larryintustin

I have a 2007 R230, low miles. On each side of the rear windshield, there are small black rectangular plastic panels. They are faded with the top layer peeled away. Has anyone tried to repaint or resurface them? Thank you.

imtheking

When I had my 2003 Sl, I had a body shop repaint mine for $75 each

larryintustin

That is what I was thinking. I found another older thread and that is what others have successfully done. I also found a thread and video where someone replaced them. That process looked a little more complicated than heart surgery. LOL! MB, if it isn't complicated, why do it???
Thanks for your response.

tonylinc

Those are actually replaceable and do not cost very much, there are videos and instructions about how to remove and replace them. I don't believe the procedure was very difficult to remove and replace them. A few years ago, I was unaware of this, and so on my SL600 I bought some stick-on wallpaper type material that looked very good and looked like carbon fiber. Made by 3M, so quite a high quality product. Carefully cut pieces to fit and stuck those on there, and looks amazing. Car is silver and they looked fantastic and matched the (real) carbon fiber rear trunk-lid spoiler. Even after five years, it is still on there and looking great. New replacements, when I learned about them, cost under $35 each, may be a little more now, and I don't know if you can specify a color or not. If I could get real carbon fiber door mirror housings I might think of doing that, and then at that time I might want to put the 3M stuff on my rear window side panels to match, but for now the car is fine. LoL

as.thompson

I had mine vinyl wrapped with black vinyl. They look like new. Good luck.

Tom Manning

Very hard to paint that shiny acrylic and make it look new. Perhaps body shops know some techniques but as Tony says they're not expensive or hard to replace.

Most importantly, and not on the videos IIRC: lubricate them with silicone spray before slipping them back into position!

marko69

If anyone has a link to buy the driver side would be appreciated.
I tried to find some last year and was only able to find the passenger side.
I found many places that had them listed, but after ordering, they canceled my order saying they were "no longer available"

porscheguy

found a thread with the PDF showing how to remove.

I had used a razor blade to remove the remaining finish. then covered in carbon fiber wrap. after trimming the warp has shrunk.

will remove wrap and take off the top to rewrap and fold some over the edges. attached is the PDF

also found the replacement trim from a google search found on ebay

A1EK

I painted mine in situ, takes like 30 mins. rub down, mask and paint super easy ! been good or 5 years.

porscheguy

I considered that too, but have a few other spots I want to wrap in carbon fiber. looks like you have the same rear spoiler as I do.

tonylinc

The rear deck carbon fiber spoiler only cost about $175 and is perfect, without blemish and fits the car beautifully. I have had this spoiler on all three of my R230s. Here is a picture that shows the rear window side pieces wearing a carbon fiber applique' .. It was a little work to cut the pieces perfectly, I placed paper over the pieces and traced then cut the material away from the car, then stuck it on. This way no sharp edge knife got near the car, LoL. It looks very good in person and up close.

tonylinc

porscheguy

both look great

larryintustin

What type paint did you use? Did you sand and prime? Thanks!!

aeb28

I did a plasti-dip matte black + plasti-dip clearcoat on mine like 3 years ago when they were starting to look bad. No sand or prime, just a quick light wipe down with acetone (dont get it near anything else). Every few months I hit it with VRP (Chemical Guys) on a terry towel. Took a few minutes to prep, few more to paint, 30 seconds once every few months to keep it protected looking new. I can always peel/re-do if I need to but so far looks as good as the day I painted it years ago.

larryintustin

Thanks for all the ideas on replacing or updating the C pillar trim pieces. I had decided to replace the trim pieces but am having trouble finding new ones. It looks like all the threads about buying new ones are a couple years old. I have searched every place I can and can't find any available except one location in Lithuania. I am not comfortable buying out of the country.

So, does anyone know of a current domestic source who has these in stock?
Thanks so much for your help!

Tom Manning

I got mine from Lithuania. No issues with delivery.

larryintustin

Great! Any issue with fit or quality? Thanks.

Tom Manning

No, they were genuine parts.

larryintustin

Thank you!