My Mercedes W126 500 SEL restoration

konjaril · 8th July 2010, 21:16

To be fair to why we arent progressing with the contessa project(http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ml#post1973564) , i would like to show you guys some teasers of the w126 we have been busy with. I will post full pics only after the car is complete!

Well the car was a mess, she was rotting away in one corner when we decided lets do her up and get her to her glory days again, the exteriors were bad and the interiors were worse.
The rust you see is only tip of the iceberg i dont have the pics while the car was in bad shape, anyway,we did the patchwork, removed the windshield overhauled the brakes, rechecked the wiring, trying to get the sun roof working for the exteriors. We also redid the wood work, the interiors, dashboard, every switch and knob, even the speedometer, everything was opened up..
The car..(wait for it) was painted at least 6 times over and over again previously with rust popping up from places, the paint was stripped down to bare metal base. The car was then painted using very high quality Glasurit paint and lacquer on a 2k primer base, she is awaiting polish now.
Some pics .

P.S. Sorry i couldn't post the pics in the manner i wanted they just came random.

Ricky_63 · 8th July 2010, 21:26

The outer shell seems to have come out very well...why the mystery ?? It seems like it is going to be another brilliant restoration !!

All the best

Cheers

konjaril · 8th July 2010, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky_63

The outer shell seems to have come out very well...why the mystery ?? It seems like it is going to be another brilliant restoration !!

All the best

Cheers

hi ricky. well i didnt want to show the whole car just to build up the suspense. he he.
Anyways its not only the outer shell, the interiors of the cars were in bits and pieces. After the carpets and all come in its gonna look delicious.

. i am sorry i am just too overwhelmed!

HammerHead · 8th July 2010, 22:49

Nice work there.
Are you still working on it or is it already on road

Upload some interiors pics man.

shantanumishra · 9th July 2010, 06:32

Excellent Restoration Man, you seem to be heading in creating a new award for your restoration projects,

The car looks in great shape from whatever I can gather from the teasers, but for god sake, pls start the movie, its really bad to see just the teasers and then go in a hibernation for a long time,

Great going, Am really loving your work.

14000rpm · 9th July 2010, 06:39

the gloss is awesome.

evo · 9th July 2010, 14:06

brilliant stuff. Just seeing a rusted old car turn into gleaming painted steel is a brilliant feeling. Looking forward to the rest of it.

Machdar · 9th July 2010, 14:46

waiting! pls post the whole restoration and pics soon!

ilangop · 10th July 2010, 11:46

Awsome restoration man, The pictures are indicative of the efforts you put in this restoration. Great job.

GTO · 10th July 2010, 12:10

My favorite all-time Mercedes! Subscribed to this thread and eagerly awaiting updates.

1. Could you please upload exterior pictures of the car? It'll greatly help the BEFORE & AFTER comparos.

2. What would be the approximate cost of a high quality W126 restoration? 4 lakhs?

nandishpal · 10th July 2010, 12:10

hats off to you on taking the challenge to build a car like the mercedes w126.
seeing the post restoration pictures i would have never touched a 126 in this condition.i dont even let the company service advisors to open the door pad or any electricals as it is difficult to fix them back & you are sure to have broken clips & locks.
awaiting the finished car.

nandishpal · 10th July 2010, 12:37

GTO its most unlikely to be around 4 lakhs if konjaril is going for all original Mercedes parts.looking at the the rotors ,underbody rust,& the interiors it seems to be a night mare.
the engine bay looks very clean with all possible parts in the bay.
painting is acheivable but the detailing to perfection on the w126 is very difficult specially if you are a very particular person.
i can feek what konjaril is going through.please make sure there is no compromise on anything because opening of the same part again & again will reduce the part life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

2. What would be the approximate cost of a high quality W126 restoration? 4 lakhs?

joshguy · 10th July 2010, 13:14

I always have a thought in my corner of mind to buy a classic or 1980/90s mercs and have it as my daily drive.But i cant imagine running behind mechs and spares for it.

But some day or the other i will own one

All the best or the restoration Konjaril !! get us more pics too

prashanth_benz · 10th July 2010, 13:27

Nice car to work on..wish u the very best with the restoration. I have a question for you though.. What bike is that in the background in one of the pics..It looks like a modded Indian bike because I have'nt really seen such a rear end in any bike available now..kindly enlighten..thanks!

harit · 10th July 2010, 14:00

Hi!

The bodywork and painting is coming up very nicely. Seeing the state of the car, I was wondering whether you managed to sort electrics and mechanicals before starting on the body. I fear that if you have not, these would give you a headache later on.
Please ensure that you use original parts, get a set of the major rubbers to be used while assemblying the car.
My guess that restoration costs will be 6L +.

