The body of the E-class cars is load-bearing. The bottom, sides, roof and rear fenders are connected to each other by welding. The windshield and rear glass are glued into the body. On the T-model (station wagon) the rear side windows are also glued.
Do-it-yourself body repair
Most of the repair operations described in this section can be performed independently with a standard set of tools. With some skill, bumpers, the front of the body and front fenders can be dismantled alone. Heavy parts such as the hood, trunk lid (back door) 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 significantly simplified.
Consequences of accidents
If the bodywork is damaged as a result of an accident due to your fault, you can save a lot on repairs if you try to do most of the work yourself. Let's assume that the bumper, headlight, turn signal, wing, hood and radiator are damaged.
It is necessary to dismantle the damaged parts and prepare the car for repair in the body shop. Its task will be to straighten the bent sheet metal elements, weld new ones and paint. You will again take on the assembly.
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. To protect welds and small joints, use a universal sealant. The underbody protection agent can be applied to joints in several layers.
After an accident, inspecting the body gaps will help to assess whether the body geometry has been damaged.