original v pattern w124 wings

[Lockhart Flawse]

Hello,

My first proper post. I have recently acquired an E320 that will need new wings soon. I have read on here that the pattern parts don't fit as well as original MB parts. Does this mean that the pattern wings are not quite the right shape or just that they take a lot of fiddling with and so higher labour costs to get them to fit properly?

This is my first Mercedes and I have no idea yet about the best way to get parts for these cars. Are there any main dealers which tend to be better for w124 parts than others or is it just a matter of ringing round the main dealer network to find out who has the wings in stock or will get them and at what price?

Grateful for any advice please.

L.F.

 

[dog68]

Hi, pattern panels are correct shape, but do need fettling/shiming to fit good. original panels will always be dear, but if you could find some secondhand ones, that are original, (been replaced) like i have.

 

[6pot]

Genuine wings are around £195 each and fit as they should. Non gen can be as little as £40 each. Ive heard lots of stories saying they dont fit as well but ive had no first had experience of seeing this. If you can find them on ebay in the colur you need then go for it but they are rare. Most w124 parts are avaliable from dealers and plentyful spares are to be had on ebay.
(BTW If your new to the w124 id definatley check out the water drain threads as this may save you hassel in the future.)

 

[GP801]

Dont bother with pattern parts. They just dont fit as they should. Worth spending money on genuine panels. 124 parts are easily available via main dealers. Not always in stock but couple of days at most

 

[d w124]

Well:I have pattern wings on my saloon,no complaints at all

 

[GP801]

Maybe we were unlucky but my sons 300e-24 had pattern parts which just did not fit as they should. Probably coloured my opinion.

 

[renault12ts]

Look on Ebay:

MERCEDES BENZ 200/300 SECOND FACELIFT 1993-95 N/S WING on eBay (end time 06-Oct-10 17:20:40 BST)

or this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCEDES-BENZ...CarParts_SM&hash=item3cb12c55b0#ht_500wt_1154

 

[grober]

People speak well of HADRIAN PANELS which are certified by some insurance companies. http://hadrian.dominohosting.biz/hadrian/hcpdb01.nsf/Home!OpenForm
p.s. The MB parts for cars of that age will probably be contracted out now albeit with strict quality control for reasons of volume. Some folks have commented that while fitting well they don't match the quality of the factory originals ?

 

[jaymanek]

Hadrian are good panels that seem to fit ok, but they are not the same guage of steel and will feel tinny compared to the original item...
But in all honesty, once the panels are on, painted and rust proofed, its difficult to tell the difference.

I have used hadrian panels on my W123 and they are great value for money.

 

[coupe deville]

I have patterns on. Body shop sourced and fitted them, look good as originals but as said above are a little thinner, but will last as long as the rest of the car so what the eck

 

[bolide]

None of the pattern wings I've seen fit properly round the A pillar. They seem to be the wrong shape & end up too tight to the pillar and to far away from the top of the door

Panel gaps with pattern wings are horrible, they're thin and nasty. Just repair the originals

Nick Froome

 

[stwat]

I fitted new original wings to my 190E 2.6 and they fitted on perfectly and lined up correctly with all the lines of the doors, shut lines etc etc without any issues at all.

I was amazed how accurate they fitted and would never use anything but genuine in the future going on what i have seen and heard about the pattern panels.

 

[SilverSaloon]

I have always seen threads where people suggest that you must fit genuine MB panels as pattern panels wont fit.

however i fitted a pattern 107 wing on my R107 and it fitted very easily and looks/feels fine.

my 124 wings are a little bubbly at the front. eventually i will replace them and i'll probably be going the pattern-route. i do however have a genuine 2nd hand wing in the shed which i would also fit too. if you can get genuine 2nd hand wings that are 100% rust free, i'd go for that option 1st.

 

[Tiff]

Patterns on mine, and they are OK. They were fitted to the car when bought and as said before the only place that it is obvious is the bottom of the A Pillar- this could be fixed with careful fitting though. Watch Wheeler Dealers to see how Edd deals with pattern wings.....

 

[bh13coupe]

Hadrians on mine, no issues with them, they are the more expensive non OEM panels. I suspect the really cheap ones may have issues with panel gaps and jiggling to fit.

 

[ss201]

I had new wings fitted to a W124 coupe a few years back. Got one from GSF - the last one in the country, which was A1 for fit. Got the other one from KMS, which (according to the bodyshop that fitted it) was a complete pain. Holes drilled in the wrong places, a lot of pushing and pulling to get it to fit half decently and still didn't sit quite right. Probably cost as much in labour to fit as it would have to buy genuine. My advice would be to only fit genuine wings. Worth waiting for some s/h wings to come up, but make sure they are genuine M-B wings.

 

[SilverSaloon]

Watch Wheeler Dealers to see how Edd deals with pattern wings.....

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