Author Topic: wing / Fender protectors (Read 4797 times)

alpina · « **on:** March 23, 2020, 19:22:07 »

So, being in lock down here in Spain, I thought it was time revisit one of my projects. For a long time
I had been trying to find front wing/fender protectors to fit a w113. I struggled to find anything, and what
I did find was either for a R107 or made to order and expensive.

Like most things, if I can’t find it, I will have a go a making my own. So today I finished my prototype protectors,
Vinyl leather on the outside, lined with Ikea fur blankets. and magnets to hold them in place.
It was my first time with a sewing machine, but overall I’m happy with the result.
When things are back to normal I may look at getting these made professionally if anyone is interested.

Regards to everyone, and above all stay safe.

DM

Pawel66 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2020, 19:24:45 »

I think they look great and will serve the purpose. Need some fancy logo or picture printed, obviously. Wonder what the price would be.

Norm · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2020, 20:00:39 »

I got left and right fender covers from Black Forest in Wisconsin several years ago when I bought my soft top from them. I can't find the receipt but I am pleased with the product, which also came in a carrying case for the set that included custom embroidery with "230 SL"

Not sure if they would still make these.

Norm

alpina · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2020, 20:11:24 »

Being in Europe I get hit with high shipping fees and import duty. Any reasonably priced item for you
In the US can become expensive by the time it gets to me.
I'm happy with my made to measure set, following the exact shape of the fender, and fitting snug around
The windscreen.

DM

Merc_Girl · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2020, 20:25:20 »

DM

Given you will have all this ‘spare time’ on your hands, how about getting the sewing machine out again and helping some of your European cousins (even if some idiots did vote Brexit!)!?!?

Katie

Pawel66 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2020, 20:31:55 »

Quote from: alpinaltd on March 23, 2020, 20:11:24

Being in Europe I get hit with high shipping fees and import duty. Any reasonably priced item for you
In the US can become expensive by the time it gets to me.
I happy with my made to measure set, following the exact shape of the fender, and fitting snug around
The windscreen.

DM

I cannot agree more! (Cost of product + shipment) x duty x tax = +50% to the price and with ridiculously high shipment can be +100% for smaller items...

alpina · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2020, 20:51:52 »

Katie,
When things are back to normal, I will be looking the get these made professionally. As I am in
Lockdown, with no shops open I can’t get any more material, so my sewing projects are over for the
Foreseeable future. I’m sure I can get these made locally, if people are interested.

DM

mbzse · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2020, 21:06:43 »

M-B workshops use covers from Datex.
Here is a picure of these Datex covers
Part No (Order No) W000588039800 fit our Pagoda cars
Website https://www.datex.com/en/pdf/Datex_MB%20Daimler%20AG_________en___.pdf

Pawel66 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2020, 21:32:50 »

This is cool!

I can see I probably can order it form the dealer.... Any idea how much might they be?

alpina · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2020, 21:37:25 »

I looked at Datex. The covers for the w113 are a special order item, and well well above what i was willing to pay. I'm not a profesional garage.
And from the picture, mine fit much better.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2020, 21:39:36 »

But they look cool! I would probably not use them not to make them dirty...

Merc_Girl · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2020, 23:32:25 »

SL Shop sell them in UK, https://www.theslshop.com/parts-shop/classic-mercedes-benz-accessories/car-care-cleaning/wing-protectors/mercedes-benz-sl-113-protective-wing-covers-set-of-2.html, but don’t look nearly as good as DM’s 😁

Pawel66 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2020, 07:19:09 »

Thank you!
The price hurts a bit... Xmas still far away...

kampala · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2020, 13:53:32 »

DM

Impressive. Like all your work. Shipping to California is typically reasonable. I would be interested.

Best

hkollan · « **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2020, 22:55:18 »

I have the Mercedes Datex covers shown in Hans S’s post.
They are of great quality and gives good protection.
And best of all, no magnets inside.
Magnets are a potential problems in several ways.

Hans K

alpina · « **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2020, 23:37:56 »

What is wrong with magnets exactly? mine use small 10mm round ones embedded within the top edge of
the microfibre / fur lining, no metal to metal contact, and where they do attach is the back side of the fender spot welds which cannot be seen. I'm not going to make something that would have even the slightest chance of causing
any damage to the paint work.

