The Mercedes body is self-supporting. The base parts, side parts, roof and rear fenders of the car are welded together. The windshield and rear windows are glued. Therefore, major faults can only be repaired by a specialist workshop.
The engine hood, trunk lid, doors and front fenders of the car are bolted together and can be easily replaced. It is therefore absolutely essential that the air gaps be correctly dimensioned during installation, otherwise, for example, the door may knock or there may be increased wind noise when the vehicle is moving. The air gap must in any case run parallel, i.e. the distance between the body parts along the entire length of the air gap must be the same. A tolerance of 0.5 mm is allowed.
Safety instructions for work on the bodywork
When carrying out welding or other work with the occurrence of sparks near the battery, the battery must be removed.
On the parts of the filled air conditioner, welding is not allowed, as well as hard or soft soldering. This also applies to welding and soldering work on the vehicle if there is a risk that the parts of the air conditioner will become hot.
Attention! The liquid circuit in the air conditioner must not be opened.
Remove the protective coating of the bottom of the car and sealants in the places of repair with a rotating wire brush or heat with hot air blowing up to max 180°C and remove with a spatula.
When repairing paintwork, you can heat the car with an open oven to a maximum of 80°C. Otherwise, electronic control devices in the vehicle may be damaged.