Bodyshop reccomendation-failed NCT

plastic glass

Recently failed my NCT due to Primary Structure Corrosion (Bodywork-35) in the offside rear (near the back tyre on the driver's side). The reason given was "door sills". The hole is about 2X1 inches max. but around the hole doesnt seem too sturdy either. There is also a hole the other side also that is about the size of a finger nail that I wasnt failed on but might as well get done while I am at it.

I am looking for a good bodyshop reccomendation in the Dublin 1, 4 or 6 areas that would do a good job and be relatively cheap. The car is quite an old one. Its a 1980 Mercedes coupe 280 CE. Just bought it recently so am bit gutted to say the least and want to get this done for a fair price but a good job. I have been reliably informed that the job would need to be done in two stages as the NCT tester has to see the work before it is painted over or had any filler. Have also been told that this should not cost that much at all as its a pretty staright forward job

cheers!

kincaid

hi

any garage or good welder should be able to do this job, cut out rusted area and weld mild steel plate in..
bodyshops tend to be expensive well around my area anyway

Anan1

I'd have the whole car looked over by someone who knows W123s before spending anything. The sills are an essential structural part of the car, if they're rotten then a proper repair may be uneconomical.

plastic glass

But surely if the sills were rotten the NCT would pick this up and tell me?

kerten

1 year ago my old 99 nissan almera failed with exactly same issue. Rusty holes on both door sills. It was a known problem for these cars. I got quotes from 150 euro to 350 euro. I went for the cheapest option as car didn't worth too much. Result was perfect.

Bald motors - Northwest business park - Dublin 15

Anan1

Well if they failed the car for 'primary structure corrosion - door sills' and the sills both have holes in them...;)

kildare.17hmr

Its common enough Anan, not a big job, even if the holes turn out to be a bit bigger. the nct would have told him if it was big or out of the ordinary

kincaid

is the nct more tighter than the DOE tests..
one guy had a 96 transit for doe and tester got screwdriver and tested the sills etc and drove it thru them and it failed, was fairly eaten away..
guy patched it up with filler and car body sealer and passed next time no problem but i say depends on the day who you get to test it

zulfikarMD

I had similar issue on my ford fiesta and local garage in coolmine industrial estate charged 150 to fix door sills (three places) and NCT was passed. As far as i see he used sealer and sprayed it. on the other hand, a local garage near blanchardstown road south told me around 650 euros for the same!

kildare.17hmr

zulfikarMD wrote: »

I had similar issue on my ford fiesta and local garage in coolmine industrial estate charged 150 to fix door sills (three places) and NCT was passed. As far as i see he used sealer and sprayed it. on the other hand, a local garage near blanchardstown road south told me around 650 euros for the same!

If thats true your drivin around in a car that could be very dangerous in a crash. I certainly wouldnt be happy with that because this is a vital part of the cars strength.
easy test, get a magnet and see if it sticks to where the repair was done.

650 for the job is a ridiculas quote for it to be done right, 200 max if its as discribed in the op