The body of E-class cars is load-bearing. The bottom, sidewalls, roof and rear fenders are interconnected by welding. The windshield and rear windows are glued into the body. On T-model (station wagon) glued and rear side windows.
Self body repair
Most of the repair operations described in the section can be performed independently with a standard set of tools. With some skill, the bumpers, body front and front fenders can be dismantled alone. Heavy parts such as hood, trunk lid (backdoor) and it is better to remove the doors with an assistant. Practical advice: if you mark the position of the hinges with a felt-tip pen before removing the hood and trunk lid, then the subsequent installation of these elements will be greatly simplified.
Consequences of accidents
If the body is damaged as a result of an accident through your fault, you can significantly save on repairs if you try to do most of the work yourself. Let's assume that the bumper, headlight, turn signal, fender, hood and radiator are damaged.
It is necessary to dismantle the damaged parts and prepare the car for repair in a body shop. Her task will be to straighten bent tin elements, weld new ones and paint. You will take over the assembly again.
When replacing the front fenders, doors, hood and trunk lid, you should stock up on a sufficient amount of anti-corrosion agent. After painting, all holes must be filled with liquid wax. Use an all-purpose sealant to protect welds and small joints. The underbody protector can be applied to the joints in several coats.
After an accident, inspecting the body gaps will help assess whether the body geometry is broken.