W124 Coupe - Welding work (Inner arches/sills/rear quarters)

[Prof.C.Benz]

Hey guys and gals,

I'm looking for some bodywork contacts around London or further afield that specialise in older Mercs to get the following done;

Inner Arches
Some holes so need welding of new parts or sheet metal.

Sills
Some rust near front fenders, so need replacement sections for front of Sills welded on.

Rear Quarters
Rust cut away and new Arches welded in place.

Who should I be speaking to!? I know I could take to many classic garages around London, but I prefer a specialist who will know what's what with some of these issues.

Any and all advice welcome.

P.s. I have thought about buying a MIG and learning, but I honestly don't have the space and tools to do what I need. It would probably cost more than the repairs also haha. Leave it to the pros. I want a proper job that will last another 30 years.

 

[alabbasi]

I know I could take to many classic garages around London, but I prefer a specialist who will know what's what with some of these issues. .......P.s. I have thought about buying a MIG and learning

My advise is that If you've never welded before, but considered doing it yourself, then you should be satisfied with any professional body shop that you take it to. They don't need to be a specialist, but they should be reputable.

 

[ray_hennig]

I'm looking for some bodywork contacts around London

Steve Redfearn in Wimbledon is a respected specialist who knows well the older MBs. He's worked on many of mine.

He is not a bodywork man but I feel sure he could advise.

edan.io

edan.io - Your website in 5 minutes!

steve-co-ltd.edan.io

RayH

 

[grober]

You may find that many structural W124 body repair sections are no longer available meaning repairing the car may involve fabrication of certain parts. Make sure any body shop you approach is aware of this and factors it into any estimate. A sound donor car may be possible solution also for certain parts that are NLA?

 

[Prof.C.Benz]

You may find that many structural W124 body repair sections are no longer available meaning repairing the car may involve fabrication of certain parts. Make sure any body shop you approach is aware of this and factors it into any estimate. A sound donor car may be possible solution also for certain parts that are NLA?

So I think I've found inner arch replacements on Ebay.

Am I right in thinking these are what I think they are?...

Pardon our interruption...

Pardon our interruption...

I would also buy the fender brackets that need to be welded on.

Pardon our interruption...

and/or

Pardon our interruption...

Just need the right person to weld in place, right?...

Also found the front sections of the Sills, but I'm sure on those parts. (if anyone needs links, just ask)

I still need reassurance I have the right parts above.

Thanks again for all your help guys.

 

[grober]

Congratulations on finding that website TrabHan I haven't come across them before. A sceptic might note parts are dispatched from a German warehouse but that may not mean parts are made in Germany? Pattern parts vary in quality in terms of fit but the only way to find out to try them. This old Mercedes parts site may help with part numbers

Mercedes Benz EPC Type W124 124 Information Everything Benz

 

[Prof.C.Benz]

That's an amazing resource for diagrams and part numbers.

Thanks so much.

With regards to Trabhan's quality, they have a very informative page on their parts quality. How very German.. Hahah

Our quality standards

Compare TrabHan repair panels for Mercedes to other suppliers. ✅ Exclusive manufacturing ✅ High quality ✅ International shipping from Germany.

www.trabhan.com

 

[Will]

Andy’s Autobarn in Ashford Middlesex (near Heathrow) would be the ideal place for this:

Welcome to Andy's Autobarn | Car body repairs SW London

Andy's Autobarn provide car body repairs and restorations from our garage in Ashford, Middlesex.

andysautobarn.com

Just be aware that good bodywork is never cheap, and that sounds like quite an extensive list of repairs needed. You may be at a turning point with this car?

