Body kit parts collection complete.....off to paint

[mbsickness]

About a month and a half ago I located and purchased an OEM C36 AMG body kit for my C280 as the front bumper had been been damaged. As it turns out with most things related to this car.....perhaps I should have just gotten a replacement bumper skeleton from the salvage yard and called it good. Now it is much to late to turn back and I am pushing ahead. The kit came off of a 96 C36 in Florida and came with both bumpers and side skirts. The catch (as with everything there is a catch) is that both driving lights and tow hook covers were missing. The donor car had been in a somewhat disassembled state for a few years so those missing parts were long gone. Fast forward a month and I have acquired all the missing bits as well as a collection of mounting hardware. Good news is that most all the mounting hardware was still available at the dealer.....the bad news is most of the parts have a "HWA" part number and even a nylon plug runs $6. Most of the hardware is in multiples of 16-18 so hold on to your wallet.

Here is the damaged bumper

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/geraldch/1A92E765-8900-485F-B29F-65F93CBA8194-2879-00000143B2F62721.jpg

Here are all the parts getting sent off to paint (C36 kit and all door moldings)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/geraldch/8389F8E6-1B4E-4AE2-8E31-8EF295688E3F-4980-0000023C475566A0.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/geraldch/D64583F3-BD18-4D68-B20F-E4A07AB397EA-4980-0000023C3DA80EB6.jpg

Hopefully in a week or two the parts will come back 040 Black and I can start the installation

[Pagz]

I fell into the same trap,when I purchased new 36 sides and they cost around 1400nzd before painting,I though damn they were a bit pricey, then the bill for all fitting hardware and sticky vinyl strip came in at 800!!! haha. I think even my parts guys were shocked and gave me a hefty discount.

I never used the vinyl but for the rest who get second had make sure you secure all the fitting hardware with it!!....or even better if you can remove the hardware yourself aka the super weak brittle plastic anchors on the underside - there is much more chance of recovering them. Same goes for rear bumper make sure you get the stainless brackets that mount to the impact bushes(which I see you got)

Good luck with the paint and fit, C36 kit is a great upgrade.

[mbsickness]

I must say I was impressed that the car is predrilled with all the mounting holes needed. That is some real foresight there. I stopped by the shop today to dropp off the tow covers and the bumpers and skirts were all primed in black. Even in just primer they looked so good....I can't wait to see the finished product.

[Pagz]

Good to hear!

Interesting, C36 bolts straight onto an updated body but its made for pre-update, so all W202 94 - 2000 have same holes drilled ontop and under the sills?

Did your 280 already have side skirts?

also have you thought about painting all the stainless trim black too? I did mine silver to match looks really clean.

[mbsickness]

My C280 does not have any kind of side skirt and is a 12/93 production. Under the car there are holes with rubber grommets and on the door sill is a trim piece where the snap fitting holes line up with the C36 skirt mount holes. Additionally there are two covers which when removed provide the recess for the skirt edge as it meets the painted body. From the look of it the C36 out should go on without needing to drill a single hole.

Under the rocker of the car
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/geraldch/8821F8C7-5A4A-479F-83D4-120FE8B7F17D-6634-0000031C460682BC.jpg

Sill trim and rear side cover where the skirt would meet the body.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/geraldch/606B7F7F-ABEF-416D-835C-590155B9A44C-6634-0000031C94046319.jpg

[mbsickness]

Oh and I'm keeping the stainless steel trim as is. I think there would be a lack of contrast as the car is black.

[Pagz]

Ah yes makes sense on the black,you hardly notice the trim on a the silver!, Its also very time consuming trying to assemble the painted stainless trim without damaging it!

[mbsickness]

It already is costing a small fortune (well much more than I budgeted) to paint all the pieces as I'm painting all the body molding as well. So for both contrast and financial reason is why the stainless will remain. Another downside that I had not thought about until now is that I will have two pristine bumpers......there goes my "park it anywhere in the city" car.

[Pagz]

I agree,good paint work is not cheap by any means.

Just think of the fitness you will get parking in far corner of the supermarket! haha.