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+--- Thread: Side molding removal? (/showthread.php?tid=264)
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Side molding removal? - Gasoline Fumes - 03-06-2009
Anybody remove the side molding from a W123? I think it would look better without it. Yes, I'm aware there would be holes left behind.
RE: Side molding removal? - winmutt - 03-06-2009
(03-06-2009, 11:12 AM)Gasoline Fumes Anybody remove the side molding from a W123? I think it would look better without it. Yes, I'm aware there would be holes left behind.
I think the utility far outweighs any of the looks one can gain. I *DO* like the AMG black out on the chrome.....
![[Image: amg_coupe_2-tone.jpg]](http://daddytypes.com/archive/amg_coupe_2-tone.jpg)
PS - I created a new forum based on this thread
RE: Side molding removal? - ForcedInduction - 03-07-2009
I agree, the strips protect against accidental door bumps very well.
RE: Side molding removal? - Gasoline Fumes - 03-08-2009
(03-06-2009, 05:41 PM)winmutt PS - I created a new forum based on this threadI was wondering where to put this!
I'm not really too concerned about dings. What I am concerned about is the ridge that runs along the molding and how it will look so close to the other ridge above it.
I will be blacking-out some chrome.
RE: Side molding removal? - winmutt - 03-08-2009
I was wondering about how to do this. Will gun blueing work? http://www.bosesguns.com/product_p/bir13425.htm, Says it will do chrome parts.
RE: Side molding removal? - Gasoline Fumes - 03-09-2009
(03-08-2009, 10:14 AM)winmutt I was wondering about how to do this. Will gun blueing work? http://www.bosesguns.com/product_p/bir13425.htm, Says it will do chrome parts.
Try it and let me know! I was just going to lightly sand and paint it. Is all the trim chrome or is some of it stainless?
RE: Side molding removal? - winmutt - 03-09-2009
Its all chrome afaik BUT the center strip is rubber/plastic. Painting over this will probably flake, painting around it is almost certainly going to show some chrome. I am finding out about staining the chrome. It might require a little sanding, we'll see.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 04-23-2009
Came across this ebay sale a while back and pirated the pics. Wagon with no trim on it, looks like the owner was in mid something, since all the holes are there.
This is something I am considering as well, ive got a slight bend in the trunk from some accident which is amplified by the trim. I think the wagon still looks pretty good.
RE: Side molding removal? - kamel - 04-24-2009
When I pulled mine, it sort of gave it a stripped down military look.
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 04-29-2009
(04-24-2009, 03:05 AM)kamel When I pulled mine, it sort of gave it a stripped down military look.
I removed all the side molding off of my wagon, It was a little more work than what I was hoping for. To fill in all of the holes I spot welded all of them and then grinded them all smooth. It was really time consuming and I wouldnt recommend it unless you were going to be repainting the car.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 05-17-2009
(04-24-2009, 03:05 AM)kamel When I pulled mine, it sort of gave it a stripped down military look.
How did you handle the molding on the trunk? On the wagons, I can see things would work out well and look good, but on the sedan, the molding is kind of the handle for the trunk, and it looks "weird" without it on there.
Did you leave it there and just remove the side pieces?
I was thinking of trying to adapt some trunk molding from a 300sd that does not have the full chrome all around. The trunk molding on there ends just beyond what can be considered the handle portion.
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 05-18-2009
I removed everything off the back of the wagone except that metal piece that holds the license plate lights, it was tricky seperating the molding from that but it worked out. I will try to take some pictures and post them. I also removed all emblems and instead used 210 chassis emblems because they are smaller and cooler looking print.
RE: Side molding removal? - Gasoline Fumes - 05-24-2009
(05-17-2009, 11:18 AM)dropnosky How did you handle the molding on the trunk? On the wagons, I can see things would work out well and look good, but on the sedan, the molding is kind of the handle for the trunk, and it looks "weird" without it on there.
Did you leave it there and just remove the side pieces?