Cheers harit

8th July 2010, 21:16	#1
konjaril BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 282 Thanked: 63 Times View My Garage	My Mercedes W126 500 SEL restoration To be fair to why we arent progressing with the contessa project(http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ml#post1973564) , i would like to show you guys some teasers of the w126 we have been busy with. I will post full pics only after the car is complete! Well the car was a mess, she was rotting away in one corner when we decided lets do her up and get her to her glory days again, the exteriors were bad and the interiors were worse. The rust you see is only tip of the iceberg i dont have the pics while the car was in bad shape, anyway,we did the patchwork, removed the windshield overhauled the brakes, rechecked the wiring, trying to get the sun roof working for the exteriors. We also redid the wood work, the interiors, dashboard, every switch and knob, even the speedometer, everything was opened up.. The car..(wait for it) was painted at least 6 times over and over again previously with rust popping up from places, the paint was stripped down to bare metal base. The car was then painted using very high quality Glasurit paint and lacquer on a 2k primer base, she is awaiting polish now. Some pics . P.S. Sorry i couldn't post the pics in the manner i wanted they just came random. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by konjaril : 8th July 2010 at 21:21.
	(2) Thanks

8th July 2010, 21:26	#2
Ricky_63 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,885 Thanked: 519 Times View My Garage	The outer shell seems to have come out very well...why the mystery ?? It seems like it is going to be another brilliant restoration !! All the best Cheers
	() Thanks

8th July 2010, 22:49	#4
HammerHead Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Goan in Pune Posts: 1,254 Thanked: 652 Times View My Garage	Nice work there. Are you still working on it or is it already on road Upload some interiors pics man.
	() Thanks

9th July 2010, 06:32	#5
shantanumishra BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: BLR/LKO Posts: 329 Thanked: 151 Times	Excellent Restoration Man, you seem to be heading in creating a new award for your restoration projects, The car looks in great shape from whatever I can gather from the teasers, but for god sake, pls start the movie, its really bad to see just the teasers and then go in a hibernation for a long time, Great going, Am really loving your work.
	() Thanks

9th July 2010, 06:39	#6
14000rpm Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Helsinki Posts: 2,634 Thanked: 7,323 Times View My Garage	the gloss is awesome.
	() Thanks

9th July 2010, 14:06	#7
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 160 Times View My Garage	brilliant stuff. Just seeing a rusted old car turn into gleaming painted steel is a brilliant feeling. Looking forward to the rest of it.
	() Thanks

9th July 2010, 14:46	#8
Machdar BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 199 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	waiting! pls post the whole restoration and pics soon!
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 11:46	#9
ilangop BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 993 Thanked: 927 Times View My Garage	Awsome restoration man, The pictures are indicative of the efforts you put in this restoration. Great job.
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 12:10	#10
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 72,643 Thanked: 317,687 Times View My Garage	My favorite all-time Mercedes! Subscribed to this thread and eagerly awaiting updates. 1. Could you please upload exterior pictures of the car? It'll greatly help the BEFORE & AFTER comparos. 2. What would be the approximate cost of a high quality W126 restoration? 4 lakhs?
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 12:10	#11
nandishpal BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 493 Thanked: 80 Times	hats off to you on taking the challenge to build a car like the mercedes w126. seeing the post restoration pictures i would have never touched a 126 in this condition.i dont even let the company service advisors to open the door pad or any electricals as it is difficult to fix them back & you are sure to have broken clips & locks. awaiting the finished car.
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 13:14	#13
joshguy BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,379 Thanked: 110 Times	I always have a thought in my corner of mind to buy a classic or 1980/90s mercs and have it as my daily drive.But i cant imagine running behind mechs and spares for it. But some day or the other i will own one All the best or the restoration Konjaril !! get us more pics too
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 13:27	#14
prashanth_benz BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 64 Thanked: Once	Nice car to work on..wish u the very best with the restoration. I have a question for you though.. What bike is that in the background in one of the pics..It looks like a modded Indian bike because I have'nt really seen such a rear end in any bike available now..kindly enlighten..thanks!
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 14:00	#15
harit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,035 Thanked: 3,306 Times	Hi! The bodywork and painting is coming up very nicely. Seeing the state of the car, I was wondering whether you managed to sort electrics and mechanicals before starting on the body. I fear that if you have not, these would give you a headache later on. Please ensure that you use original parts, get a set of the major rubbers to be used while assemblying the car. My guess that restoration costs will be 6L +. Cheers harit Last edited by harit : 10th July 2010 at 14:06.
	() Thanks