Panel Replacements

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earthvisitor
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Hi all.

On a previous 461 Gwagen I owned, the previous owner had the rear light cluster panels replaced including the inner panels too.

I need to do the same thing for my 1984 LWB 461, and maybe think about repairing the bottom of the back door.

Any advice on the best place to get decent fitting panels, and whether anyone could recommend a decent bodyshop that has worked on G wagens before - pref South of England, but any recommendations gratefully accepted.

Finally, I have rust around the windscreen surround - beginning to let in water. To make a proper repair, does the windscreen need to come out, or are there other options?

Thanks

Rob

mortinson
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Location: Old beehive, Madrid, Spain
Re: Panel Replacements

earthvisitor wrote:
On a previous 461 Gwagen I owned, the previous owner had the rear light cluster panels replaced including the inner panels too.
I need to do the same thing for my 1984 LWB 461, and maybe think about repairing the bottom of the back door.

Any advice on the best place to get decent fitting panels,

To buy the panels, try http://www.autoblechteile.de/mercedes/g460.htm
Panels are only € 26.41 each

earthvisitor wrote:
and whether anyone could recommend a decent bodyshop that has worked on G wagens before - pref South of England, but any recommendations gratefully accepted.

I now a guy local to where I live. His only experience with G-Wagens has been a small repair to my older G but he did a good job and he did not crucify me (pricewise). I live near Guildford. Let me know if this suits you.

earthvisitor wrote:
Finally, I have rust around the windscreen surround - beginning to let in water. To make a proper repair, does the windscreen need to come out, or are there other options?

To do a proper job, you need to have the windscreen come out. The difficult bit is to fit it afterwards. The procedure is described in chapter 67.50 of the MB workshop manual

earthvisitor
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Body panels

Jesus,

Thanks for the weblink - very helpful.

I can see the outer panels - but no mention of inner panels - I think this must be the bit right at the back of the wheelarches?

Are these there and I'm just being dumb?

Thanks

Rob

Stephen mirfin
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Location: HEREFORD
Body Parts

I ordered 2 new sides, 2 new corners & 2 sections to repair the rear door from http://www.autoblechteile.de/mercedes/g460.htm by fax on Sunday last week and received them via UPS carriers on Wednesday of the same week, what exeptional sevice. :D

Rustbucket
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Location: Penicuik, Scotland.
Re: Body Parts

Stephen mirfin wrote:
I ordered 2 new sides, 2 new corners & 2 sections to repair the rear door from http://www.autoblechteile.de/mercedes/g460.htm by fax on Sunday last week and received them via UPS carriers on Wednesday of the same week, what exeptional sevice. :D
Stephen, are they descent quality ? as they don't look too hot in the website photo's. Cheers.

John
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Panel Replacements

Yer no' goin tae dae yon back door ar ye? Ye'll hef tae git yer name changed efter!

Rustbucket
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Panel Replacements

John wrote:
Yer no' goin tae dae yon back door ar ye? Ye'll hef tae git yer name changed efter!
Na, It's beyond a weldin joab John. Anywie all miby no tok tae ye eftur a get anither back door cause ma new handle'l be GG ( Gleemin Gee ) or SG ( Shiny Gee ) no the gibson guitar. Or miby jist Geeeeeeeeee !!! 8) :lol: :lol: :lol:

tonybreeze
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Joined: 04.06.2004
Location: Nottingham, UK
Rear panels

I've just ordered and received a rear nearside panel from the above named company. Though the srvice was first class, on comparing the replacement panel with the one in situ there appears to be quite a large shortage of wrap-around metal where the light fitting has been cut out. Since the object of the game was to replace rust with sound metal, this shortage woiuld mean the use of large quantities of body filler which I was trying to avoid. In short I'm not too happy with the template design and will probably send mine back.

Tony Breeze

tonybreeze
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Body Panels

Having returned a rear panel to the above-named German company due to it's poor comparison to the real thing, I today received the bona fide Merc part. Although it was a few pounds more expensive, it is spot on for fit and quality and has the proper folds of metal in readyness for the necessary welding.

earthvisitor
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Panel

Tony,

Did the good panel come from Merc direct or via a different third party?

I had assumed that genuine Merc replacement panels would no longer be available?

Rob

mickrobinson
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Joined: 14.01.2004
Location: Cork, Ireland
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Panel Replacements

The rear door of my 300GD is hanging on the top hinge only and I need to replace the two tail light panels as well. How difficult is it to get these panels off, from the inside it looks like the folds of the panels are spot welded. Do you cut these welds out or break them with a cold chisel then the panels lift out?? Also, I've looked at the autoblechtiele web site, do these panels actually fit cos they look quite rough copies compared to genuine panels. Thanks in advance to anyone who's changed these panels out and can reply. Please see my other post in Parts Wanted: anyone breaking a G?

buckalec
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Panel Replacements

Hi,

Have just completed a rear end re-build, including structural steel repair of bottom rear door hinge assembly.

