W202 wheel arches rusting. Any tips please?

[theonewhosmokes]

Hello!

I've got a 1999 C240 W202 Sport and the wheel arches have become quite rusty.

I do have time on my hands at the moment and was wondering how I go about trying to sort this out.

I don't think it's rusted right through and created a hole, but I'm not entirely sure.

I hope someone can help me.

Many thanks, Paul

PS. Just added some photos..

 

[theonewhosmokes]

I have put Vaseline so the moisture won't get to it!

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Front ones dont bother, get new wings. - mine look virtually the same now

Rears, if you fancy DIY? remove rear bumper and wheel. sand it down until you have nothing but bare metal, not even with black marks.

Spray it with primer, paint then laquer. Make sure you take the best part of a week doing it.

I did mine and after 3 years only one side is starting to return.

 

[NW_Merc]

Karl, how do you remove the plastic side trims from the doors and rear quarters, I want to paint them while I'm doing this job...

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Open the doors, and next to the seals there is a screw. unscrew it and push the trim forward towards the front of the car, then out. It wont want to budge at 1st as it will be caked in 15+years plus of mud.

For the quarters, open the door and with a strong plastic ruler type thing, wedge it into the tiny mm gap and prise the trim away from the car. There is a tiny tab in the weelarch thich it hooks onto.

(I hope that makes sense)

 

[nick mercedes]

I hope someone can help me.

There's always chrome arches...

 

[NW_Merc]

There's always chrome arches...

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Made some pictures for you, 1st up the screw:

2nd, the quarter trim, prise away from body where the arrow points.:

 

[theonewhosmokes]

Thanks for your help!

Paul

 

[stevesey]

Those are quite bad - I caught mind while the rust was still hidden around the curve, so with a bit of grinding and chemical stuff and am keeping it at bay and inevitable paint mismatch doesn't show as it's on the curve and in shadow. Apart from the front corner - like you first photo but not as bad.

As Karl says for the front new wings are the best route for a proper job, otherwise grind back all the rust, treat, fill and spray yourself - but given where it is a diy job will probably show. And if you are going to have a proper spray job done it's worth getting new wings underneath.