Facelifting 451. Need advice

[10:45PM]

Yeah, imagine during vehicle production, ...they can make panel sets up of any production colour on the fly pretty instantly..because they have press's set up for them obviously.... They can bang em out like there's no tomorrow and spray them up accordingly on the painted ones


To keep all that going after car production ends as spares would (and does) get ridiculous.... So they start to downsize pretty much straight away and reduce stock holding until in the end all they'll supply is primed 'blanks'

You can't keep press's set up for old panel shapes forever, so they will do them in small runs which dwindle as time goes on.

[2minits]

Again depends on age and stock levels....and colour! Some are painted all over, finished and given a quick coat of lacquer on the back, some are moulded in colour and lacquered, some special edition colours are painted and lacquered on the front face and edges of the panels so if you look at the back you can see the original colour of the panel!

[EmilysDad]

All of them are smooth finish and are white plastic (not painted over)

Thanks. I'm surprised they are not painted :-?

[Kerja]

Re Your new painted panels .... are they now smooth? I've just looked at mine (Emily had nicked mine when you'd first posted) and the sill & front lower valance both have a grained finish ... the rear valance is a twin centre exit and is smooth.

All of them are smooth finish and are white plastic (not painted over)

[EmilysDad]

.....
Also whilst I had a chance and front end was taken off, I have fitted dual horns.
....

That's something I keep meaning to sort on my Fortwo. I fitted a pair of Vauxhall twin tone horns to my Roadster instead of the fart-in-a-can original ... did the same as you & used a bit of the Vauxhall loom to save altering the original Smart loom.

Re Your new painted panels .... are they now smooth? I've just looked at mine (Emily had nicked mine when you'd first posted) and the sill & front lower valance both have a grained finish ... the rear valance is a twin centre exit and is smooth.

[Kerja]

and the one from today:
Photo 16-08-2016, 17 36 44.jpg

Absolutely love the result.
Also whilst I had a chance and front end was taken off, I have fitted dual horns.
Instead of getting one from MB, I went to breakers and got ones from E-Class merc for a £5) the loom is just enough to fit in the smart and it is also a dual horns, so pretty much you can just get a bit of loom and low horn from E-Class (it will be under the O/S headlamp/bumper)

Hope the missus will also love the end result

[Kerja]

and some more. Will get the front one now also
Photo 08-08-2016, 17 00 54.jpg
Photo 08-08-2016, 16 57 11.jpg

[Kerja]

and some more:
Photo 08-08-2016, 16 44 30.jpg
Photo 08-08-2016, 16 44 22.jpg

[Kerja]

Sorry for delay, was actually doing some other bits and bobs

Another 2 pics

Photo 08-08-2016, 15 36 28.jpg
Photo 08-08-2016, 15 46 25.jpg

[EmilysDad]

small update, in fact, just would like to share on something I came by

Got all parts from eBay member which apparently is MB/Smart Parts of Newcastle, got them all factory color coded and sent to me, even slight discount over trade discount was applied as well. .....
Here are some pics:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n877220[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n877221[/ATTACH]

I like it. Could never really understand why all filler caps are black/grey ... far nicer colour coded :-)

[Kerja]

small update, in fact, just would like to share on something I came by

Got all parts from eBay member which apparently is MB/Smart Parts of Newcastle, got them all factory color coded and sent to me, even slight discount over trade discount was applied as well.

Both quick on e-mail replies and over the phone very friendly guy. Ships over using ParcelForce so no fuffing about with delivery with "other couriers" as well

Much more preferable than my nearby dealership.

I have already managed to do rear valance and side skirts (I don't like facelift rear valance TBH) today might be the weather just right to do the front also.

Here are some pics:
Photo 08-08-2016, 15 49 14.jpg Photo 08-08-2016, 15 30 38.jpg

[10:45PM]

There's some brabus skirts if you want them (from smart stuff) , but they're near to £700 and still need painting costs on top of that ! lol

[Kerja]

http://www.smart-stuff.co.uk/side-sk...two-8803-p.asp

I wasnt sure it was the newer shape, now cross-checked the part numbers, and will order from them in a few days #payday.

It all depends on the stock levels and the dealer you deal with. Even if you order the part with the correct colour code, it will come unpainted, some dealers have a body shop attached so can paint stuff for a nominal feel as all the bits come with a primer on already.
Not sure if smart stuffs merc dealer is one with a body shop or if smart stuff know a man who can, either way if they can supply the bits you need I. The colour you want, I'd go with them!

I will definately go with smart-stuff, dealt with them previously and loved the service they provide. My main Smart Main dealer is nothing but trouble. Checked yesterday invoice and cross-reference with parts, been charged for three air filters and is laking pollen filter, even being charged for it.

[2minits]

It all depends on the stock levels and the dealer you deal with. Even if you order the part with the correct colour code, it will come unpainted, some dealers have a body shop attached so can paint stuff for a nominal feel as all the bits come with a primer on already.
Not sure if smart stuffs merc dealer is one with a body shop or if smart stuff know a man who can, either way if they can supply the bits you need I. The colour you want, I'd go with them!

[10:45PM]

http://www.smart-stuff.co.uk/side-skirt---451-fortwo-8803-p.asp