I was thinking of trying to adapt some trunk molding from a 300sd that does not have the full chrome all around. The trunk molding on there ends just beyond what can be considered the handle portion.
I bought one of those 300SD trim pieces from the junkyard. It's too curved to really fit the W123 trunk lid, it won't sit flat against it.
RE: Side molding removal? - GREASY_BEAST - 05-24-2009
every W123 that I have seen with the trim removed looked like something from a war-zone. There is just something not right without the trim, maybe its the holes. If you were to do it right and fill every damn hole it might end up looking cool... But unless you can get to the back of each hole, just filling them with weld will allow for rust from the burnt-off paint on the backside...
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 02-28-2010
(05-24-2009, 08:53 PM)GREASY_BEAST every W123 that I have seen with the trim removed looked like something from a war-zone. There is just something not right without the trim, maybe its the holes. If you were to do it right and fill every damn hole it might end up looking cool... But unless you can get to the back of each hole, just filling them with weld will allow for rust from the burnt-off paint on the backside...
Working on my wagon today- You CAN get to the back of all the holes on the cargo end, and if you pull the fender, the front fenders as well. Not sure about the gate and the doors, but with enough work, I don't see why you can't get to those as well.
But why weld? I was thinking it would be easier to just grab a little square of thick plastic, clean the back side, and JB weld it to the back of the panel behind each hole. Then just work from the outside with bondo or fiberglass to fill the hole in. No potential rust problems. Then a nice coat of paint.
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 03-01-2010
I welded all of mine, if you use any other material it will expand and contract at different rates with hot and cold weather and therefore will crack and in some cases fall out. The doors are not bad to get to, the tailgate gets kind of tricky it all depends on how versitile your welding gun is. One mistake I made though and is something to watch out for is dont go down the line one after another, skip around the car so you dont heat one body panel up too much or it will warp.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 03-01-2010
that makes sense, but you would run into materials compatibility any time you use bondo or body filler anyway, or for that matter, paint. So do the potential benefits of using metal to maintain the same expansion/contraction outweigh the possibility of warpage and interior paint loss and potential internal rust?
Did you have to go over the weld filled hole with body filler anyway to get a smooth finish?
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 03-01-2010
Well it all depends on how much time you have on your hands, I did this wagon for practice and to see how long the job will
hold up, I have not seen any rust starting from the inside yet (work is about 2 years old). Yes I did have to grind down each weld and when all body work was complete a thin layer of filler was applied to areas that required it for a final smooth finish (but this is not bad as long as it is done right, you just cannot use filler to fill a hole). It is important to coat the inside of the holes with some kind of preservative or paint.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 03-01-2010
can you take a picture of the back of your wagon? Im really interested in seeing how that looks with the smaller lettering and no trim.
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 03-02-2010
This is an old picture, about 3 months after it was painted.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 03-02-2010
I love it! the lettering looks great on there, and I don't think the actual body lines of the wagon lose a thing by removing the molding. I think it cleans it up actually.
It looks like you also removed the plastic flare from the bottoms of the doors, that looks good as well.
Is this a two tone? or is that undercoating along the bottom there?
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 03-02-2010
Yes I removed the lower trim as well due to most of it being missing to start with. That is undercoating or like a bedliner material. My bodywork got kind of sloppy on the bottom so I incorporated that to hide the imperfections. Once again this was mainly just an attempt to see how it would turn out, the next one will have a little more time and effort invested in it, but not bad for my first attempt at body work.
Here are a few more pics, including one recent one.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 03-02-2010
no, not bad at all. My first attempt at body work ended up a mixture of liquor, spray paint, stupidity, and finally I had to sell the car quick and dirty to hide my shame from others in my profession.
Maybe I will try again on my wagon, I like the no molding look enough to try and follow your example down the road. Painting I will leave to a professional.
