Junk yard finds
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
What paint do you use on this type of material? Does it need to be sanded first, or just cleaned really well? Has anyone actually painted theirs, or did they buy a new black one?
I hope to get this done this weekend, so if there are good suggesitons I am open to them.
Thnaks
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1990 300ce 24v I6
Painted mine. Really simple procedure.
Take it off the car, remove the chrome, clean it with a solvent or something (if you wish).
I sprayed it with Rustoleum High Temp Grill Paint in flat black. I did about 4-5 coats of this allowing for drying in between coats.
After that, I used Rustoleum clear finish. This was also around 4-5 coats.
Take it off the car, remove the chrome, clean it with a solvent or something (if you wish).
I sprayed it with Rustoleum High Temp Grill Paint in flat black. I did about 4-5 coats of this allowing for drying in between coats.
After that, I used Rustoleum clear finish. This was also around 4-5 coats.
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
I actually plan on reinstalling my wipers. Someone posted a teaser that you can swap them from left to right on the euros so they park correctly. I checked the pinouts and they are different, so I am going to see if i can reroute the entire harness to swap sides and make it work. If it does, i will post instructions and pictures.
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
Big weekend
So this is the big junk yard weekend for me. I grabbed all my tools and two hand carts, loaded it all up in the old Suburban and am going to hit as many places as I can. I will let everyone know all the goodies I find for the restoration.
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E
Keep an eye open for any 400E's/E420 or late E320's (The ones with the big 4pot front brakes) as I am looking for some Lower control arms. Let me know if you see any and I'll try to go and get what I need. Nobody ever needs LCA's so not worried about it being gone. Got my trusty spring compressor too 
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
I will watch out for them and the third brake light.
I may have to hit you up for that trusty spring compressor when I decide what lowering/wheel/shock combination I want to go with.
I may have to hit you up for that trusty spring compressor when I decide what lowering/wheel/shock combination I want to go with.
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From: Los Angeles
1993 400E, 1994 E420, 2000 SL500, 2014 C250
I'll be heading to the Wilmington places as well. 
Look for the tallest guy you've ever seen with a white 4ooE. LoL
Ps2cho- there is a 4ooE at the San Bernardino Pick-A-Part.......I've been to 8 places so far and that's the only 4ooE I've seen.
Look for the tallest guy you've ever seen with a white 4ooE. LoLPs2cho- there is a 4ooE at the San Bernardino Pick-A-Part.......I've been to 8 places so far and that's the only 4ooE I've seen.
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
Ps2cho - no 400, 320, 420Es. I went to the two out in Stanton/Anaheim again and got some goodies, but not everything I wanted or needed. I will update later when I get it all out of the car and can snap some pictures.
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
So while I was in the Staton Pick-Your-Part dismantaling the interior of a poor 92 300E I saw two other 300Es in the parking lot. One was black with grey cladding, the other was blueish paint with some missing on the hood. Are you members here? Someone actually stopped by to chat but I was under a seat and not very chatty. I am curious who else haunts the junk yards.
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
Here are a couple of the goodies I grabbed ysterday. Does anyone know if the two wood pieces should look the same color? I also grabbed a new looking complete grill so I can paint it and swap so I don't have to worry about paint drying time or number of coats.
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
The center shifer piece I am going to attempt to refinish. I bought the stripper and clear finish. I have researched several other peoples threads on this and it seems like it just take extreme patience.
ps2cho - did you ever finish yours? Did you like how it came out? Do you have a final pic of it reinstalled?
ps2cho - did you ever finish yours? Did you like how it came out? Do you have a final pic of it reinstalled?
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E
Use plenty of coats as little rocks and stones will go through fast if you only do 1 or 2 coats. (personal experience).
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
I am planning on 5-6 coats of black and then 5-6 more of clear. Does that sound like enough?
This is kinda my experimental one, I plan to work out all the kinks this go around and then redo my insert with what I learn. I will drive with the new one in the mean time so I don't have a missing grill.
This is kinda my experimental one, I plan to work out all the kinks this go around and then redo my insert with what I learn. I will drive with the new one in the mean time so I don't have a missing grill.
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I am planning on 5-6 coats of black and then 5-6 more of clear. Does that sound like enough?
This is kinda my experimental one, I plan to work out all the kinks this go around and then redo my insert with what I learn. I will drive with the new one in the mean time so I don't have a missing grill.
This is kinda my experimental one, I plan to work out all the kinks this go around and then redo my insert with what I learn. I will drive with the new one in the mean time so I don't have a missing grill.
As for the wood....the center piece USED to look like the other two you got, but the sun fades the color really bad. I can tell by the very bottom of it what the original color was because that section never gets hit by the sun. See how it has a far more rich orange instead of that faded "brown" the top has.
Last edited by ps2cho; Mar 8, 2010 at 12:16 AM.
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
Yeah. I thought all of my wood looked pretty good, no major cracks or really bad marks ... until I brought that piece home and lined it up with the car. Now its all getting replaced.
If I can redo the wood correctly, I will replace all of mine with the new pieces and then redo my old wood for spare or sale.
We will see how it goes.
If I can redo the wood correctly, I will replace all of mine with the new pieces and then redo my old wood for spare or sale.
We will see how it goes.
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
Grill update - disassembled, cleaned and first coat of paint on. Will post picks tomorrow.
Center wood - Cleaned, all plastic pieces removed (what a PITA!!) and ready for stripper. i will try that one tomorrow.
Car - running great now with a new (to me) ICV. New issue ABS light doesn't work in the dash ... wonder how long that hasn't worked?
Center wood - Cleaned, all plastic pieces removed (what a PITA!!) and ready for stripper. i will try that one tomorrow.
Car - running great now with a new (to me) ICV. New issue ABS light doesn't work in the dash ... wonder how long that hasn't worked?
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
I am just wondering how long its been out ... I had the original style OVP in there that I just replaced, and it has never locked up the wheels on me, but it makes me wonder. The PO and the shop the car was at did some really funky things to this car before I owned it.
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1987 300E, 1995 C280
what is that other thing you picked up along side the ovp? and 4$!?! your kidding me!! haha and also how much was the grill around?
haha and funny story.. my abs light was on, so the last owner actually took the bulb out.. who knows whats going to happen if i get a new ovp ;p
haha and funny story.. my abs light was on, so the last owner actually took the bulb out.. who knows whats going to happen if i get a new ovp ;p
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
The thing next to the OVP is the ICV (Idle Control Valve)
I had the hoses go bad that attach to it (they split in half) so after I replaced them it worked fine for awhile. When I started having hard-starting and bad idle issues again I checked the hoses, when those checked out I grabbed another vavle just to check and voila! it runs great now.
The grill was about $30 USD and I really just wanted it as a spare while I repair and paint mine. It has turned out to be my test run for my painting skills (which are not very good anymore). I will post some pics of the process tonight.
I had the hoses go bad that attach to it (they split in half) so after I replaced them it worked fine for awhile. When I started having hard-starting and bad idle issues again I checked the hoses, when those checked out I grabbed another vavle just to check and voila! it runs great now.
The grill was about $30 USD and I really just wanted it as a spare while I repair and paint mine. It has turned out to be my test run for my painting skills (which are not very good anymore). I will post some pics of the process tonight.
