Latest salvage vehicle purchase from Auction (IAAI not Copart)

[GON]

The reason the car was a "flood vehicle" was clogged sunroof drains. As a result , the fabric covering on the sunroof shade was damaged and not salvageable. To replace the shade requires pulling the sunroof, something I am not wanting to do at this moment.

Decided to sand the sunroof shade, and see what it looks like painted. I like the outcome. I did not use a color that matched the headliner. Now that I know the outcome, I will repaint with a headliner color matched paint.

 

[GON]

Liked the way the sunroof sunshade paint job came out, but didn't like the color. I used a rust-oleum oil based pre mixed color, almond.

Rust-oleum did not offer a custom color option, so went with a "sample" sized semi-gloss Behr, from Home Depot. Used a piece of plastic trim for Home Depot to scan for the color match. All said and done, $5.49 for the custom mixed color pint.

Like the outcome of this much better than the prior almond paint. Paint in the picture is still wet, should lighten up a tad after drying.

Looks like a decent way to fix a sunscreen when its OEM cloth cover is destroyed. Time will tell...

 

[2EHA]

works for the actual headliner if you’re desperate enough

 

[atikovi]

10 minutes to remove the sunroof to remove the shade. $50 for a shop to recover it. Don't want to cheap out on a nice car. Went to the trouble for an old VW.

 

[GON]

10 minutes to remove the sunroof to remove the shade. $50 for a shop to recover it. Don't want to cheap out on a nice car. Went to the trouble for an old VW.

View attachment 72643

I may do that. Can also buy a used replacement. Have a lot to finish on the car and not in a position to replace the sun screen at the moment. Need to get the abs working, parking brake working, and the interior put back in. The sunscreen is just not a critical or pressing concern.

Painting the sunscreen was a interim step as the old screen was very bad to look at. Just went and looked at the screen now that the paints dry, I don't think most people would know that it has a interim retrofit.

Funny thing- it looks normal to the uneducated eye , simply color match painted.

 

[GON]

Doing the Armor All scent killing smoke bomb treatment this morning. I am sure this will not do anything but put a scent in the car that will last a few days, but will to try it. It was on discount at Ollie's Bargain Outlet for $2.99.

You start the car, put the air conditioning on max and recirculation, push the button the the can and let it running for 15 minutes.

Also took a picture of the sunscreen with the paint dry... came out pretty good as a interim action

.

 

[pezzy84]

If you are still having trouble with interior smells might want to check into an ozone generator. They are the secret tool of hotels to fix non-smoking rooms that have been smoked in. Ozone destroys basically anything it comes in contact with so it is not healthy to be in a room with an ozone generator and they will degrade plastics, etc. so you can't go too crazy with them. For health purposes if you get one and run it in a car its good to let it air out for 3-4 hours afterwards before you sit back in it.

Amazon ozone generator

I love this project and nice to see an older Benz get some love. This does prove to me why I avoid beige interiors now, they get dirty no matter what you do. Had an '06 Jetta with a similar creamy beige interior and never again.

Good luck and look forward to seeing more progress on this project!

 

[GON]

If you are still having trouble with interior smells might want to check into an ozone generator. They are the secret tool of hotels to fix non-smoking rooms that have been smoked in. Ozone destroys basically anything it comes in contact with so it is not healthy to be in a room with an ozone generator and they will degrade plastics, etc. so you can't go too crazy with them. For health purposes if you get one and run it in a car its good to let it air out for 3-4 hours afterwards before you sit back in it.

Amazon ozone generator

I love this project and nice to see an older Benz get some love. This does prove to me why I avoid beige interiors now, they get dirty no matter what you do. Had an '06 Jetta with a similar creamy beige interior and never again.

Good luck and look forward to seeing more progress on this project!

Thanks Pezzy,

Not having a smell problem, except for some unleaded gas when I replaced the fuel filter. On these cars, the fuel filter is removed through the interior. Actually decent design, unless the fuel tank is over 50 percent full. In my case the fuel tank was 100 percent full. It took two weeks for the filter to arrive, so the interior had a open gas breathing in it for two weeks. The old fuel filter had a hairline crack at the top. I just wanted to see how this Armor All device worked. Reading reviews it is simply a perfume that releases for ten minutes straight.

