superangrypenguin

I know for a fact the hood is aluminum, but what about the fenders? What else is aluminum? (Face lifted 204 only)

Before someone tells me to put a magnet to test it out, I'd like to point out that's a very flawed test as our paint is metallic and thus everything on our car would attract a magnet. Thanks!

Plutoe

WTF do you want to know that very important piece of information-----are you afraid of the tariffs.

Adi-Benz

LOL

Fiberglass wide body kit then?

superangrypenguin

No, because I've been focusing on quieting the car I'm concerned about certain pieces of foam/rubber retaining salt water and causing rust.

Why not just answer the question, and if you don't know the answer, then, well, skip it as opposed to asking why I want to know?

Adi-Benz

Could you try magneting the inside of the fender where there's no paint? Or does that not work either?

Alfadude

Is there really that much metal in metallic paint to make a magnet stick to it?

superangrypenguin

The inside of the fender is painted to prevent corrosion (just as with all of the parts), although there is no clear coat maybe? It's just like the underside of your hood. It's painted, but no clearcoat, but it still has enough metallic flakes on it for a magnet to stick.

I read from some stupid article that the doors are aluminum too (FL), but since there were so many errors in that article I think I'll call BS on that one as I have not read that anywhere else.

That said there is 0 rust on my 204 so I have no idea what is or is not really aluminum.

superangrypenguin

The only magnet I use is one of those telescopic ones meant to pick up screws that fall in holes or whatever, so it is a very powerful magnet. I haven't tried a fridge magnet though.

Adi-Benz

I read w205 is lighter because of aluminum panels.
Also read other mixed things, and apparently the magnet test worked for people (they were looking for other things though).

I would expect at the very least that the strength of the magnetism would be greater if stell so compare it to your hood.

Colin G

The hood on my W204 is steel, not aluminum.

Doors are steel also. No aluminum panels that I know of. I had some hail dings repaired and the guys at the paintless dent shop said I was lucky nothing was aluminum or my price would have doubled.

SteveE400

Guys -- Remember, magnets only stick to ferrous metals - basically STEEL. I highly doubt that there is any steel in the paint. . . thus the magnet is still a good test. All of the custom car guys rely on it to find body filler, no matter what paint is on the panel.

superangrypenguin

Post FL or Pre L?

Because quite certainly Mercedes has publicly stated that certain pieces are aluminum so unsure what the specifics are in your case.

xsever

I remember watching a series of video on youtube by Auto Repair Guys where he took apart an entire 2013 C250 and repaired it and he has a video where he weighs the OEM fender and a replacement fender and the difference in weight leads him to say is that because it's aluminium vs steel.

Here I found you the video:
I hope it helps and by the way, check out his entire C250 playlist. Lots to learn from his work.