tidying w123

[billyboy88]

I am tidying up my recent purchase of a 1983 230e , the drivers door and rear wheel arches have some rust coming through,and the previous owner just bodged the rust with paint (looks like dulux!!)
Rather than getting a bodywork place to restore the doors and wheel arches, can it be a diy option to just replace the door panells with new ones, then get a paint shop to spray them, as i have seen door mouldings for £20.00, where as i have been quoted £200.00 to restore them with fibre glass ect.
I am a real newbie to all this, but have fallen in love with my 230e and want to restore her to her former glory.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

I know how you feel, I have learnt the hard way though, unless you are very lucky or skilled, the only way to get good looking bodywork is to pay a good bodyshop to do it properly. Bodged bodywork usually looks worse that the rust or dent!

Fibreglass repairs tend to fall into the "less than perfect" repair category, but can be a budget repair if done with care.

Good luck with the car!