Restoration and place

[Louiehenry]

So I've come to the conclusion, that my little golden arrow needs some serious TLC. I called a guy at Mann's restoration, they did a great job on another, older, lower mileage car for my brother, and I like their work. What I don't like. Is their asking price for what is quite frankly, not that much work compared to one of their usual jobs. I'm not begrudging them their money, and they have every right to ask it, but I don't think I'll be taking my car there. So anyway, does anyone know a good (really really good) restoration team? Preferably one that does just Mercedes or even better, just the 113s

[Essell]

Hello Louis

If the restorer has performed well in the past.............a great job on your brothers car...........there is no better recommendation. Pay peanuts..........get monkeys.

Essell

[KevinC]

LH,

Aside from the radio...what are you looking to have done?

Kevin

[66andBlue]

Take a look here: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Suppliers/Start
and consider SL-Tech,  or Motoring Investments, or ClassicAutosLA.

[KevinC]

Or Mike's original recommendation...


Louie,

here is an idea...  every other summer, there is a congregation here in Blacklick Ohio, (Columbus) called Pagoda University Blacklick.  About 50 pagodas come in from all over the country to have seminars in technical aspects of the car.  Joe Alexander hosts the event, and Joe is one of about 5 guys in North America who are the premier master mechanics on pre computer benzes.  Its really cool to see 300SL gullwings and a steady stream of pagodas in Joe's shop.  There are other great technicians who can do the work, but I don't know of any in Little Rock.

Since you have one of the "holy grails" in the pagoda world, you may want to consider shipping the car to Joe in the late spring (i've heard that shipping across country costs less than $1k), let him work it over and do the restoration (since you don't need body work) and get the car in premier condition, and then have the car "premiere" at Pagoda University.

Not sure how much you want to do yourself, but you have a Stradivarius there, and you should consider working with the best in the business to preserve value to you and the sub-culture.

Regards,

Mike

 
 
 

[Louiehenry]

They did a fantastic job!!
I'd really like to have the trunk fixed up, the hood fitted correctly, apparently it's common to have the hood be a little off center? A new set of documentation and owners manuals would be nice! I'd really just like to have the car as original as possible! Also the chrome on the gear selector shaft is wearing thin, and a cleaned up exhaust kit would be nice! A new soft top, paint, maybe see if they can find a jump seat, or would that hurt the value?

[KevinC]

Some stuff you can "find" and do yourself like owner's manuals plus other literature (ebay) and data card (MB Classic Center). Chrome gear selector shaft (MB Classic Center) . Hood fit...a reputable local body shop. Exhaust kit...do you need an entire system? Many suppliers have these available then again, a trusted local installer. You can also look for third seats (known as kinder seats) on ebay but if you are really concerned about originality, you may want to skip it as they offer extremely limited use.

Now...a new soft top and paint?  A 9000 mile car shouldn't need these (?). 

Kevin

[Louiehenry]

The soft topmost simply because it is rusting on the inside frame, as it was in the compartment for a long while! The paint, caused by a couple of 14 year old kids with a football that happened to bounce and hit the quarter panel, and just road use

[Louiehenry]

Which, I do have to admit, had I not been lazy and parked where I did, instead of finding a safer spot, it wouldn't have happened! So it is on me.

[KevinC]

LH,

Thinking you need some specialists in certain fields here but still not specifically a Mercedes guy (although it would help). I just had paint work done by a high-quality shop in my area and then bought a top from German Auto Tops in California and had a local trim shop install it. Some of these places that have been around for a while worked on these cars when they were newer and can recall the effort that they require. In my case, the top and the installation together was $1000. the main thing is to call the shop and ask..."have you worked on these types of cars in the past?"...and don't just go by their answer but HOW they answer (with confidence?). Don't get me wrong, sending your car to Brian Peters, Gernold Nisius or others would be optimal but probably not a requirement IHMO. The work you need does not necessarily require a Mercedes Tech.

The red car in the pictures below is the one that I just finished. I didn't do much of the work personally but acted more like a General Contractor working with high-end Sub Contractors (and also some good friends!)

Kevin

[Louiehenry]

Thanks! One last question! Then I should be done! What parts need specialists? Normally I'd just do it, but this car isn't like my projects!
Also, I don't know if it means anything, but thank y'all so much for all of your help. Most of the time, if a 17 year old came on asking all these things, I'd just get blown off! It really means a lot that y'all took the time to help me out

[mmizesko]

Hi Louie,

of the things you spoke of, the two hardest things are the soft top (you need to use someone who's done it before).  You may want to use straps from the Porsche.  GAHH makes great german canvas.  The paint on these vehicles is no easy touch up.  The thick lacquer paint is not EPA friendly, and paint shops won't use it.  That means taking ALL the paint off the car (you have to pick a margin to stop at, usually inside the door jambs), and replacing it with a base coat and 2-3 clear coats.  I'm doing that this winter, and it will cost me $9k.  Much of the cost is to take off every bit of chrome, masking, and fixing every dent, chip, hole.  If you need to get into the dash, this is where an experienced MB tech can save you lots of time and money.  Heater control levers usually need to be replaced as they get brittle with age and crack off.  This is a huge job.  while the dash is apart, you may as well replace light bulbs, hotwire your dimmer rheostat if it doesn't work, replace your tach cable, and perhaps send out your tach to be lubed internally so they don't howl.  A guy like JA17 can do it in 6 hours or less, where it would take a neophyte a week.  In terms of the trunk, I'm not sure I would do anything unless you are going to pull out the speakers, and then you need to find an experienced sheet metal guy who can bend and weld and put the ribs back the way they came out of the factory.  I think you have a pulverizing headliner on your hardtop as well, so that will take a very experienced perspm 20 hours or more to replace, as every seal and window need to come out.

Mike Mizesko
Columbus, OH

[FloridaBill]

Autobahn Engineering Melbourne, Florida, specializes in w113.  
In fact it is the shops favorite car to work on.  The owner is an ex-Factory Porsche mechanic as well.  His name is Tom.  Great team at his shop (factory trained Mercedes engineers) and he has done many w113s and 190SL’s including my 250SL.  He cringes when someone brings in a recent model Mercedes and instead prefers working on the classics.  He really puts his sweat, blood and tears into every aspect of fixing up 190's, 230's 250's and 280's.  He is so knowledgeable and knows all of the major parts suppliers on a first name basis.  I did hear him mention he does not care to work on the 190SLs but prefers the W113 instead.  He did restore an amazing 190SL though and has full books of pics and very happy customers.

  New soft top, no problem, broken softtop frame, no problem, complete frame off restore no problem, engine, body fitment, etc, etc, top notch work.

I cannot say enough good things about his service and pride in his work.  The only issue is he stays busy due to his reputation, but if you say w113, he will definitely take on the project with amazing results and dedicate all his time to the classics and push off the soccer moms in their MLs and late model ,SLs, C and E Class, etc.

Best mechanic I have ever worked with and one hell of a nice guy with a pure love for the w113.  BTW Body shop work is contracted out to Lanes which is a Geico repair shop normally but they have body guys who are top notch and their paint guy is very, very good.  I think it is the nice Florida environment that attracts a large amount of skilled professionals who should be in LA, NY, Chicago, etc but prefer the warm winters and slower pace of a Mid-sized city near the beach.
 

[Alex D]

Based on where you live, I would try Buds Benz, in GA.  It would be worth the one day drive to get a complete evaluation.