Replacement Panels, quality and help!

[RPM PAGODA]

Hi guys, I'm new to this page and will post some pics of my 1968 250 SL soon. As part of the restoration process I need a few replacement panels, RHR Guard, Rear Panel, LHF Guard plus other pieces. I got onto this place, www.retroteile.pl  , their prices seem reasonable and they say they will ship to Australia.
Has anyone here used this supplier before and could tell me their experience and quality of the parts please? Or any other recommendations of reputable suppliers, especially anyone in Australia who has had large panels delivered. 
Thanks in advance and I'm sure I'll find lots of information here to help me
Cheers

[Flyair]

RPM,

Welcome to the forum, and I hope soon to the Club.

As for Retroteile, several of us used the supplier (Krzysztof). His shop is 1/2 h from where I live.

My experience for having sourced from him several pieces for me and other colleagues is that the quality is good. The only point sometimes is the communication that is hectic.

BTW, he produces many more pieces than he advertises on his website.

Good luck

[tel76]

I will confirm what Stan (Flyair) says,  the parts that Krzystof produces are first class, he does take a long time to respond to an email but eventually it all goes well.
Stan, you say that Kryz produces more items than appear on his website, how do we access his full list of parts?

[Flyair]

Eric,

I am to see Krzysztof this week. I will check what he added to the list already on his website or in the catalogue in our Tech Manual.


BTW, he is preparing a replica of a very desirable option. It would be a great surprise, probably sometimes around June.
Stay tuned

[Yem]

Hi Stan,

I reckon nothing would be more desirable than a reasonably priced soft top frame due to the rising costs of used frames  

Yem

[Shvegel]

I hope it's a ski rack!

[RPM PAGODA]

Thanks for your help, one of the things that had me concerned was the time replying to emails so thanks.

[Flyair]

Hi Stan,
I reckon nothing would be more desirable than a reasonably priced soft top frame due to the rising costs of used frames   Yem

Yem,
it sound like a really good project, but just wonder how large the demand would be to launch such a heavy undertaking.

Shvegel,
are you looking for one?

[Shvegel]

Flyair, Not really.  Can't believe the money they are bringing for what is essentially an ornament at this point.

[Yem]

Stan,

I reckon the demand would be reasonably high, considering most frames are old and tatty and restoration costs would not be cheap, ie fixing rusty hinges, bent frames etc.  Also, there seems to be quite a demand for ones that appear for sale online that keep going up in price.  Based on that there could be demand if they considered manufacturing heavy gauge aluminium versions which would be a weight saving incentive plus the added bonus of not rusting 

Yem

[RobSirg]

Yem / All,

I'm interested in this topic as I recently sourced some panels from the usual German sources (Half rear guards and Half tail panel) for a friend's project car and the panel fit was not good. The professional doing the panel work had to do a lot of extra work to refit these panels - there was not a lot of difference but enough to require many hours of retrofit. We decided that if my project car needs these replacements we would be better off cutting out the rotted sections instead of replacing panel sections.

Do you know if this Polish supplier suppliers to the German suppliers or do they use another source?

Also, I had a look at the Retroteile website - I assume there is not English version? Couldn't see a price list either?

Stan, would you say it is better to speak to him on the phone or via email? (just not sure if his written English is better than spoken)

Thanks

Rob

[Flyair]

Rob,
Not sure about the communication option with Kris. I am aware that several members tried and he is quite bad in either responding to mails or on the phone.

If you have a list. PM me and I will try to help He lives 30 min from where I live, so no big deal

[RPM PAGODA]

Update.
I've taken the plunge and ordered my parts, communication is very poor, at least by usual business standards! I may be wrong but it seems like he has a friend who comes in occasionally who speaks english and helps with his emails. It has taken a while to get to this point and I'll post an update on when the order has left and when it arrives. Price wise it is a better option than the US suppliers but quality remains to be seen. As for what parts he makes that are not listed on the website I have asked numerous times but never gotten an answer!

[RobSirg]

Is there a price list (I couldn't see one) or do you need to ask the price for each item specifically?

Rob

[RPM PAGODA]

When I emailed him he sent me the pictures that are on his website but with the prices. I'm not going to post them here as they may change.

[Ulf]

I have bough some trim items (chromed brass) from him and was very satisfied with the quality, look and feel of them.

Ulf

[tel76]

If you take the time to search the Tech: manual you will find the prices.

[RPM PAGODA]

After a few months my panels finally turned up last week, the quality looks very good on the surface but I'm in the middle of moving house and the car is in storage for a few months so I won't be able to comment on the quality of fit until then. Pricing was very fair and enabled me to get more parts than I would have had I got them from America. If you do order from them expect delays in replying to emails, sometimes for a couple of weeks. I paid GST on the total price but no extra taxes as the parts were for an early vehicle. I had never imported anything before and the freight company doesn't have to notify you of incoming parcels so when you get the shipping number track it so you know when it has arrived, I ended up paying storage fees with Qantas as the package was there for some time

[Peter van Es]

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Suppliers/Warsaw

[Benz Dr.]

I've imported and exported a number of things over the past 25 years and all I can say is if you don't learn the ropes, you'll get hung by them.

 I sent a complete conversion from California Coupe to convertible to a guy in Norway one time and I used a freight forwarder in Toronto. I went to the airport and delivered the large box to Lufstanza ( sp ? ) who then delivered it to a freight dock in Europe. Doing this saved a LOT of money for my customer as UPS would have charged many times more.

If you have something shipped to you from out of country, get a price included at time of shipping. Waiting for UPS to bill you later may be a really unpleasant surprise. In other words, know what you're paying before you ship.

[wjsvb ✝︎]

Hear! Hear! on shipping: in any of the shipping we do, it's the first and last 3 miles that runs up the bill.  Use of terminal to terminal (Greyhound, almost any OTR trucker) will save serious dough.  Also, NEVER use UPS for a cross-border shipment unless you have serious clout with them and know in advance what all the charges will be.  USPS is much easier and better for those of us in the States.  Jon

[travolta36]

Dear fellow Pagoda lovers!

I'm new to this forum, but i have a similar issue with Pagoda panels.

My question, is that I would like to make the body panels myself (I have a workshop for this).  The issue I have can anyone advise me where I can purchase blueprints so that I can make them exactly to original specifications.

Any Help would be very much appreciated.

Louis

[dirkbalter]

Flyair,

Hello everybody.
I am also reasonably new to the forum.
I am in the process of welding (restoring) my 230.
I saw that you were offering your help with the supplier in Poland. I contacted him twice to order parts. the second time he responded with a price list which got me all exited. After that I didn't hear from him again. I would love to place an order for multiple sheet metal parts.
Let me know if you would be willing to assist perhaps.

In any case, thank you
Dirk