Need a Drivers Door ‘92

[DRW]

Hello All,

a large piece of debris from a accident a few car lengths in front of me and something hit my drivers door. See picture attached. I feel that I would rather replace the door than fix the door. Does anyone have a line on a drivers door for a ‘92 500E? Pic attached.

I’d be happy to hear others opinions on ‘repair or replace’. I’d also love to find the best body shop in S Cal. or beyond to do this work. My 500e is my baby and I want this done right. I’ve been restoring for years and I’ll keep going. Ideally, I find shop that will also enjoy assisting in my full Resto. I’m sure lots of bits could be replaced and /or restored further. I’ve used Beverly CoachCraft in LA, but they seem to enjoy later model cars for pricey repairs. It takes a special shop that wants to repair and restore a 500e.

Thank you for any & all thoughts on this. I’d prefer to do lots of little details, since I’ll be out I’m the car for a month or two likely.

Thank you,
Grateful, David

 

[sheward]

Judging strictly from your one picture I would have the door repaired. It looks like easy work for a good dent man. It may be all that's needed is door panel and window regulator removal. Door replacement will be much more difficult and will introduce possible alignment and sealing issues. You will need the lower cladding which is the same for all sedans.

 

[DRW]

Judging strictly from your one picture I would have the door repaired. It looks like easy work for a good dent man. It may be all that's needed is door panel and window regulator removal. Door replacement will be much more difficult and will introduce possible alignment and sealing issues. You will need the lower cladding which is the same for all sedans.

Thank you! I’ll remember this and look for a shop who can do so. I thought replace was extreme as well.

 

[sheward]

Unfortunate that it occurred but very fortunate that the NLA cladding piece on the fender was not impacted.

 

[gsxr]

Unfortunate that it occurred but very fortunate that the NLA cladding piece on the fender was not impacted.

+eleventybillion. Somehow all the NLA stuff (both bumpers, front fender, fender trim, lower rocker cover, rear quarter, rear quarter trim) ALL escaped without a scratch. And the damaged stuff is the same on all 124's. Time to buy a lottery ticket?

 

[nocfn]

ISN'T the width of the glass narrower wider on the 94 cars versus the 92 and some 93? Just saying, the dent is no issue but the glass and window run channel should be preserved from one door to be used on the new door. (or am I just nuts, pay no attention to me) GSXR bail me out here.

 

[sheward]

Your memory is intact. The glass, and widow channel, is 1mm thicker on the LATE cars. Another reason to use the original door.

 

[maw1124]

Thank you! I’ll remember this and look for a shop who can do so. I thought replace was extreme as well.

Did you recover your original cladding or was it wrecked / lost? I’m thinking of patina issues. But bumping the door and painting the lower cladding is about all you can get shops to do these days.

PS, I’m confused… is later glass thicker or thinner?

maw

 

[nocfn]

Thicker on the 94...amendments made to post

 

[gsxr]

The glass thickness only affects the felt window run / channel... the door sheet metal is the same. You can convert from thick to thin glass, or vice-versa, if desired.

The felt window runs for the thinner 3mm glass went NLA a while ago. The 4mm felt runs are still available last I checked.

The change to thicker 4mm glass occurred roughly around the start of the 1993 USA model year. The interior should be a bit quieter with the thicker glass. I don't know the weight difference.

 

[skikrazey]

I concur with fixing the door. I could not tell from the pic if the paint is damaged. Nor could I tell if the sheet metal is creased. If neither of that is the case paintless dent removal might be possible.

 

[sheward]

I agree. If not, there is a chance that a P.D. artist could recommend a private individual or small shop that could perform the repair. Most large body shops are primarily interested in insurance work combined with remove and replace type repairs. These shops are not interested in this type of repair any longer.

 

[TerryA]

@DRW,
I think any late 124 door will fit. If push comes to shove. You might be able to find an intact door at an LKQ junk yard. There all over LA. Bring LKQ up online and type in Mercedes and it will show every MB in that yard.

A door from a junk yard might only require paint and changing over the lock and interior panel.

Edit1: There’s a Red/Tan 91 300E in the LKQ Stanton yard. Pic shows the DS door intact but it’s been in the yard since 12/16/23.

Edit2: There’s a Blk/Blk 95 E320 in the LKQ Wilmington yard. Pic shows DS door intact. It’s been there since 12/30/23.

Just a few suggestions

Good Luck

 

[gerryvz]

Too bad that Leistung Autohaus moved away from the OC — they were the folks who did 600Eric’s resto. Perhaps @captruff can suggest a good resource in the LA/OC area.

Hell, what about the Classic Center? They could also take care of you. Talk to Mike Kunz, who runs the place over there.

 

[steve h]

Hello All,

a large piece of debris from a accident a few car lengths in front of me and something hit my drivers door. See picture attached. I feel that I would rather replace the door than fix the door. Does anyone have a line on a drivers door for a ‘92 500E? Pic attached.

I’d be happy to hear others opinions on ‘repair or replace’. I’d also love to find the best body shop in S Cal. or beyond to do this work. My 500e is my baby and I want this done right. I’ve been restoring for years and I’ll keep going. Ideally, I find shop that will also enjoy assisting in my full Resto. I’m sure lots of bits could be replaced and /or restored further. I’ve used Beverly CoachCraft in LA, but they seem to enjoy later model cars for pricey repairs. It takes a special shop that wants to repair and restore a 500e.

Thank you for any & all thoughts on this. I’d prefer to do lots of little details, since I’ll be out I’m the car for a month or two likely.

Thank you,
Grateful, David

I have one off a rear ended 92/93 car in diamondswartz. If you are interested, I'll get photos. I shipped a rear door to somebody in CA, last year, it cost under $200 by UPS ground.