OldNate

Does the paint chip off the side skirts? I have heard on these forums that after you paint it, you must coat it with something else? Does anyone have details on what to coat it with, or some pictures? Also, can you tell me how long you have had them painted and if they have chipped off at all? Thanks in advanced.

Nate

jimmydagreek

I have heard the same but regardless, the bottom rockers are all bumpy anyway and painting doesn't look so good in my opinion. I recommend just going to a junkyard and picking up a couple of skirts from an '00-'02 W210 and putting those on. They aren't that expensive, they're simple to install and they look great. I had them on my last '97 E420 along with a Carlsson front and rear bumper and they complete the package perfectly. Just my $0.02...

hubert

I had mine for 3 years and they never chiped, onse i did a scratch on them when a scredriver fell out of my hand.

hubert

I had the skirts too they are plastic and if body shop does good job they wont chip.

MARK CUMMINS

I Installed a OE AMG kit on my W210 Wagon seven years ago..paint still looks GREAT!

jimmydagreek

Duh hubert, lol . I don't think his car has side skirts and people have been painting those ugly black rocker panels on the 96-99 models without installing any poly-u side skirts over them from the newer 00-02. Know what I mean...

Btw Mark, it's good to see you in hear man. Long time, hope all is well!

OldNate

If I get side skirts, then I need to buy a new front and rear bumper to match. I would rather just paint it seeing that I shouldn't spent $2000 more on a 163k mile car. What do you guys think a body shop will charge to paint them?

hubert

Why would you need new bumpers too match, just paint the black parts on your existing bumpers or dont do nothing at all, why would you pait the sides and leave the black parts on bumpers black that too would not match.

mbs320

You can paint them yourself and just make sure you clearcoat them with 2 or coats of clear coat so they shine and don't flake. The bodyshop supply store can mix you a aerosol can with your paintcode and then you buy a can of clear compatible to the brand of paint you purchased. Less than $70. and an hour labor for paint then an hour the next day for clear. You can see mine on a 99 E300TD photo.

OldNate

When I say paint the side skirts, i mean paint the bottom of the bumpers too lol. Can anyone give me some pictures of painted side skirts? preferably on a white car from different angles? Thanks

jimmydagreek

Nate, I found my side rocker skirts from a junkyard for $300 bucks (both left and right) including the clips. The clips I couldn't find I went to the dealer and spent maybe $5 bucks to fasten them. Spent another $200 bucks to paint and there you go, your car just got younger by several years and looks tight too! You don't need to change the front and rear bumpers as hubert said, just paint the bottoms when you paint your new side skirts and you're done. At the most (depending on how much you find the skirts for) you shouldn't spend more than $5-700 bucks. Now that's a well worth mod in terms of update and appearance.

MARK CUMMINS

Btw Mark, it's good to see you in hear man. Long time, hope all is well![/QUOTE]


Good to see You Back ! and with a 55!

Tommy_s4

when i was going to do it, i was going to sand them down, get them nice and smooth, then paint em

OldNate

Yes, but that's $700 that I don't have seeing that i'm already paying to fix my entire front end after an accident. Since i'm already getting the bumper painted, i want to just have them paint all the side skirts too. They can probably do for cheap since Iv'e known the painter for a long time. So, Iv'e come to the conclusion that it won't chip if I have the body shop do it, so I'll probably just give them the okay. Thanks everyone.

PS. If anyone has any pictures of painted side skirts, please post them

jimmydagreek

Well if you don't have the cash I understand but you were quoting about $2000 in your previous post and I wanted to show you that wasn't the case. If they're already painting the car and can paint the rockers for cheap then look around for the skirts. You might find them cheap at the local junkyards and I would even post a WTB thread in the classified section in here for '00-'02 side skirts. Good luck and let us know how it goes with pics!

Whitey

Sorry Nate this is the only one of my car before the AMG kit was installed at least it'll show u how the front would look:

hubert

Jimmy i got mine from Caliber Motors or something like that for $380 with clips shipped to NY the AMG ones are like $700.

jimmydagreek

I just called the junkyard and you can get a set without clips for $250 bucks and that's not even negotiating!

OldNate

Does anyone have any pictures? It looked as if Whitey has one, but i cannot see it.

Whitey

Original pic the pic thread anyways but I've hosted it elsewhere for ya

OldNate

That's painted? I can't even see where the black plastic met with the body. Whoever did that did a really good job. Do you have any side views? And thanks whitey

Whitey

Sorry, that's the only pic I got before the kit went on. BTW, with the proper paint baking treatment (or whatever its called), the paint stays on very well, even on the sides.

I think they'd actually painted the entire bumper but I think it is possible to just paint the black piece to get a similar effect, the important thing being, obviously, a proper color match - good luck

jimmydagreek

If the pictures are still in here, my previous E420 has the exact skirts that I am referring to. They were subtle yet nice and clean and went perfectly with my Carlsson front and rear bumpers. Do a search on my name and see if you find any old threads of mine with pics. of my car. You will see exactly what I'm talking about. I have all of those pics. on a disk but good luck finding it right now...

OldNate

Okay, I want to get this done now. I didn't spend as much as I thought on the damage that I had. Where can I get these side skirts, Junk Yards? And I should pay $200 for them? Also, I was reading some things about some clips that I need? How much do those cost? How do these panels clip on? and last question lol, does anyone have any pictures of a 96-99 car with new side skirts from a 2000+, but have a painted front and rear stock bumper.

OldNate

Really!? Caliber motors is local for me. I'll give them a ring tomorrow, thanks.