While I have purchased a great deal of brand new OE and aftermarket goodies I have been able to get away with only using using left over used parts for the past ten years. Outside of oil and gasoline I have for the most part been able to avoid having to buy any "New" parts.
What part did I buy? Part # 124 880 00 86 67 aka the Mercedes-Stern or Mercedes Hood Star! LOL, yeah I know a whopping $22.00 for the glorious hood ornament aka cross hairs. I lost my original in an ice storm when I tried to open the hood. It froze solid and as I leaned over the hood my gut broke it off. Funny thing is that even though it's a Genuine Original Equipment Mercedes Benz part in the factory box with the hologram ect. the hood ornament was made in Turkey! LOL! So much for all our parts being made in West Germany. All things considering I was happy with the bling the new hood star gave the vehicle. I purchased it thru Parts.com with another customers parts order.
So anyway, nothing like pulling a new part out of the box when it's your own. I am thinking later next month I might spend a few hundred bucks and get all new timing chain guides and rubber parts for the top half of the engine. From there a little AC work and then finally a much needed paint job.
I am trying to figure out if I should have it painted black or keep the original smoke silver. The original 702 Smoke Silver really is a pretty color but mine has long since lost the pretty. The last black Benz I had was pretty cool, but the idea of doing a complete color change makes me wonder.
What do you guys think?
-- Edited by SELLC on Monday 30th of May 2011 11:49:35 PM
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Either colour will look good, possibly better in black though for my eyes...That silver is a pretty shit colour to match-up should a minor repair ever be needed...However the black will always look dirty, and show up even the tinniest dent or mark...How deep is your pocket ???? Possibly best to leave it original...
Cheers,
Rastus
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
I want to have it painted original smoke silver. Right now it's some odd color gold, does not seem smoke silver but it's been a pleasure not having to stress over the paint when parking in lots, needing to move large objects ect... I really hate having to worry about a car so I think just a straight up re-spray same color with a good prep job to start with and I would be happy.
After all, the thing I love most about this Benz is driving it. It would just be nice to have a shine, but more than anything to prevent rust from starting.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
I'm sure when the time actually comes around, it will all fall into place. I would think that you know a heck of a lot more about rust prevention than most people, especially since your car has been owned by you now for many happy years, with no end in sight. I know that "time" is something that we all have a real shortage of, but if it was possible to do the rust prevention yourself, and even start the prep-work on the body yourself, you will save a lot of dough, and that means a few more coats of paint !
After the first scratch appears, and then the first minor dent or mark, the worry and stress will subdue, and you can get back to just enjoying the car again ! I just hope that it's you that gets to have this miss-fortune first, because I wouldn't want to be your wife or son if they did it !LOL !!!
Cheers,
Rastus
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
