Battery trunk panel 124 630 04 60

[500AMM]

The bottom in the battery trunk in the Limited has severe rust damages and due for replacement. But the price is very steep, 460,- Euro here in Norway, compared to the similar body panel on a regular W124 which is 164,- Euro. Due to present elevated exchange rates on both USD and Euro for us Norwegians, I'm not sure it comes out better on import since 25% VAT adds up on the price anyway.

But how much does the regular body panel differ from the 036 battery trunk body panel? Does they have the same size & shape?

If they can interchange and fit the chassis equally, it shouldn't be too difficult to modify the regular panel to house the battery base plate.


Any thougths, please.


-a-

 

[gsxr]

Arnt, the regular 124 does not have a battery location in the trunk, so the closest one would be the .034 chassis. However, the .034 has a different panel compared to the .036, the .034 is taller and the top of the battery does not sit flush with the trunk floor. The .036 battery sits lower / deeper, same as the spare tire well.

I'm not sure, but you MIGHT be able to cut / weld the lower part of a panel from the .034 chassis. Can you post photos of where the rust damage is? I have a bad feeling you may need the .036 panel. Shame that Jeff already sent that 500E to the crusher (although, I think he cut the rear fender along with the battery compartment, so it may not have had the piece you needed).

 

[500AMM]

.
Well, find a chair and take a seat - you may not like to see this...

 

[Glen]

Arnt, the regular 124 does not have a battery location in the trunk, so the closest one would be the .034 chassis. However, the .034 has a different panel compared to the .036, the .034 is taller and the top of the battery does not sit flush with the trunk floor. The .036 battery sits lower / deeper, same as the spare tire well.

I'm not sure, but you MIGHT be able to cut / weld the lower part of a panel from the .034 chassis. Can you post photos of where the rust damage is? I have a bad feeling you may need the .036 panel. Shame that Jeff already sent that 500E to the crusher (although, I think he cut the rear fender along with the battery compartment, so it may not have had the piece you needed).

I can confirm that the .034 battery box will not work in an .036. It's shaped completely different. I bought a used one for the high miler but ended up buying a factory new .036 box when I had the car painted.

 

[r44raven]

I''m afraid I don't have any magical answer to your problem with rust in the battery well. There are many better qualified experts on this site than me to advise how to fabricate a repair.

However, for what its worth, I've found it v interesting to read what's happened to you - bearing in mind I started a thread entitled "Water leak in trunk" a week or so back, following problems I had with water ingress into both the right hand battery well and also the left hand well.

From the photo you've posted, there does seem to be a drain hole in the well, but if your car is like mine, this drain hole was fitted with a solid rubber bung, rather than one which allowed drainage. The drain hole at the other end of the well (where I understand the drainage plug should have been fitted) has been welded over.

Not much consolation I know. I'm still working on how to remove the battery tray, which at the moment is welded (by rust!) to the battery well. I don't think (hopefully) the well is in quite the condition you show in your photo, 'cos there's no evidence of rust on the exterior - but heaven knows what I'll find when I eventually get the battery tray out!

By the way, does anyone know the part number for the battery tray?

 

[8899]

Well, find a chair and take a seat - you may not like to see this...

See post #14:

http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5922&highlight=tray

 

[nocfn]

I am a big fan of miracle paint, it works great with encapsulating the rust, and will be hard as baked enamel in 24 hours. You wont need mesh unless you have holes but the stuff works great.

 

[500AMM]

Slow response from my side on this, busy with other things - I'm always busy BTW. But many thanks for the clarification!

The PO used my Limited as a daily driver for 7 years, and the "acid winter roads" was a devastating factor. I drove it a bit over my first winter, just to explore the handling. The rust is consentrated at certain locations in the rear, while the rest of the car is fine. It has developed along the panel seams well hidden under the thick Tectyle body protection.

The atmosphere in the battery trunk is a bit "catalytic" due to electromagnetic potential between the battery poles. The batteries are neither 100% sealed, and they expand with ambient temps and heavy charging. The overpressure inside push chemical elements through tiny cavities - like up along the battery poles stem. This fume mixes with condensation which collects in the bottom under the battery tray.

The rust has to be removed completely, replaced with cut-outs or new panels. I was hoping a regular W124 panel had the same shape, so I could cut off the bottom section and splice it in. But it appears to be no way around a new trunk panel #124 630 04 60, and battery tray #129 890 00 63.


I'll revert with pics when the real fun starts.

 

[ssaliaj]

Slow response from my side on this, busy with other things - I'm always busy BTW. But many thanks for the clarification!

The PO used my Limited as a daily driver for 7 years, and the "acid winter roads" was a devastating factor. I drove it a bit over my first winter, just to explore the handling. The rust is consentrated at certain locations in the rear, while the rest of the car is fine. It has developed along the panel seams well hidden under the thick Tectyle body protection.

The atmosphere in the battery trunk is a bit "catalytic" due to electromagnetic potential between the battery poles. The batteries are neither 100% sealed, and they expand with ambient temps and heavy charging. The overpressure inside push chemical elements through tiny cavities - like up along the battery poles stem. This fume mixes with condensation which collects in the bottom under the battery tray.

The rust has to be removed completely, replaced with cut-outs or new panels. I was hoping a regular W124 panel had the same shape, so I could cut off the bottom section and splice it in. But it appears to be no way around a new trunk panel #124 630 04 60, and battery tray #129 890 00 63.


I'll revert with pics when the real fun starts.

Did you ever try it ? I was thinking of doing the same. There is also some similarity with the estate but just in the vertical direction. The normal w124 part looks the easiset to adapt.

 

[500AMM]

No, I never came to the point starting on this job, but sold the car as is in October 2021. The new owner is a son of a friend of mine living in the neighbourhood and the car has been under restoration in his garage. I think the rust jobs are done by now and they ended up making a replacement section hammered out from sheet metal, it came out very good.

 

[ssaliaj]

Thank you very much for the kind reply. I am starting to think of making the same job. A friend of mine did it from the normal sedan adding some extra metal.