OT: Plasti Dipping a car?

[Gsinill]

I know this was brought up for bicycles here before but did anybody ever have their car Plasti Dipped?
My old '86 MB SDL is getting to the point of being an eyesore (clear coat gone, some minor surface rust) and a repaint seems cost prohibitive.

It's on of the best cars ever built IMHO, has less than 140K miles on it and since it's mechanically still in good shape, I hate to part with it.


Not looking for perfection, just good enough where I can have it sit in my driveway for the next 2 - 3 years without being embarrassed.

The good, the bad and the ugly?

[dbnm]

Just go to MAACO. Seriously.

[NYCfixie]

Just go to MAACO. Seriously.

Please get a fade like 80s bikes and then post pics. For extra bonus points, add flames.


http://dfredman.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54edfd09788330133f56538e0970b-800wi

Seriously, Macco is a great option if you just need to cover up what's there and hopefully stop any other rust. They have a few different options and price points.

[Gsinill]

Please get a fade like 80s bikes and then post pics. For extra bonus points, add flames.


http://dfredman.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54edfd09788330133f56538e0970b-800wi


Hahaha! The only 126 I've ever seen where those forsaken chrome wheel arch trims look good. I should have kept the ones mine came with.

Might give Maaco a call...

[batman1425]

I'd look into a full car vinyl wrap. I know a few folks that have had this done with surprisingly good results. Far less prep and time than even a basic re-spray job.

[C40_guy]

How about a tribute design:

(Surprisingly ontopic!)

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/01/0d/28/010d28fe827f3792eab555e3c5b62d25.jpg

[Gsinill]

How about a tribute design:

(Surprisingly ontopic!)

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/01/0d/28/010d28fe827f3792eab555e3c5b62d25.jpg

I might do that on my other beater, a E320 station wagon ;)

[Bentley]

I know this was brought up for bicycles here before but did anybody ever have their car Plasti Dipped?
My old '86 MB SDL is getting to the point of being an eyesore (clear coat gone, some minor surface rust) and a repaint seems cost prohibitive.

It's on of the best cars ever built IMHO, has less than 140K miles on it and since it's mechanically still in good shape, I hate to part with it.


Not looking for perfection, just good enough where I can have it sit in my driveway for the next 2 - 3 years without being embarrassed.

The good, the bad and the ugly?

Seriously? Plasti Dip? My guess is Maaco is cheap, a wrap is probably not cheaper than Maaco. I am assuming you are doing this because you believe it to be cheap? If the car is that good then its worth a little to make it presentable.

[William]

Check with Fonzie, he'll sort you out...:banana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J6rRj98A5s








William

[azrider]

Do not do it.

I have an '82 MB 300TD with 350,000 miles and would not hesitate to repaint tomorrow (if it needed it)

[Gsinill]

Seriously? Plasti Dip? My guess is Maaco is cheap, a wrap is probably not cheaper than Maaco. I am assuming you are doing this because you believe it to be cheap? If the car is that good then its worth a little to make it presentable.

Cheap is the wrong word, just trying to avoid anything that is cost prohibitive.

The car is 30 years old, spent it's whole life in the NE and MW, so it shows signs of age.
I recently had to replace a rusted out rear control arm and corroded fuel lines.
Little things that add up and I am sure more gremlins will show up up in the near future.

For this car, a first class paint job is between $10K - $13K, a good one probably $5K - $7K and a decent one somewhere in-between.
If I can spend less than $2K to make it look decent for another 2 - 3 years, I am willing to gamble, hoping that there won't be any major mechanical issue.

I did reach out to my local Maaco shop a few years ago but didn't like their attitude and how non-committal they were.
Called again today, same thing...
Contacted another one close by across the border in WI and they quoted me between $399 on the low end and $2,500 for their top job.
On top of it, they offer a 50% discount right now as a monthly special.

Sounds like something to consider...

[Gsinill]

Do not do it.

I have an '82 MB 300TD with 350,000 miles and would not hesitate to repaint tomorrow (if it needed it)

Very nice!

...and after having owned 3 W123 Diesel (200D/220D/240D), I have to tell you that the W126 is an even better car ;)
If I lived in AZ, I'd probably bite the bullet and have it done right...

[eBAUMANN]

i know a few people who have plasti-dipped their sprinter vans...came out pretty great for something that will only set you back like $500 and you can do yourself in your driveway.

The issue for you would be any rust issues that might be present...the plasti dip wont stop/fix that.