I actually own a ozone generator. Unfortunately is is stored in the home we rent 1,000 miles away. I purchased it after I rented the house for a wedding. It was a "East Indian" wedding, and they wanted the house so they could cook traditional Indian foods. I had no idea what was to follow. The house was saturated in the smell of curry. A ton of work trying to reduce the curry smell. Lesson learned.....

 

[GON]

One of the better days working on this S550.

Replaced the left and right front speed sensors. Very easy. This corrected the ABS, traction control, and cruise control errors. Using the MB computer diagnosis system, it showed the left front sensor always seeing the front left wheel at .6 MPH, no matter how fast the car was traveling. After replacement, left front sensor showed the same MPH as the speedometer. This fix eliminated all the error lights on the dash, except the airbag light. The airbag light is lit simply because the front passenger seat is removed and has a airbag in it.

Replaced the air shock system air compressor also. The compressor was running way to much, and testing pointed to the compressor. After replacement, all looks well. During the replacement I brook the front right headlight washer tube. Not good. The tube is likely not expensive, but will have to remove the front bumper to replace the tube. Costly (labor) screw up....

I believe the car could drive from South Carolina to California and back without a issue now. I still have about 20 hours of labor putting the interior back together.

During the speed sensor replacement noticed the right outer tie rod has a tear in its grease cover, and that both the lower arm that the front shocks mount to have tears in their grease jackets. So have some additional work identified.

 

[dishdude]

Love the updates, please keep them coming!

 

[GON]

Put the interior back together today. More work than I thought. Everything is working mechanically flawlessly. Zero warning lights and took her for a run, she did real well.

The following is left to address. Not sure I will fix it all or just sell as she sits:
Replace right side headlamp washer assembly ( I broke it)
Fix dynamic air pump, diagnosis says a leak in the system
Put the inside of the trunk back together
Recondition the headlights
Replace lower controls arms (grease boot open on both sides where air shock mounts
Replace passenger side tie rod (grease boot torn)
Replace drive side climate control actuator
Order and replace seat trim that covers mounting bolts
Touch un bumper (paint ordered)
Replace rear seat arm rest (has a stain I can't get out)
Replace electronic button on driver sire door( works but needs to be replaced)
Real good wash and wax
Possibly serpentine belt and pulleys (was making a noise- is no longer)

 

[GON]

Received the car back from a local exterior detailer, looks really good. Driving the car daily, it is doing wonderful.

Not planning on adding much more to this thread, thanks for the comments and tips, I am grateful.

A few lessons learned:

One should know the date of the flood. I overlooked this and because moisture sat in the vehicle for months, additional issues occurred that would not of it the moisture was removed say one month after the flood. Note the "flood" here was actually clogged sunroof drains, allowing water to run into the interior via the front windshield pillars.

Parts are ample, cheap, and readily available on Ebay. Same parts have a big price swing on Ebay, so take a extra few minutes to see all the like parts available, may save a lot of money

Ebay Sellers sell a lot of failed parts- overlook the pictures closely and try and understand the condition of the parted vehicle (I received a flood vehicle part that was in worse shape the the part I was pulling)

On line MB dealers often have great prices, some parts new from the dealer are at or near the same price as a some used parts on Ebay

In closing, rebuilding a flooded W221 is pretty easy, one doesn't need to be a mechanic or a genius. What one needs is a place to work, time (lots of it), and maybe some critical thinking, and most of all the MB SDS diagnostic computer.

Might be off to try this on W222 next....

 

[RhondaHonda]

Good to hear it’s working. I think the fact that the “flood” was fresh rainfall vs silty floodwater full of all kinds of organics and potentially salt made this an easier repair. I hope you get plenty of use out of it but report back if other odd electrical gremlins start popping up.

 

[RooflessVW]

You ended up with a lovely car!

 

[dishdude]

You ended up with a lovely car!

It really is a beautiful car. OP did very well

Love these updates!