I mean that in the nicest way - what’s the rest of the car like - mechanically, interior, rest of the paint and bodywork, glass etc (windscreen delimitation and/or rust around the frames etc)

Anything can be restored with enough time and money of course but it’s worth having an overall plan and budget review before you begin IMHO

 

[Prof.C.Benz]

Andy’s Autobarn in Ashford Middlesex (near Heathrow) would be the ideal place for this:

Welcome to Andy's Autobarn | Car body repairs SW London

Andy's Autobarn provide car body repairs and restorations from our garage in Ashford, Middlesex.

andysautobarn.com

Just be aware that good bodywork is never cheap, and that sounds like quite an extensive list of repairs needed. You may be at a turning point with this car?

I mean that in the nicest way - what’s the rest of the car like - mechanically, interior, rest of the paint and bodywork, glass etc (windscreen delimitation and/or rust around the frames etc)

Anything can be restored with enough time and money of course but it’s worth having an overall plan and budget review before you begin IMHO

Absolutely. Have been around the houses on this question.

The car has:
Bright paintwork bar a couple of small spots.
SUPER clean and fresh Interior.
Strong Engine with no issue.
Subframes are solid.

The problem list is:
Gearbox (slipping between 2nd & 3rd)
Four corners (as described above) small rust issues.
Some slight delamination of rear glass, but not fatal.
Couple of small rust spots around Rear Glass to be done when glass is out.

I also want to get her blasted and resealed underneath and suspension renewed, just for longevity. No actual issues apart from aesthetics.

She is a very solid car. And I'm willing to spend about 4-5k to get her back to her glory days.

I see this as an investment as the price for a 300CE is steadily rising and I bought her for a bag of chips almost 10 years ago. (many years of relatively problem free driving).

The gearbox issue was the main reason I parked her after Summer in 2018.

Once I start the work, I'll start a thread on her journey.

 

[ray_hennig]

And I'm willing to spend about 4-5k to get her back to her glory days.

How much of the work will you do yourself?

If all of it, maybe 4-5K might do it. Otherwise, and if you start becoming a perfectionist/fanatic, you might double or treble that. I know this because I've done it!!

When I started the restoration of mine, I accepted 2 things: This is my last car (70 this year) and I am going to compare the costs with acquiring another car at, say, 20-30K.

Just the 2 lower control arms cost 1000€. And the gearbox rebuild was £2000.

I don't mean to be a prophet of doom, really.

The very best of luck. Great cars.

RayH

 

[mattc]

Congratulations on finding that website TrabHan I haven't come across them before. A sceptic might note parts are dispatched from a German warehouse but that may not mean parts are made in Germany? Pattern parts vary in quality in terms of fit but the only way to find out to try them. This old Mercedes parts site may help with part numbers

Mercedes Benz EPC Type W124 124 Information Everything Benz

I've just ordered some rear sub frame mounts from them as I need some welding done. I'll let people know how they work out

 

[del320]

I'm watching this thread closely and will hopefully be writing up a separate thread in a couple of months or so.

There are a few observations I would make. As long as I've been a member here, I have frequently stated that my C124 will see me out and I'm prepared to expend ludicrous amounts to keep it going. I think they are great cars and well worth restoring.

Going by what the Prof is proposing, I can't see 4-5k even touching the sides, unless, as Ray suggests, it is largely a DIY job. Ray has done it and I have now started a project. I've done the man maths and the mechanical and bodywork is budgeted and expected to come in around £16k.

I don't want to derail Prof's thread and, as I said, a full detailed thread will appear this Spring. However, here are a few spoilers.


She is presently 26 years old and this was 13 years ago following a £3.5k refurbishment. Grober saw her two years later.


Forward another 13 years, and she still looks OK from 10 feet. N/S rear wheelarch has gone and numerous rust bubbles, but who knows what could be hidden?


Yes! Same car! N/S inner wheelarch and base of A-pillar. That's the bottom of the passenger door on right. Rust hidden by cladding.


N/S inner wing and base of windscreen. Who would've known? Other horrors elsewhere but nothing terminal!

Stick at it, Prof, I think it will be worth it, but be prepared to expect the unexpected!

 

[del320]

How much of the work will you do yourself?