[azrider]

Very nice!

...and after having owned 3 W123 Diesel (200D/220D/240D), I have to tell you that the W126 is an even better car ;)
If I lived in AZ, I'd probably bite the bullet and have it done right...

Woah woah........w126 is even better?? Strong words there my friend.

I'd LOVE to have a W123 in a wagon

Sooooo awesome.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/21/b5/1a/21b51adf672d6cc48ada7dd4e0247937--mercedes-w-retro-cars.jpg

http://www.2040-cars.com/_content/cars/images/91/452691/002.jpg

http://classiccardb.com/uploads/postfotos/1985-mercedes-300td-wagon-w123-sunroof-35k-restoration-stunning-3rd-row-wow-1.JPG

[C40_guy]

Cheap is the wrong word, just trying to avoid anything that is cost prohibitive.

I did reach out to my local Maaco shop a few years ago but didn't like their attitude and how non-committal they were.
Called again today, same thing...

On top of it, they offer a 50% discount right now as a monthly special.

Sounds like something to consider...

Never use the words "MB" and "cheap" in the same sentence. :)

I had a W124 for a short while...the 300 TD.

And with regard to Maaco...just don't go there...they'll trash the car. Google is your friend. And a 50% discount means you'll pay 50% less and get 50% less paint masking and care. Just don't go there... the next owner of the car will hate you forever!

Call local trade schools and see if any of them have bodywork on the schedule.

You'll probably have to pay for paint and supplies, but you'll get a better result than with Maaco...

[Gsinill]

Woah woah........w126 is even better?? Strong words there my friend.

I know and I stand by it. Simply a more refined car which literally feels like a tank.
You need to get one for comparison.

My first W126 was a '85 SD I bought while living in San Diego.
One owner (pastor) car with 460,000 miles on the clock.
I drove it for 5 years without a single repair before stupid me donated it because the A/C developed a leak.

My current SDL I bought unseen on eBay in 2008.
Booked a one way ticket from O'hare to La Guardia, classic used car dealer from Long Island picked me up and I drove it back to Chicago; my wife called me insane.
Never let me down, even with the broken control arm I still made it home safely on a 60 mile trip from Milwaukee.


I'd LOVE to have a W123 in a wagon

Sooooo awesome.


Agreed!
My dream would be a 350SD in excellent condition or even better, a 300 SDT (Diesel wagon if MB had ever made one).

[Ken Robb]

I think at least SOME MAACO shops do reasonable work for a reasonable charge. One of the biggest factors affecting cost/final result is how much prep work you want done. Sanding, masking and/or trim removal and replacement can be labor intensive. You might consider removing the trim yourself because that will make sanding easier and eliminate most of the masking required so the shop won't charge as much.

I had a pal here who was an excellent body man. He worked by himself in a bay in repair shop owned by a mutual friend. He did all the body work and paint prep/trim removal before he took it to the best spray painter he knew. That guy worked at MAACO! As my pal said "he sprays more cars in a day that most painters do in a week so he's really good with a gun." I think my pal may, at least sometimes, have provided the paint. The finished jobs I saw were mostly BMWs and Porsches though he did do a fine job on a Cadillac for one of my REALTOR friends.

[Bentley]

Cheap is the wrong word, just trying to avoid anything that is cost prohibitive.

The car is 30 years old, spent it's whole life in the NE and MW, so it shows signs of age.
I recently had to replace a rusted out rear control arm and corroded fuel lines.
Little things that add up and I am sure more gremlins will show up up in the near future.

For this car, a first class paint job is between $10K - $13K, a good one probably $5K - $7K and a decent one somewhere in-between.
If I can spend less than $2K to make it look decent for another 2 - 3 years, I am willing to gamble, hoping that there won't be any major mechanical issue.

I did reach out to my local Maaco shop a few years ago but didn't like their attitude and how non-committal they were.
Called again today, same thing...
Contacted another one close by across the border in WI and they quoted me between $399 on the low end and $2,500 for their top job.
On top of it, they offer a 50% discount right now as a monthly special.

Sounds like something to consider...

This sounds like a much better idea

[ceolwulf]

Vinyl wraps are a good option if you want something that's removable and looks very nearly as good as a good paint job, but they're not exactly cheap. Not much less than a paint job, if at all.

