Pillar salvage
Forum,
Of those of you who have experienced your G-Wagen restoration or repairs; would you be able to advice if a the rear door left-pillar; where the tail gate hinges into is salvageable from a donor vehicle and be fabricated to replace a rotten pillar of a repaired vehicle?
I figure the chances of getting a good condition one is slim but a new pillar is some £250. Just trying to make a saving if possible. It seems this is a dealer item only. Not sure if it can be fabricated?
Your suggestion are welcomed and if any one is scrapping their vehicle would be able to supply? Must be in reasonable to good condition.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Rakesh
I guess it is item 66 shown on the attached picture?
From memory it is quite a simple Panel and i would not see a great issue for a good body shop to chop out and replace with either a new or a very good used item, i would guess the additional cost problem lies with the requirement to replace items 106 and 126 whilst doing this, though the lower will probably be rotten anyway if the Hinge Pillar is rotten and the upper may well be damaged from Hinge drop etc.
If the Pillar itself is not too bad, then i don't see any great difficulty in fabricating small repair sections for the Hinge Mount Plates, i can't see that the actual Mount Plates are rotten as they are from memory again quite substantial? as they are threaded for the bolts to screw in to. Obviously the accuracy needed and the weight of the Door can't be under estimated!
Just thinking out of the old box...
The 463's share the same lower Threshold Panel and upper Top Rail as the 460's...
They also share the same left and right upper Rear Panels...
The left and right lower Rear Panels are different from model to model for obvious reasons around Fuel Filler recess etc...
The right Shut Pillar is shared between models too...
All the Strikers etc are the same too...
However the left Hinge Pillar lists as different?
They both have 2 x 10mm holes for each Hinge Mount, the later 460's use the same 463 Hinges anyway and it will fit the early 460's also, it just is a different design.
The Door is obviously different again but only i understand for cosmetic reasons around the Handle and maybe the Spare Wheel Carrier Mounts and i have seen a 463 Door fitted to a 460 with no issues?
So the 460 Hinge Pillar A460 640 15 10 is £247 + vat
but the 463 Hinge Pillar A463 640 07 10 is ONLY £151 + vat
Bit of a gamble perhaps, but its £100 cheaper, anybody got two to compare on vehicles? Axel?
The Mounts have to be in the same place and have the same holes? Could it be just something as simple as Wiring Tube Holes etc.
Just a thought....
PS Is this a general enquiry or for a member close to me in Yorkshire?
Gav
Hi Rakesh - Interesting you should post this thread now. I'm just waiting to take my G in for this very issue. Until the panel is removed the state of LHS rear pillar is unknown - hoping it can be repaired! 
See if can post some pictures when exposed!
Stewart
Stewart
Which body shop is doing it for you?
When you say "until the panel is removed", what do you mean?
Can you not see the extent of the rust with just the rear inner trim panels removed?
You can obviously see the hinge mounts to swop the hinges if worn etc.
Gav
Morning All,
Must be something about late 80's G's ,my 88 G Herman is coming off the road this month for a rear end body revamp. Thanks to Gav's alternative part no I saved a fortune, we'll find out if there are any differences in the pillar in a couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll get a chance to post some pictures as I go about the repair.
regards
Andy
Did the rear 1/4 on my '96 461 this summer and found lower hinge area of n/s pillar to be very corroded.
however replacement was not really an easy option due to large no. of seams that wd have to be released and consequent damage
However corrosion /perforation was localised and 5 hours careful cutting and patching did a workman like job.
As this part of the pillar is not visible plenty of strength can be welded in
Also a good opportunity ro spray plenty of hot waxoil around the many cavities !
Will try and post pics for further info
I've seen a company on ebay that makes galvanised pillars, and wing panels.
They did have the rear sections listed the other day.
I have noticed these items on ebay for the last 6 months
I believe they are pattern repair panels from Poland
Intend to call in to their place at Bracknell to check quality / fit as against genuine parts
Prices are 60 to 80% compared to MB parts but have had nightmares fitting copy body parts in my time
Will report my findings on the forum
Interesting you say they're from Poland.... My dad has recently finished rebuilding his MB 190 SL (see his thread here: http://forums.190slgroup.com/showthread.php?5146-61-Restoration-Progress)
He bought quite a few parts from Poland that were NLA from MB or any other sources, and I have to say, the quality and fit have been perfect. some chrome plated stuff, and some other mild steel bits, they were on par with the genuine MB items.
Whether this would be the same for the G items (I don't know "who" he bought the parts from... various ebay advertisers I think) but my opinion is, their workmanship is A1.
Interesting you say they're from Poland.... My dad has recently finished rebuilding his MB 190 SL (see his thread here: http://forums.190slgroup.com/showthread.php?5146-61-Restoration-Progress)
That is a nice car, many thanks for sharing.... fell in love with these while looking around at Silchester's. They showed me one that a guy was having restored and dropping an early V8 into it! (not that I would agree). Can imagin the saturday night conversation....
DJ: He Dad, can I borrow the car?
DJD: No
Spider1V
/off topic, sorry/
Funnily enough, dad sent me a pic of a red 190 that had an ex Lexus V8 shoehorned into it... certainly filled the engine bay up!
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I will ask this member to request from the body shop if they would photograph as they strip down to be of use to others.