Enjoy your datex covers, just make sure that the inside is dirt free, I have seen a number of cases where
fine scratches and swirl marks have be introduced into the paint from contaminated covers, requiring wet sanding and machine polishing to remove.

114015 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2020, 01:50:35 »

When I started reassembly after body restoration and respray I got a (generic) set of Hazet protectors - which are good - but not absolutely perfect.
They were each about 70.00 € or so... I have to look this up.
Those have internal magnets as well - no problem at all. I always put a (clean) bathroom towel underneath ... just to be more gentle to the paint.

Nevertheless, DM, I like yours more - the perfect fit and covering the area between windscreen and engine bay ... a typical area where you tend to place tools, etc.

Please keep us updated when you are getting along with making them again.
I am definitely interested in one set. And don't forget the Mercedes star please...

All best to Spain,
not much better the situation here in Deutschland though...

Achim

hkollan · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2020, 08:30:19 »

Dm I like your covers and my comment was not directed at your approach.
Nothing wrong with magnets if kept free from particles that could damage paint/chrome etc. And the location of your magnets seems clever.

Here is what Datex says about this on their Website,

"The use of our products assures the workshop quality and saves avoidable damages and cost.
Each protective cover has a skid-proof, scratch-free and quick fastening system, without magnets. It guarantees a secure fit on the car and avoids costly scratches which can be caused by magnets which nearly always have permanently adhering steel particles."

Also a different aspect probably not relevant to our cars was explained to me by a Mercedes mechanic, was that magnets apart from paint scratching could potentially influence delicate measuring instruments and therefore not desirable near modern cars.

Hans K

ejboyd5 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2020, 13:25:43 »

Form follows function. Those expensive commercial covers are very attractive, but do they work any better than this?

450sl · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2020, 13:30:06 »

Magnets collect debris which in return can damage your paintwork.

Thats why i have used strips of lead material sewed inside the protector..

mark

Pawel66 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2020, 14:09:58 »

Quote from: ejboyd5 on March 25, 2020, 13:25:43

Form follows function. Those expensive commercial covers are very attractive, but do they work any better than this?

Of course they do not!

But that is not the point!

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2020, 17:56:25 »

DM, those are the nicest fitted fender covers I have yet seen for a Pagoda. What I specially appreciate is that your protector incorporates a work surface of oil resistant material with a soft, padded material on the underside to help prevent blemishing the paint.

Once you are able to source more material there is simple fender-top tool retaining feature that you may wish to experiment with incorporating into your design that would add a further degree of usefulness to your final product. This can be accomplished by gathering and sewing two parallel standing "rolls" of material roughly 3-4 inches / 7.5-10 cm apart that follow the rounded top "crown" of the fender. The resulting trough then becomes a convenient and relatively safe area to place fasteners, tools, etc., lessening concern that they may roll off and fall into the engine compartment or onto the floor.

I have two generic fender pads that incorporate this feature. One I have had for decades is made from closed cell, rubberized vinyl. It was stiff when new and has become more stiff with age, but still is much more useful than the bath towel I had been using prior to receiving it at workplace "Secret Santa" gift exchange. The other I acquired more recently and is constructed of two plies of very thick microfiber material that I find somewhat useless as a fender pad by itself, as the working surface is not oil resistant. However it serves admirably as an under pad to keep my rubberized vinyl pad from sliding around and protect the paint finish from scratches that the underside of my rubberized pad can inflict. The two of them together do the job as well as can be expected from "one size fits all" products.

Your fender cover follows the contours of the fender very much like my two-ply microfiber cover does. As you can see the parallel standing rolls are too far apart to be truly useful as parts and tool retainers on a rounded top fender like those on our Pagodas, (or my MGB). If I were designing my own pad I would certainly make the parts and tool retaining area not nearly as wide as pictured.

RAY · « **Reply #22 on:** March 26, 2020, 09:53:08 »

DM. Your wing protectors look fantastic, the ' fit ' is about as perfect as anyone could get and they cover all area's.

My pagoda is just being resprayed so I would definitely be interested when thing's get back to normal.

Stay safe

Ray

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Author Topic: wing / Fender protectors (Read 4797 times)