v8plus4

The clearcoat on the black rear panels on my 2001 ML320 Sport have begun to crack and peel. Any suggestions on a good replacement source, other than the dealer?

Thanks,

John

N1PRJ

I have exactly the same problem. During the severe winter we had, scraping the ice off the back appears to have damaged this clear coat. It is flaking off now in the affected area.

I was thinking of taking it in to have that fixed with some of the chips I got last winter on the front hood. Body shop? My dealer farms this type of work out anyway.

ML God

I replace them all the time at work...they are held on by urethane

v8plus4

I didn't even think about re-painting them, but with the rates body shops are charging these days, I would think it would be less expensive to just replace them.

mbbodytech

There's nothing to replacing them. Like was mentioned, they are just glued on, easy to cut off, easy to put the new ones on.

The best bet for you is probably to have a dealer do it, less hassle.

N1PRJ

ML GOD – Oh Great exalted one - I bow to your superior experience – I cower in your presence - How much do these things cost to have replaced?
Would a body shop where I see many MBs be better ($$) than the dealership (much further away)?

ML God

The D Pillars are not that expensive...I think they are $60 each. with 1/2 labor each...Where they get you is the damn urtheane The kit is $120 it must be magic urthane...Any Glass company can do the job...they use that stuff

JLLG

What is "magic urthane"? I need to replace one of mine due to it cracking. I thought the part came with double sided tape already attached. Also, I think the part is more like $80.

mbbodytech

[QUOTE=ML God]

For my money, the MB adhesive is important for glass, but not for installing these simple covers. Any urethane will work, just make sure they use something that will stick to plastic, otherwise it may fall off!

ML God

[QUOTE=mbbodytech]Yep your correct...but when we replace them at work that is all we have so thats what we charge...any urethane will work

N1PRJ

I tried to take a picture of what is happening. If the picture comes through - is it just a matter of applying a new coat of urethane? Or does the whole thing need to be replaced.

Also, I not that the top of the panel is lose on both sides of the car. It appears tight at the base, but you can pull the top away from the car a few cm.

mbbodytech

You need to take that whole cover off and throw it in the trash! The urethane we are talking about is the adhesive used to hold the cover on - the new one.

00ML430 Bulldog

Use a heat gun or a hair dryer to soften the old glue before you pry the old cover off. Makes things alot easier.

N1PRJ

What do you mean urethane? I can pull the top of these plastic pieces away from the car. What it looks like underneath is double-stick foam tape. They both are still tight at the bottom, but I would think the highway wind along the car would be pulling both of these things away from the car at the top, they are so easy to move up there.

Still, even $60 is a grunt-load for a piece of stupid, glossy plastic; never mind a premium for some special glue (that doesn't seem to hold past 3-4 years).

glljr

Does anyone know the part numbers for the left and right "D" pillars. The dealer wants $300/each to replace them.

I don't know how "magic" the adhesive at the dealer is, one of mine fell off a year after the dealer replaced it after it cracked. (They refused to replace it for free.)

Thanks in advance.

ML God

163-690-06-87 Right side
163-690-05-87 left side
168-670-00-93 ureathane

JLLG

Can someone explain how to use the urethane on these panels when they already come with two face foam tape?

glljr, I am thinking that improper surface prep may be the cause why yours fell off

ML God

They do not come with foam tape! all you are seeing is a foam seal..no tape

mbbodytech

Don't forget to tell him about the special gun!

JLLG

Why don't you enlighten us on the "special gun".

ML God

Thats why the urthane is so expensive becasue it is designed to fit in the MBZ urethane gun. Dealer cost on the gun is $1600

dcm0505

So, do I need to invest in a urethane gun? Have any of those questioning this now made this repair themselves? I've got the same problem, and the peeling is really starting to get just plain ugly!

Thanks!

-Daniel

OttoBon100

I have had the right side reaffixed twice by the dealer. Once under warranty because it was peeling and again three years later for free because they "fixed" it the first time and it flew off on the freeway and disappeared. Got back from a short trip this morning and the left side pillar was barely hanging on! Anyone used a special adhesive and done this themselves? Name of the adhesive? I know if I take it to the dealer they will want a couple hundred dollars to fix it since they haven't touched this side.

wampa

On a previous car, when the side moldings would fall off I used "3M double sided interior & exterior tape". Which can be found at most locations such as office supply stores (staples) to autoshops (autozone) for about $10 -$15. Make sure you stick it on correctly the first time, because once its attached it will be pretty tough to remove. But the most important thing to do is prep/clean the area well, before you attach the tape. What I would is use a degreaser on the area to remove the buildup. Then rinse the area off. Then next clean area off with Isopropyl Alcohol, and let it dry. Make sure you clean both the d-pillar piece, and the area on the car before attaching the tape. This is optional, but you can also heat up the tape with a hair dryer/heat gun. Heating up the tape should allow for better adhesion.

Here is a pic for reference


Hope that helps

OttoBon100

Thanks Wampa! Worth a shot.