Restoring lower trim and wheelarches

[grozier]

On any Westy that's seen much sun, the lower gray trim and the special US-only wheel arches tend to fade. The bumpers are more robust, but also fade.

The oxidation on the lower trim can be fixed temporarily with various salves and/or polishing, and semi-permanently with clear coat. A better alternative for that area, and especially the plastic trim, is the official color, which I believe to be ... drum roll please ... Mercedes-Benz Argentitgrau 7354. This is the period color for all plastic trim on commercial vehicles of our vintage. I bought a few cans of it (and some plastic adhesion promoter for the wheel arches) from http://www.123lack.de/farben-und-lac...ack-spruehdose (no affiliation) and things came out well. I can't find this on US websites, but a good paint shop, the M-B dealer, or perhaps Freightliner can provide some.

Hope this helps,

Ted

[jujupang]

Thank you, Ted.....

[discus]

I used 2 component Bedliner on mine. Even on the cracked plastic pieces.

If you want to restore the original look, you can use SEM texture coating and SEN bumper coating. They come in all shades so you can find a good match. Body shops use SEM.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[grozier]

Looks great. Especially like the clean roof with that custom stripe.

Ted

[CaptnALinTiverton]

{I posted twice to Ted on the Yahoo forum about bottom paint code thread but looked like it didn't work so I'm reposting here}.

So Ted,

I know that the question was color of bottom panels, but did you mean that the color code for the Westy (other than bottom panel) was 744 ( Dodge color?)? I found a good, inexpensive source in the US but their drop-down list, like many others on the web, does not list Sprinter under M-B, just under Dodge. I saw in the pdf manual that the M-B code may be 7708 but the following is the answer to my inquiry from the company's CSR.

"7708 is Silver Gray and is not a metallic color also, it is not the same as 774 Brilliant Silver."
{Now I just notice that she's talking about 774, not the 744 I asked about. I will check with her on that}.

Mona
Customer Service Ext 102
504-818-2334
1-888-710-5192
Mon-Fri 8:00 - 5:00 CST
www.automotivetouchup.com



AL

[CaptnALinTiverton]

That was a typo; she meant 744. Anyway she sent me a photo of the two colors side by side and it's obvious from that the 744 brilliant silver metallic is our exterior color (except for you owners with the different colored vans). The 708 appears to be close to the gray lower trim tape so I'll get a little touch-up for that and see how that matches.

I like this company and their prices. We'll see how the paint is when it arrives.


AL

[CaptnALinTiverton]

I also have this doc from somewhere but the codes don't relate to anything I've found so far.

[CaptnALinTiverton]

Just to clear it up, the pdf manual that the M-B code 7708 is in is the "2005_sprinter_service_manual" which is for the general Sprinters, not the Westfalia Sprinter which in most cases has the brilliant silver metallic base coat with clear coat on top.


AL

[CaptnALinTiverton]

Originally Posted by CaptnALinTiverton

{I posted twice to Ted on the Yahoo forum about bottom paint code thread but looked like it didn't work so I'm reposting here}.

So Ted,

I know that the question was color of bottom panels, but did you mean that the color code for the Westy (other than bottom panel) was 744 ( Dodge color?)? I found a good, inexpensive source in the US but their drop-down list, like many others on the web, does not list Sprinter under M-B, just under Dodge. I saw in the pdf manual that the M-B code may be 7708 but the following is the answer to my inquiry from the company's CSR.

"7708 is Silver Gray and is not a metallic color also, it is not the same as 774 Brilliant Silver."
{Now I just notice that she's talking about 774, not the 744 I asked about. I will check with her on that}.

Mona
Customer Service Ext 102
504-818-2334
1-888-710-5192
Mon-Fri 8:00 - 5:00 CST
www.automotivetouchup.com



AL

Originally Posted by CaptnALinTiverton

That was a typo; she meant 744. Anyway she sent me a photo of the two colors side by side and it's obvious from that the 744 brilliant silver metallic is our exterior color (except for you owners with the different colored vans). The 708 appears to be close to the gray lower trim tape so I'll get a little touch-up for that and see how that matches.

I like this company and their prices. We'll see how the paint is when it arrives.


AL

Well I didn't get good results on my touch-up job. The base color didn't match 100%, that is to my eyes, and the clear coat did not stick well, peeled during following cold and rain. I must say that I can't blame the products because it is nearly impossible to get right weather conditions required (humidity and temperature) in New England seasons other than summer. Also I couldn't lightly sand areas where I wanted over-spray and was just hoping for adherence. Besides I could never get the top coat as thick as the OEM job without getting runs.

I've learned my lesson on this one; I'll have to go to the pros in the future. Now I know they are right when they say there is no such thing as touch-up; the whole body part has to be done.

AL