Grill area paint

[Jonny B]

Here are the color photos of the paint detail published in the latest issue of Pagoda Notes. These are from a very original 250 SL (late) that I saw in Southern California in Dec of 2009. There is an area of black paint by the air cleaner and the battery that appears to have been brushed in. We know that the battery cover (as you look from the front of the car ) should be black to give the very nice full black view, but these paint areas appear to complement that to ensure that there is full coverage across the grill, and from the sides.

Comments??

[Jonny B]

To give credit where due, the photos are courtesy of Dave Gallon.

[greenerwg]

I have removed the grill from my '68 250 SL because I wanted to repaint it.  I sanded it smooth (without removing all old paint) and attempted to spray paint it, but it bubbled badly.  I took it to a fab shop and asked them to paint it.  They sanded it and tried to paint it, but had the same results.  They said they couldn't sand blast it because it was aluminum and that they would try a chemical paint remover and then repaint, but were not sure that would work.
Suggestions?

Thank you,
Bill Greener

[Bernd]

Hi Bill,
I just took my grills and a few miscellaneous small parts to the sandblaster, who didn't seem to have a problem with my request to blast them. He did say, however, that he would need to use soda for those two parts. I tried chemical strippers, which became tedious and difficult to do in the grooves on the backside. Have not decided if I will powder coat them or paint them. I found the satin black spray cans from Rust-oleum (Universal Advanced Formula at Home Depot) with the hourglass top works great for anything satin and sprays beautifully, and looks identical to my satin black on the rest of my car, even the trunk, which is NOT Tiefdunkelgrau, but sating black. Alternatively, I was thinking of using a black satin powder coating which I can also do at home.

If anyone has powder coated those two parts, I wonder if they could comment on how they turned out. Since that would be more chip resistant than painting, I am personally leaning to doing the powder barring overwhelming negative feedback.

Bernd

[bpossel]

Hi Bernd,

Here is a pic of the parts that I had powder coated, includes the grill.
I am happy with the results 
Bob

[Bernd]

Right on..Those look great, Just what I am working on too right now (well, plus a thousand other things)

[SL113fan]

My '70 280SL has the same black paint treatment near the grille.  It appears a bit like an amateur job, as there are some runs.

[greenerwg]

Bob,
Those look great.  I'm still waiting to hear on mine.  If anyone knows anyone in the central New York State area that works on MB, please let me know.

Bill Greener

[RickM]