If all of it, maybe 4-5K might do it. Otherwise, and if you start becoming a perfectionist/fanatic, you might double or treble that. I know this because I've done it!!

When I started the restoration of mine, I accepted 2 things: This is my last car (70 this year) and I am going to compare the costs with acquiring another car at, say, 20-30K.

Just the 2 lower control arms cost 1000€. And the gearbox rebuild was £2000.

I don't mean to be a prophet of doom, really.

The very best of luck. Great cars.

RayH

Virtually identical to my reasoning. Looking to spend £50 - £70k but very few new or second-hand cars appeal to me. I like the Jaguar XF, CLS Shooting Brake, and even the 280bhp 4x4 Superb, but all are far too big for my use. Diesels and SUVs are OUT. Two seaters - Porsches and SLs etc are too small and elderly gents driving brand new ones look tw@ts.

Certain VAG products do appeal - that Skoda, certain Audis (yes, I know...) and even Bentley, but as Ray suggests, time is running out, and perhaps better the devil you know.

 

[Skd884]

Del, Ray if either of you ever sell drop me a PM.

Thank you

 

[Prof.C.Benz]

Stick at it, Prof, I think it will be worth it, but be prepared to expect the unexpected!

Wow.. Yeah, fortunately I have the front end completely off and in bits, so I've seen the worst of it already. Cladding and sill covers off and I just have a small amount of rust on the front end of the Passenger Sill. No where this level of rot on mine. Thankfully.

Apart from Bodywork, welding, paint and gearbox, I plan to do the rest myself.

I will make a detailed thread on it when I begin.

 

[grober]

Because your car is a 91 it will have the old solvent-based paint system this was changed around 93? for environmental reasons to a water based system and Mercedes paintwork and rust resistance took a dive at that point. Difficult to put an exact date on the changeover because different manufacturing plants implemented this paint change over a period of time. At 91 yours is definitely solvent-based system.

 

[Prof.C.Benz]

How much of the work will you do yourself?

If all of it, maybe 4-5K might do it. Otherwise, and if you start becoming a perfectionist/fanatic, you might double or treble that. I know this because I've done it!!

When I started the restoration of mine, I accepted 2 things: This is my last car (70 this year) and I am going to compare the costs with acquiring another car at, say, 20-30K.

Just the 2 lower control arms cost 1000€. And the gearbox rebuild was £2000.

I don't mean to be a prophet of doom, really.

The very best of luck. Great cars.

RayH

The gearbox is gonna be the biggest single spend. Been quoted £1400.

The suspension isn't as expensive as you paid. Lower control arms by quality OEM Manufacturer (Lemforder) are less than £200 per side. So, with majority of the work (excluding gearbox, bodywork, welding & painting) being done by me I think I can get it to a high standard for max 5k.

Obviously if I became a perfectionist, then this number would go up exponentially.

Shes in great condition to start with. I'm lucky.

Thanks for all the insights. Very helpful.

 

[Prof.C.Benz]

Because your car is a 91 it will have the old solvent-based paint system this was changed around 93? for environmental reasons to a water based system and Mercedes paintwork and rust resistance took a dive at that point. Difficult to put an exact date on the changeover because different manufacturing plants implemented this paint change over a period of time. At 91 yours is definitely solvent-based system.

Is this a positive or negative?

 

[grober]

Is this a positive or negative?

Its a positive for rust resistance when it was dipped from new -don't know if it was primer/paint adherence or the fact it was simply more resistant to abrasion or moisture

 

[ray_hennig]

The gearbox is gonna be the biggest single spend. Been quoted £1400.

The suspension isn't as expensive as you paid.

That's good.

My 2K went to Mackie Transmissions in Glasgow, recommended by the UK MB club. And it's the 5-speed box.

And the lower control arms for the Sportline were (are?) only from MB or Febi and I was not going to risk Febi.

Best of luck.

R