Feeler - Interest in reproduction battery covers?

[JC220]

The Original Battery Cover in the trunk of 034 & 036 cars tend to be broken / totally missing. This was the case in my 500E where the cover was broken off but still in the car. These Battery covers are NLA from Mercedes unfortunately.

As I am restoring my 500E I need to address this issue. I have drawn up the original tray shape with accuracy – using the original item as a template. I have also got a contact who can CNC router the shape using the drawing I will provide to him.

In terms of Material I have selected a modern composite wood fibreboard which is extremely durable and water resistant. This will exceed the quality of the original items IMO. The wood will be CNC cut out to shape then primered / sprayed satin black like the originals and provided with new Hinges / Foam again -as close to original as possible.

Whilst I am creating one – I can create up to 10 more items. As I move forward with this in the coming weeks I’ll decide how many to extra covers to produce.

At this point an indicative cost would be £90 + shipping for each one off battery cover. The material price is quite expensive for me to get - it is NOT standard fibreboard by any means.

If any 500E Board members would like one please express interest here below. Only after I have them made I’ll post pictures here and request PM’s for payment etc. No PM’s yet please – just an indication below if anyone would be in for one should I produce extra.

 

[jnes]

Did you produce these battery covers? How many extra pieces did you make? I might have need for one..

Do you have pictures for the aftermarket product?

Just noticed that I have leak in the trunk and battery cover were folded by the moisture and were covered with mold..

Regards,

jnes

 

[JC220]

Did you produce these battery covers? How many extra pieces did you make? I might have need for one..

Do you have pictures for the aftermarket product?

Just noticed that I have leak in the trunk and battery cover were folded by the moisture and were covered with mold..

Regards,

jnes

I have not made them yet- they are on my To Do list for some time now! The material I had selected is expensive but ideal for this application. I wil be replicating the original item exactly by having it CNC’d. Then prime & spray like factory including stamping in the part number. I may CNC a number of them and do them each as a one off by request. Note that It is liable to be a couple months until I get the material and have them CNC’d

 

[gsxr]

Joe, I think you may need to have people re-use the original hinges. If you look closely, the hinges are NOT standard items, and IMO would be very difficult to reproduce accurately. I'm not sure if a different "standard" hinge would work but I suppose that might be worth a try.

Otherwise, the replacement board (and possibly foam, although that might be re-usable as well) would be a nice touch. Odd how often this cover is mangled on 036's...

 

[JC220]

Joe, I think you may need to have people re-use the original hinges. If you look closely, the hinges are NOT standard items, and IMO would be very difficult to reproduce accurately. I'm not sure if a different "standard" hinge would work but I suppose that might be worth a try.

Otherwise, the replacement board (and possibly foam, although that might be re-usable as well) would be a nice touch. Odd how often this cover is mangled on 036's...

Yes that's a good point on the hinges - I was going to search for some new ones as close as possible to the originals and with the same screw holes. But chances on that are perhaps slim so donors might be the only way forward

 

[Stevester 500E]

Are the hinges the same as the ones on a .034?

Joe, I think you may need to have people re-use the original hinges. ...

 

[gsxr]

Are the hinges the same as the ones on a .034?

There are no hinges on the 034 cover, which is a piece of formed carpet similar to the trunk side linings. Only the .036 has the rigid flat cover with hinges. The .034 battery sits higher in the trunk and is not level with the rest of the floor.

 

[jnes]

If you make the production run for these, I'd like to take one!

 

[JC220]

If you make the production run for these, I'd like to take one!

Thanks for the interest - you're on the list! I have since found my original pair of E500E battery cover steel hinges. I have located a specialist hinge company in the UK who can custom re-manufacture those for me if I send my originals to them. To recap- the “wood” material I will be using is a modern highly durable product ideal for this application and will far exceed the quality and longevity of the original item. The blanks will be CNC routered out by a specialist using my drawings. I will also then use steel number stamps to punch the original w124 part number back in like factory and finish them in Matt black with a foam block underneath, again – just like factory.


When I get to all this will be later this year as I have too many other projects on my plate just now. I will do a run of 12 new E500E battery covers and will be keeping 3x for myself. (One for my 500E and 2x extra to satisfy w124 parts hoarding habit) So let’s say 9 will be up for grabs. People can reply to this thread to show interest if they like and will get first refusal when they are available. The more interest I see – the faster it will happen.

 

[gerryvz]

JC, you can put me on the list. I can’t turn down good quality parts to hoard. If you need any help with “group buy” stuff let me know. I helped do a big group buy some years back through the forum here.

 

[jnes]

Any news regarding this?

 

[JC220]

Any news regarding this?

Sorry no updates yet I have a couple other more pressing group buys I want to address first this summer then will return to this. All is sitting to replicate and I know how to do it. It will be done just not a super priority right now

 

[jnes]

Any progress with this?

 

[JC220]

Any progress with this?

I have thought about it if that helps(?) And identified the ideal material and a custom hinge supplier.

Not going to lie my work life and spare time has been crazy and continues to be such. I simply have not had one spare moment to find C&C router companies etc.

I can say I will get it done but I cannot say when apologies. Thanks for reminder and will keep it in mind and try to progress later this year. If I'm doing it they need to be right and exacting so I don't want to approach it half arsed and fall short.

 

[skikrazey]

Please put me on the list!

 

[JC220]

Its only taken a mere 9 years but I am now ready and have a supplier who is going to quote me for CNC machining replacement high quality modern composite / moisture resistant wood E500E battery covers.

I can supply these exacting shape and thickness of the original items. Including me stamping in the MB part number like original parts. I will also black spray them and add foam blocks.

People will be better re - using your own hinges. Or if really desired I can obtain and fit suitable hinges at extra cost.

Please can members who are serious about wanting included let me know here. Indicative pricing is going to be around £80 - £100 each. These are exacting reproduction battery covers which are NLA this years. I will be doing only one production run. Happy to go 20 - 30 units if there is enough interest.

 

[e500.org]

Its only taken a mere 9 years but I am now ready and have a supplier who is going to quote me for CNC machining replacement high quality modern composite / moisture resistant wood E500E battery covers.

I can supply these exacting shape and thickness of the original items. Including me stamping in the MB part number like original parts. I will also black spray them and add foam blocks.

People will be better re - using your own hinges. Or if really desired I can obtain and fit suitable hinges at extra cost.

Please can members who are serious about wanting included let me know here. Indicative pricing is going to be around £80 - £100 each. These are exacting reproduction battery covers which are NLA this years. I will be doing only one production run. Happy to go 20 - 30 units if there is enough interest.

Joe - I’m in for 1 unit at least. Great initiative!

 

[gerryvz]

Maybe you can sell a supply of these to @RPM Retro foe their inventory, too.

 

[RPM Retro]

Maybe you can sell a supply of these to @RPM Retro foe their inventory, too.

We were actually thinking of doing a run of these ourselves