The rear panels were cut out with an angle grinder and all rot within cut away and replaced with sound. A 14 inch bar was welded into place. Secret nuts attached and now the whole door swings a treat.

Two original panels were easily sourced from my local mercedes dealer, £100 approx for the pair. Perfect fit. Now being resprayed. Will almost certainly be fitting inner wing protection so as not to allow this to happen again.

buckalec
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rear panel replacement

The before, during and (near) end:

S B Varney
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Panel Replacements

Na, It's beyond a weldin joab John. Anywie all miby no tok tae ye eftur a get anither back door cause ma new handle'l be GG ( Gleemin Gee ) or SG ( Shiny Gee ) no the gibson guitar. Or miby jist Geeeeeeeeee !!!

What the hell is this ? could you translate it into English please as is the general language that this forum is spoken in :shock:

Dan
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Panel Replacements

You seem to be making a really good job. Was it hard to do and how did you cope with the spot welding?

Dan
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Panel Replacements

You seem to be making a really good job. Was it hard to do and how did you cope with the spot welding?

buckalec
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Panel Replacements

Don't profess any skill with the old welder!!

My pal takes care of all that. He said it was not difficult and the availability of original panels made it easier still.

Fitted the 463 tail-lights today along with new door seals - nearly completed, will post some more snaps if interested.

Cheers

peter perfect
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Panel Replacements

, will post some more snaps if interested.

Yes please

w4hsa
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Location: Rutland
Panels in EPC??

Hi, can somebody tell me where to find front wings, sills etc in the EPC for my 460?

I can find the rear drawing (as shown earlier in thread) but need some part numbers for other replacement items?

Anybody bought these recentley from Mercedes??

Dan
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Panel Replacements

I would be interested in seeing some more snaps. Does your pal spot weld them into position?

buckalec
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Panel Replacements

Hi Dan + W4hsa,

Bought the panels from Merceds. No problem with supply at all. £50 ish from memory all in.

Have fitted 463 lights to these panels on my SWB. Minor amount of cutting to fit.
They were MIG welded into place along their seam, according to my pal.

Have attached a few more snaps, (Hopefully!!) as requested.

Project nearing completion. Cosmetically am intending to add privacy glass to the rear. Not much else. 463 wing mirrors now added.
Mechanically: gearbox needs work, not yet selecting 4th. General underbody service etc.

peter perfect
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Panel Replacements

are those the wheel arch sets that fred makes in fibre glass??. what they like. Looks like you needed the wider bumper corners to meet up with arches. Noticed you bidding on the G400cdi. :shock:

buckalec
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Panel Replacements

Yep,

Bought 2 sets of them now from Fred. Not too bad. A little tight at the front, and a bit of rubbing needed here and there - still a lot cheaper than dealer prices!!

Still need the flared rear bumper end caps, as you can see. The front is pure 463, including end caps @ £127.11 each + VAT! Never again. Had a 463 rear bumper and brackets - but had to draw the line somewhere.

As for the 400cdi, yep - selling all 3 460's and my trusty 300 estate. Hoping to get a nice example. Bid £25000 - cant justify anymore than that.Looks good, does she not?

Cheers

peter perfect
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Panel Replacements

does look nice but are you not scared off with all the horror stories, and they are noisy at low revs, or did you do the schockel run in graz in a 400cdi, I'd have a 270cdi I think much more economical. Why do all that on the G's you have only to sell them, or was that your intention. :wink:

Dan
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Panel Replacements

Great job. I will be taking my 280 off the road and doing the same thing sooner or later. How long roughly did it take to cut away the panals on both sides and weld the new ones in?

A question for Peter: what it the performance of your 270 like and how does it compare to a 280? It is one of the options I am considering as an import.

peter perfect
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I WISH

Dont have a 270 CDI, but have been in one that was re-mapped and well impressed with the performance and fuel economy. The 400cdi is a monster but you here alot on other forums regarding head gasket faults amongst other things. thats not to say the 270cdi is any better but as its been in M class and sprinter vans longer it seems to be more "tried and tested" .

I here the 400 is juicy and you can achieve 20 MPG in a 500 if driven carefully and with diesel being 3-4p a ltr more than petrol you need to look at economy in that area as well.

Of course when you spending £50k + you tend to worry to much about the fuel initially. So buying second hand is a better option, most of the faults may have been rectified by then, if any.

But the first 30K miles @ 17MPG (400cdi &/or 500) will cost you approx £7676.00 @ £4.35 a gallon

but at 27MPG (270CDI) approx £4833 @ £4.35 a gallon.