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 03-02-2010
My wagon I did pay to get sprayed but I am currently doing body work on my 123 sedan and that one I will try to spray myself, this one however is keeping all of the trim since it was all in good condition still. I may black it out though (not sure yet).
Here are some progress shots of the sedan. Hoping to paint it soon
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 03-03-2010
looks really good! you also answered another question I had, which was what a 123 looks like without the bumpers on it.
What are those rims on it? are you using any kind of spacer?
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 03-04-2010
There are 1/4" spacers up front so the center cap clears, but those are not on in the picture.
Those are wheels from a 211 chassis
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 04-08-2010
heres what im doing about the holes left behind-
I took a piece of styrene I had laying around, and made a little plug, then epoxied it to a flat piece. Then I cleaned up the back, and epoxied the flat piece to the back of the panel.
The plug sticks out and the styrene is really easy to work with as far as shaping, so all I have to do is make 100 of these, glue them in, sand them down, and add minimal body filler to complete my trim hole elimination, and not have to worry about warping the panel, or removing paint.
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 04-09-2010
Wow thats a neat idea, let me know how that works out. Maybe I will hold off on paint to see how that works. Heres where I am at.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 04-13-2010
I will sand it down and do a primer test on the one hole. I think the styrene is very paint friendly, but im not sure. Ill post back with results.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 06-09-2010
heres another picture worthy of being added to this thread along with MB TECH's wagon. Stolen from benzworld.
I think this sedan looks great without the trim. Chip Foose is right about all these older cars being over chromed.
RE: Side molding removal? - MB TECH - 06-10-2010
Sure is a lot smoother than mine. Nice pic
RE: Side molding removal? - garage - 09-14-2010
Dropnosky, did you ever plug the whole car with styrene?
Howd it work??
RE: Side molding removal? - Captain America - 09-15-2010
I really love the naked shape of the car in the first pic of post #28.... this will keep me up at night .... ugh!
RE: Side molding removal? - garage - 09-15-2010
(09-15-2010, 01:15 AM)Captain America I really love the naked shape of the car in the first pic of post #28.... this will keep me up at night .... ugh!
Its nice to see how it looks without bumpers huuh!
I cant wait to take mine off
ha
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 09-15-2010
(09-14-2010, 11:06 PM)garage Dropnosky, did you ever plug the whole car with styrene?
Howd it work??
Unfortunately, no. Just that one hole. that car was overtaken by events. Space for it disappeared and i sold it.
RE: Side molding removal? - garage - 09-15-2010
(09-15-2010, 06:50 PM)dropnosky(09-14-2010, 11:06 PM)garage Dropnosky, did you ever plug the whole car with styrene?
Howd it work??
Unfortunately, no. Just that one hole. that car was overtaken by events. Space for it disappeared and i sold it.
Hmmn, how did the one hole look/last?
I would like to find an alternative way to fill the holes in my car other than spot welding. At least the doors and rear quarter panels.
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 09-16-2010
(09-15-2010, 10:31 PM)garage(09-15-2010, 06:50 PM)dropnosky(09-14-2010, 11:06 PM)garage Dropnosky, did you ever plug the whole car with styrene?
Howd it work??
Unfortunately, no. Just that one hole. that car was overtaken by events. Space for it disappeared and i sold it.
Hmmn, how did the one hole look/last?
I would like to find an alternative way to fill the holes in my car other than spot welding. At least the doors and rear quarter panels.
It looked good, and was still stuck on there. I never got around to sanding it down though. I still have a bunch of styrene scraps if you want em. I could mail them off to you if you want to test it out. Its also available in sheets everywhere, you might be able to get a scrap from a plastics place.
RE: Side molding removal? - garage - 09-16-2010
(09-16-2010, 08:46 AM)dropnosky(09-15-2010, 10:31 PM)garage(09-15-2010, 06:50 PM)dropnosky(09-14-2010, 11:06 PM)garage Dropnosky, did you ever plug the whole car with styrene?
Howd it work??
