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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| 460 body panels - your experience needed
Hey folks,
I'd like to embark on a full body restoration of the old 280GE. Since it's about to see it's 500,000 mile birthday, I thought I might give it a treat. But since there are SOOOO many little places of rust that's quite bad under the paint, I think it will be too much to ask a body shop to repair them all and I should be looking at replacing panels in many locations. I find this place on e-bay that seems to have lots of stuff. Has anyone dealt with them, or maybe know someone who has?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-G-CLASS-W460-W461-W463-Front-Wing-...
Thanks so much for your time to have a look and let me know if you've done business with them.
-Dave G.
PS - didn't mean to be so one-dimensional about that. Any other recommended sources you may know of for body panels would also be very gratefully received. 
All the best, DG
Edited by hipine 3/28/2018 9:31 AM
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Aircruiser
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2011
Location: Atlanta GA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500, 1986 300GD, 2017 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid
Posts: 364
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
I’m in much the same situation here with my 460. My plan was to order all of the oem body panels from Eurotruck that will be required. For what is no longer available or obscenely priced, I was planning on using your EBay vendor. No experience with them yet. The prices are good but shipping will be out of hand unless packed together.
My goal is to reduce the amount of patch work where possible. I can handle the rough cutting out and replacing panels then send her off to my body shop for smoothing and finishing. It’s hard to tell how much rust is hiding until the grinder or media blaster removes the paint. Then prime, order more or less panels and wait for the big packages to arrive.
Edited by Aircruiser 3/28/2018 1:57 PM
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
Aircruiser - 3/28/2018 11:48 AM
... My plan was to order all of the oem body panels from Eurotruck that will be required. ...
Yep. Sean is on the job for sure, quoting my list as we speak. I'd prefer to buy the lot from him if at all possible. I can't even remember ever buying a G-specific part from anyone but Sean in the past 15 years.
I am however interested in anyone's direct experience with the Lithuanian supplier. He says he has used panels, but not in great shape. New ones he has are mfg'd in Poland. I'll call it too risky a long distance relationship unless I can speak with a list-friend who's had them in his or her hands.
All the best,
-Dave G. |
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Johnny Christensen
Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2010
Location: Denmark
Vehicle(s): GD290 W461
Posts: 202
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
I don't have experience with the vendor, but i have tried a Polish manufactured replacement part that appears to be what he is selling. First off, they are thinner than original parts. I think it is 0.6mm versus 0.8 so they dent easier. The front fender that I tried, required relocating the rear mounting section that bolts to the A panel as well as the mounting tabs for the light cover. The holes for the top blinker, was placed 18mm wrong, compared to original location.
I used it to practice for recreating the air intake for the new style G professional snorkel. Having done that I moved over to a older original fender and were glad that the Polish manufactured stuff would not find it's way onto my truck.
I am sorry to say, I was not impressed.
Edited by Johnny Christensen 3/29/2018 1:50 AM
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
Yes I think you're correct that the point of origin is likely the same. The supplier referenced above indicated to me in response on ebay that the new panels he has are from a manufacturer in Poland, so likely the same. Thank you for relating your experience. It will be helpful in considering where to source replacement panels if it comes to that.
All the best,
-Dave G. |
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Fernando BR
Date registered: Jan 2007
Location: Brasil
Vehicle(s): G500/05 300GE/91 300GD/80
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
Offroad world is number one. This is nice too , not as Guido.
http://stores.ebay.com/Der-Mercedes-G-Shop/_i.html?rt=nc&_sid=34089...
They dont show all parts, so the way is mail or ask in the site. They will find.
Edited by Fernando BR 4/13/2018 9:51 AM
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bram_r
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2007
Location: the Netherlands
Vehicle(s): 1984 MB 280GE, 1982 MB 300GD, 1986 Subaru XT 4WD
Posts: 1659
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
Good luck with your restoring David,
I only have got experience using original MB panels, but only bought new rear taillight panels (and the small ones that come with them) and the one that goes under them (from left to right).
All other large panels I patch repaired. Replaced fenders with better used ones.
I did build my own rocker panels, that might be something for you to consider as well if you need rockers.
A sheet metal shop should be able to build them for you.
I integrated the inner and outer rocker in one u-shape design using the MB angles of course.
gr. bram
Edited by bram_r 4/21/2018 4:14 PM
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
good ideas Bram! Thank you.
Right now the tough part seems to be finding someone who's not an idiot, an a$$hole, or both to work on it. With that criteria, I'm not allowed to work on it myself either. On two counts.
-Dave |
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oskar
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2006
Location: Lyons, CO
Vehicle(s): 1981 280GE, 2002 G500, 280SE 4.5, Audi A4 1.8T
Posts: 708
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
Dave,
I have done a lot of MB body work on my first 190D ..
All the aftermarket panels are thinner and most do not fit well at all. If you want to fix up your car for a quick sell ( far away) then use em.
If you want to keep you baby, use original MB parts. Most are not that expensive, in my experience
Oskar
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marbendill
Member
Date registered: Nov 2010
Location: Kópavogur, Iceland
Vehicle(s): 290 GDT (280GE) 1985
Posts: 35
| Re: 460 body panels - your experience needed
I have bought the rear fenders and rear corners from Poland. The rear fenders are ok and fitted well, but I ended up buying a original rear corners, because the polish one did not fit so well.
The polish parts are thinner and lighter and I would recommend buying used original front fenders. |
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