If you don't mind putting in a LOT of elbow grease, here's a way to get an extremely cheap paint job that looks very good:

https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/craig-fitzgerald/how-paint-car-bucket-rust-oleum-and-roller

[carpediemracing]

A sort of friend (he's the son of one of the Missus's partners) does some non-Plasti-Dip plastidip (different brand). His cars look fine from 5 feet away, I haven't looked any closer. Changes it every couple years. Paints the car outside (in Connecticut).

It's a satin finish, not a gloss.

Much cheaper than wrapping.

If you're just looking to cover, it's more consistent looking than, say, roller painting your car.

The big thing with a Maaco job is the paint. If you go for the enamel you simply don't get the depth. More expensive paint gets you more depth but is more expensive.

My brother is going through the same thing, he has a 12 year old car that's a bit battle worn and he wants to make it look presentable for his 14 year old to drive in two years. I told him the plasti dip would work well and would have some cool factor to it.

[11.4]

Even if the car is beaten up, it's worth a decent paint job. Those prices seem a bit out of line or are "for Mercedes" prices. I'd suggest you hunt down a local body shop that will respray the car and even fix a few rust spots for a reasonable price. You'd get it back on sale price for the car.

You can also order a 3M film screen that gets rolled on and peels off. These last 3-4 years in good shape and when peeled off don't leave any marks or damage. Do that Campy support vehicle with film, or find a similar motif for an interesting car. You might as well enjoy it. I've had a Superduty, a Sprinter, and a couple Outbacks done in team sponsorship colors for about $1500-2000 a vehicle. That's using the highest quality 3M film.

Plastic dip doesn't really hold well, and if you chip it the coating will start peeling from there. You can get LineX in colors and a glossy finish, which might give you an interesting finish. People are using it to overspray Jeep Wranglers and to refinish bumpers, grilles, and other parts of trucks. It can look pretty good and you can even color-match the stuff. My last Superduty had a cross box and a pair of Ranch Hands bumpers all painted to match the truck. Vain, but fun.

[alancw3]

I know this was brought up for bicycles here before but did anybody ever have their car Plasti Dipped?
My old '86 MB SDL is getting to the point of being an eyesore (clear coat gone, some minor surface rust) and a repaint seems cost prohibitive.

It's on of the best cars ever built IMHO, has less than 140K miles on it and since it's mechanically still in good shape, I hate to part with it.


Not looking for perfection, just good enough where I can have it sit in my driveway for the next 2 - 3 years without being embarrassed.

The good, the bad and the ugly?

i to owned a 1986 mb 300sdl. that six cylinder diesel engine was great. so much better than the 3 liter 5 cylinder as far as smoothness. i put 180,000 miles on mine and then it developed a problem with the turbo seals leaking oil and shortly thereafter the transmission started acting up. anyway i traded the car for 1995 mb 2.5d. worst mistake i ever made. no comparison between the two cars.

oh and one of the best things about the '86 sdl was that you could easily put a bike in the rear seating leg area with the front wheel off.

[pasadena]

Splitting hairs. All of them are lifetime vehicles
The W124 era is the last of the "real" Mercedes

I still want a 500E and wish I got one years ago.

In your area, plastidip won't last and would be a waste of money. A cheap paintjob is really going to be better than nothing if the current state is that bad, imo.

Very nice!

...and after having owned 3 W123 Diesel (200D/220D/240D), I have to tell you that the W126 is an even better car ;)
If I lived in AZ, I'd probably bite the bullet and have it done right...

[KarlC]

Splitting hairs. All of them are lifetime vehicles
The W124 era is the last of the "real" Mercedes

I still want a 500E and wish I got one years ago.

In your area, plastidip won't last and would be a waste of money. A cheap paintjob is really going to be better than nothing if the current state is that bad, imo.

I had 3 different 500E, this was my last one, amazing cars .....

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4652/40050378911_65ec2d39d0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2427Ejk)GTG 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2427Ejk)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4709/40050379281_14bac034a9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2427EqH)GTG 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2427EqH)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4749/40050381641_f08e3291e4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2427F8p)GTG 4 (https://flic.kr/p/2427F8p)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4649/40050382321_09384d75b3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2427Fk8)GTG 5 (https://flic.kr/p/2427Fk8)


Most people dont know the backstory on the 500E ........

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4663/28271034779_5ffee7c226_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/K5drG8)Stuttgart%20025 (https://flic.kr/p/K5drG8)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4746/28271035179_dab380df21_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/K5drP2)Stuttgart (https://flic.kr/p/K5drP2)