R129 4/5yr old news front wings. Rust spots appearing already

[219]

I know the back plates are difficult to source , but I got everything else for my 300-24 without difficulty five or six years back , and again for my S320 just at the end of last year , although I had to buy different parts from a number of different suppliers , mostly in Germany.

This was the pile of parts for the W140

 

[Doodle]

And the MB prices for all those parts will likely be not completely unreasonable. It feels somewhat like you're missing the point here?

Klokkerholm have good coverage of the backing plates.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

R129 drivers side good wing for sale for £350 over at the other place.

 

[RichardF]

For a supplier to consider it worth while how many wings would they have to produce?

MB will be buying from an independent 3rd party anyway, I wonder where?

 

[R129mine]

Wing now hopefully rust free and treated with stone chip protection

went back on the car this morning.

 

[RichardF]

Looks like you're doing a job to be proud of. I wish I could, but mines a DD so can't have more than a couple of days off the road at a time.

 

[R129mine]

I had the same dd issue up till last year when I decided to keep my wife’s old car which is worth less then £200 and cost next to nothing in maintenance and insurance is also reasonable so I can keep the sl off the road in the winter months when the gritters come out or if it rains heavily. I hate driving that £200 car though but it makes you appreciate the sl even more when you drive it.

 

[Shadychris]

One way to never have rust problems again on your R129 wings:

mercedes sl r129 front wing | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for mercedes sl r129 front wing at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

I can almost hear the purists spluttering over the coffees now ;-)

 

[WhitwellMike]

I bought new wings from MB for my slk. Bit worried as the dealer said they would be as good as the originals when I asked about the quality.
Love Hydrate80 Doing my rear subframe in it at the moment. I also am goin to try BiltHambers epoxy mastic to protect it. That is if DHL
ever get round to dropping off the package.

 

[MooseMiller]

When I worked in a bodyshop back in another life, standard practice with new wings was to completely stone chip the inside before the outer was painted. Looks like this never happened.
If it is any consolation you're doing a great job

 

[ray_hennig]

A bit off-topic but there's a thread running at the MB Club about the round radiator grille MB badge for a 126. £200+ quoted by MB.

The badge for the 124 is about £14.

The 126 guy bought the 124 badge and assures us that it is indistinguishable from the 126 version.

200 plus quid saved.

RayH

 

[Steeve]

Once this is solved what's the prevention? Undersealing?

 

[Penrhyn]

One way to never have rust problems again on your R129 wings:

mercedes sl r129 front wing | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for mercedes sl r129 front wing at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

I can almost hear the purists spluttering over the coffees now ;-)

I wonder has anyone bought these Fiberglass wings, and if so are they any good?

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Once this is solved what's the prevention? Undersealing?

Much of the problem is caused by dirt gathering in the lip behind the edge of the wheel arch. That dirt builds up and becomes very efficient at permanently holding moisture. The tiniest stone chip leaves bare metal exposed to that long-lasting moisture. The answer (as advised to me by the owner of a top bodyshop) is to use a rag on curled fingers to wipe away the dirt EVERY time you wash the car.

 

[MooseMiller]

I wonder has anyone bought these Fiberglass wings, and if so are they any good?

In my experience, they are never any good. Usually the fitment is very poor and requires a lot of work to get them looking acceptable

 

[Doodle]

Cleaning the arch is important, but whenever you see a rotten 129 wing it's in front of the arch that is the worst. Muck gets past the wheelhouse liner, where it goes unnoticed and the wing is less protected allowing it to take hold.

 

[Shadychris]

In my experience, they are never any good. Usually the fitment is very poor and requires a lot of work to get them looking acceptable

You've bought some of these fibreglass R129 wings from the company I linked to then? Do you have some photos of what they look like when finished on the car that you could share?

 

[MooseMiller]

You've bought some of these fibreglass R129 wings from the company I linked to then? Do you have some photos of what they look like when finished on the car that you could share?

Not specifically no. My feedback is more generic, I've never seen a decent fibre glass replacement panel

 

[Tattmaylor]

Would it be worthwhile replacing the wheel arch liner at the same time as the panel?

 

[Doodle]

What do you believe that would achieve? Not being facetious, just seeking to understand your thought process.

Unless it's damaged or the rubber seal is missing, not really no.