pop out of the copy wings too.

 

[wigs_1]

I need a front right hand side
Car is a C240 Sport, 1998 facelift
Cheers, Chrs

 

[nick mercedes]

I need a front right hand side
Car is a C240 Sport, 1998 facelift
Cheers, Chrs

Bummer, I've got 2 left side ones looking for homes.

If you're paying a bodyshop to paint your wing (£££s) you're better off with a real one, as they fit and don't rust away prematurly.

 

[wigs_1]

How would a second hand one clean up?
I can get "a good-un" (as he calls it) for £20 from my local scrappie but I was concerned that once the rust has started there is no stopping it hence I was looking at a new unit...
Already had someone 'clean up' some rust on the car only to turn round 6 weeks later when it came back and say "you'll never get rid of it".
Still took my money tho ........

From a previous post (doors) I take it that a pre-facelift wing will fit no bother? I can get the body shop to roll the arches if required.

 

[kth286]

nick mercedes

what have you got in the way of 124 OSF wing for 1995 coupe please (UK model)

As you will know it is one of the last of the coupe and has the rolled front wings.

If any secondhand, it is Azurite.

 

[nick mercedes]

nick mercedes

what have you got in the way of 124 OSF wing for 1995 coupe please (UK model)

As you will know it is one of the last of the coupe and has the rolled front wings.

If any secondhand, it is Azurite.

None, sorry, rocking horse poo, sadly.

 

[SilverSaloon]

http://www.perfectpanels.co.uk/ apparently (not tried myself) have pattern wings that require very little fiddling to get to fit. i am sure i read the 124 ones in particular may not even need any feddling!

 

[SilverSaloon]

How would a second hand one clean up?
I can get "a good-un" (as he calls it) for £20 from my local scrappie but I was concerned that once the rust has started there is no stopping it hence I was looking at a new unit...
Already had someone 'clean up' some rust on the car only to turn round 6 weeks later when it came back and say "you'll never get rid of it".
Still took my money tho ........

From a previous post (doors) I take it that a pre-facelift wing will fit no bother? I can get the body shop to roll the arches if required.

you could weld in new metal and/or try and use some rust treatment stuff. try some POR-15

 

[maek11]

http://www.perfectpanels.co.uk/ apparently (not tried myself) have pattern wings that require very little fiddling to get to fit. i am sure i read the 124 ones in particular may not even need any feddling!

ssvg are thatcham approved and insurance company recomended(cos there cheap + its not there car) but there still terrible.
only a genuine wing will leave nice gaps all round.

the wing could be brand new and still rust if the painter hasnt prepped it good.

 

[wigs_1]

I was in the bodyshop at lunchtime, just round from work. Turns out he's the brother of a guy from work and a lot of my colleagues have used him with good results. There is hope for me yet.

It also turns out my current RHS wing is an aftermarket (~5mm narrower than LHS)

Now looking for a genuine (prob at breakers nearby).
Any rust on the replacement wing I should be able to sort with the bead blaster at work before I prime it.
He's also going to do the little rectangular panels just in front of the rear wheels although he did admit that they'll need grinding back, rust treatment etc and even then the rust will eventually come back. But he did promise more than the 6 weeks I got from the last bloke!

I'll let you know how I get on. Hopefully it'll go well and the car will be in a condition where I can justify posting in the members gallery.....