Unfortunately, no. Just that one hole. that car was overtaken by events. Space for it disappeared and i sold it.
Hmmn, how did the one hole look/last?
I would like to find an alternative way to fill the holes in my car other than spot welding. At least the doors and rear quarter panels.
It looked good, and was still stuck on there. I never got around to sanding it down though. I still have a bunch of styrene scraps if you want em. I could mail them off to you if you want to test it out. Its also available in sheets everywhere, you might be able to get a scrap from a plastics place.
Hmm, does this stuff already have the little 'knobs' to fill the hole, or do you need to carve/sand each one to make it fit?
RE: Side molding removal? - Captain America - 09-16-2010
You guys are going to shit when I post a pic of what I plan to fill my holes with. I don't wanna give it away, some of you will be able to guess.... I will post when finished...
RE: Side molding removal? - winmutt - 09-16-2010
I like filling holes.
RE: Side molding removal? - Captain America - 09-16-2010
I am not near my car at the moment but can someone count the number of holes real quick for me?
(09-16-2010, 01:53 PM)winmutt I like filling holes.
THE HOLES ON THE CAR MAN!!!! haha
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 09-16-2010
(09-16-2010, 01:54 PM)Captain America I am not near my car at the moment but can someone count the number of holes
I think around 100 or so. Probably less, but that should cover all of them
(09-16-2010, 09:13 AM)garage Hmm, does this stuff already have the little 'knobs' to fill the hole, or do you need to carve/sand each one to make it fit?
no knobs, just scrap. Stuff is easy to shape though. I intended to use a wood plug cutter drill bit to make all the knobs fast.
RE: Side molding removal? - Captain America - 09-16-2010
(09-16-2010, 02:34 PM)dropnosky(09-16-2010, 01:54 PM)Captain America I am not near my car at the moment but can someone count the number of holes
I think around 100 or so. Probably less, but that should cover all of them
Haha I was thinking around 60. The price difference for what im buying between 60 and 100 holes would be $40 or $65!
I'm no cheap ass but I would have nothing to do with 20 extra ......'s
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 09-16-2010
this is interesting, what could you be using! can you buy them individually? Just order 60 and make up the difference later if you are short
RE: Side molding removal? - Captain America - 09-16-2010
Ha! Its gonna be sweet, especially if I decide to side swipe someone ... That might have just given me away ... They come individually but also in packs of 20. I will count the holes when I get home to the car but I was hoping i could put the order in today since this thread got me all hopped up on getting this done... You f*&kers are making me spend money! lol
RE: Side molding removal? - JB3 - 09-16-2010
its not a spike from a leather coat is it?
RE: Side molding removal? - garage - 09-16-2010
(09-16-2010, 04:09 PM)dropnosky its not a spike from a leather coat is it?
Thats exactly what i was thinking!
Big ol metal spikes/studs!
(09-16-2010, 02:34 PM)dropnosky(09-16-2010, 01:54 PM)Captain America I am not near my car at the moment but can someone count the number of holes
I think around 100 or so. Probably less, but that should cover all of them
(09-16-2010, 09:13 AM)garage Hmm, does this stuff already have the little 'knobs' to fill the hole, or do you need to carve/sand each one to make it fit?
no knobs, just scrap. Stuff is easy to shape though. I intended to use a wood plug cutter drill bit to make all the knobs fast.
I will be in contact to get that styrene from you..soon.
RE: Side molding removal? - willbhere4u - 09-16-2010
I used all metal/body filler it sucked! It kept poping out had to put the strips back on in the end! Next time I will just weld them! It looked good for almost a day on my black 300cd with euro lights!
RE: Side molding removal? - Captain America - 09-16-2010
Yup!
http://studsandspikes.com/buy/spike-hex-1-3-8-inch-hex-bag-of-20.html
RE: Side molding removal? - garage - 09-17-2010
I like the option of leaning against my car if i wish...and not getting shanked.
How is the styrene with/against water?