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Take a look at the pic. Car is getting older and has spent most of its life parked in the sun. The plastic panel in front of the pano roof has become discolored. I intend to either wrap it or replace it. Has anybody removed this before? Can I just pry it off with a trim tool or do I need to perform major dissembly of the interior roof to access any mounting hardware? Any experience or advice would be appreciated.
I had the same problem but before I tell you how I fixed it, I took it to Mercedes to get a quote. The part itself is plastic and it's only a $200 part however part of it is pressed underneath the sunroof. Mercedes said that they would need to remove the sunroof and replaced the part as they do not paint the part again = I found that weird since the bumper is plastic and they would paint it.
Anyways, the total cost was $1800 to replace all the seals, the special glue (which holds this part down), including all the labor.
For me.. I decided to repair it myself.
1. I ordered my paint colour online from a car online paint matching company (sorry I can't remember the name but you can google this and find it).
2. I purchased black paint, itching primer, sand paper and 2K clear coat.
3. So I sanded all the clear coat off this part but make sure you tape all around it as not to damage the seals.
4. Once you have sanded all the clear cost off this part, you will prime it. Use 1000 grit sandpaper (which will take some times to remove all the clear coat, you can also use 800 grit).
5. One you have sanded all the clear coat off, you will prime it.
6. Once the primer is dry and you follow the instruction on the primer can. You will then paint the part with your car colour.
7. Seal it with the clear coat and allow it to dry fully for at least 15-30 days.
8. If all is good, you are done but if not, you will need to wet sand it with 1500,1800 and end with 2000.
9. After you have wet sanded it.. you will need to polish it.
All done. If you take your time, it's not a hard job, it's just time.
If you need to know how to paint anything on your car with a rattle can, look this up in Youtube.
I had the same problem but before I tell you how I fixed it, I took it to Mercedes to get a quote. The part itself is plastic and it's only a $200 part however part of it is pressed underneath the sunroof. Mercedes said that they would need to remove the sunroof and replaced the part as they do not paint the part again = I found that weird since the bumper is plastic and they would paint it.
Anyways, the total cost was $1800 to replace all the seals, the special glue (which holds this part down), including all the labor.
For me.. I decided to repair it myself.
1. I ordered my paint colour online from a car online paint matching company (sorry I can't remember the name but you can google this and find it).
2. I purchased black paint, itching primer, sand paper and 2K clear coat.
3. So I sanded all the clear coat off this part but make sure you tape all around it as not to damage the seals.
4. Once you have sanded all the clear cost off this part, you will prime it. Use 1000 grit sandpaper (which will take some times to remove all the clear coat, you can also use 800 grit).
5. One you have sanded all the clear coat off, you will prime it.
6. Once the primer is dry and you follow the instruction on the primer can. You will then paint the part with your car colour.
7. Seal it with the clear coat and allow it to dry fully for at least 15-30 days.
8. If all is good, you are done but if not, you will need to wet sand it with 1500,1800 and end with 2000.
9. After you have wet sanded it.. you will need to polish it.
All done. If you take your time, it's not a hard job, it's just time.
If you need to know how to paint anything on your car with a rattle can, look this up in Youtube.
Good Luck.
Thanks. Car is my daily, so I can eat that much downtime for DIY paint project.
When I sourced the replacement panel it was about $700 from the stealership and about $500 from the usual suspects online.
Wrapping the panel is a good option, but make sure that the surface is properly cleaned and prepared for a stronger stick. Matte black or carbon fiber finishes are great options, as these can complement the sporty look of your car and hide imperfections. Alternatively, if you'd prefer something a bit less visible, you could opt for a glossy finish instead to give the panel a sleek, reflective appearance that will blend in with the rest of the car's roof.
