Color of Rocker Panel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

clarkb7306 · #1 02-04-2003, 05:55 AM

Does anyone know what color the lower rocker panel should be on an 85 300D (or any W123). Mine looks like a faded black and am wondering if I should paint it when I do my spring detailing, Anyone done this? If so, how and with what paint? Open to suggestions, it just looks sort of dull now.

rwthomas1 · #2 02-04-2003, 11:01 AM

My rockers appear to be a very dark grey, the color of wheel bearing grease. If your rockers are in need of paint or rusted I see no reason not to take care of the rust and paint them. I wouldn't worry about a perfect color match unless the car is really pristine. Repair, spray-bomb and move on. RT

Kieran1 · #3 03-03-2010, 11:34 AM

Has anyone yet determined what the exact color is that was originally applied to the W123s coming out of the factory (brand new)?

I am not in need of the paint code, but would simply like to know if it was black, gray, dark gray - whatever.

Does anyone here know for certain?

(it is very hard to tell from old brochures and pictures).

* Was this PAINT or Undercoating?

Thank you in advance,

Kieran-

Kieran1 · #4 03-04-2010, 04:00 PM

Anyone out there have any idea or theory?

junqueyardjim · #5 03-04-2010, 07:21 PM

I have that nice little 83 240D and it has a great yellow repaint, but the rockers are also yellow. I know for sure they were not yellow when new. As I remember they were a very dark flat gray, almost black, and that is the color I plan to paint them.

vwkess · #6 03-06-2010, 12:18 PM

It is a battleship gray, matte finish. I'll take a picture in a little bit.

vwkess · #7 03-06-2010, 01:08 PM

OK, here is a picture... sorry my car is bit dirty right now

I can take a better one when it is detailed if you need it.

It is an undercoating. I could not find any places that the coating is scratched to see if it is that color throughout, but I did chip a very small piece out around the jack hole (the undercoating is much thinner there) and it appears the undercoating itself is a light gray. I suspect the dark gray color is some sort of elastic paint on top of that.

My car is original as it left the factory/dealer; never any paint/body work. The underside of the car is the same as the rockers.

Kieran1 · #8 03-06-2010, 07:01 PM

Thank you for the great picture - helps....

UriahT · #9 03-09-2010, 04:06 PM

There's a W123 gas wagon rebuild thread over at benzworld where the owner (ducatipaso) repainted the rocker panels. His look really good, so that's where I'd head for paint suggestions. Good luck-

Kieran1 · #10 03-10-2010, 02:08 PM

Thank you for the suggestion to check that thread - I will.

Does anyone know what source at Mercedes (is there a shop manual/paint code manual???) that would contain the title/paint reference for that particular part of the car?

I am on a mission to figure out what the exact color was.

Clearly is was more than just a body paint - it was an actual undercoating-type of paint... The color tone is what I am most concerned with so that I do not look too black or battleship-grayish etc.