Mercedes-Benz has been one of our core marques since the workshop opened. Over twenty-four years we have built dedicated tooling for the marque's quirks: the double-hook soft-top frames of the 190SL, the inner-wing seam welds of the W111 Fintail and the radiator cross-member corrosion patterns of the W113 Pagoda. We also keep a stocked inventory of wear consumables for the common chassis, so straightforward service never waits on parts.
The Mercedes clients we work with fall into three camps: European collectors shipping a car in from Germany, Switzerland, or Benelux for Concours-level work at lower Romanian labour rates; domestic owners of W123s, W124s, and R107s who want the car to remain a proper daily; and occasional pre-war projects where authenticity and documentation matter more than time.
We electroplate fasteners, brackets and small parts in zinc in-house. Our spray booth is temperature-controlled for oven-cure Mercedes colour codes including DB 180 Silver Grey and DB 050 Black.
Flagship models
- 190SL (W121)1955–1963Our most-restored Mercedes. Concours sourcing through our Solex and NOS trim network.
- 300SL Gullwing / Roadster (W198)1954–1963Scoped car by car. Documentation and provenance matter as much as metalwork.
- Fintail (W111, W112)1959–1971Bodywork-heavy. We've developed dedicated patch-panel templates over the years.
- Pagoda SL (W113)1963–1971Known weak points include the radiator cross-member, lower A-pillar and boot well.
- R107 SL1971–1989Daily Driver restorations. Still entirely reasonable for regular road use.
- W123 / W1241976–1996Mechanical refurbishment and rust remediation. These deserve to be treated as classics.
Common restoration challenges
- Inner sill and rear wheel-arch corrosion on Pontons and early Pagodas
- Bonnet and boot-lid gap alignment on Gullwings (toleranced to fractions of a millimetre)
- Original colour matching where Mercedes paint codes have been superseded
- NOS electrical components for W111 / W113, sourced through our German partners
- Brake servo rebuild on 190SL (parts scarcity, hydraulic-system knowledge required)
- Soft-top frame geometry on roadsters, straightforward with the right jig
Our process for Mercedes-Benz
The first checks on a Mercedes are a VIN lookup against Mercedes-Benz Classic records where possible, a chassis-tag confirmation and a paint-thickness survey. For Concours work we also consult the factory build record, so we can match the paint code, interior colour code and option list exactly. We photograph disassembly frame by frame as a reference for reassembly, and catalogue parts into Solex, Bosch and Marelli sub-bins so the electrical side doesn't stall the mechanical side.
Typical project cost
These are indicative 2026 ranges for a complete, scoped project. Parts sourcing from Classic Center adds meaningfully to Concours builds.
| Tier | Indicative 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Daily Driver | from €15,000 (R107, W123) |
| Show Driver | €35,000 – €90,000 (Pagoda, 190SL, W111) |
| Concours | €95,000 upward (190SL, 300SL) |
What the labour costs here vs at home
Labour is €60 an hour plus VAT, billed monthly on the hours actually worked. Workshops of comparable standard in Germany, Switzerland and the UK charge €85–130 an hour. Parts, chrome and specialist outside work cost about the same everywhere, so the saving is in the labour, and a full Mercedes-Benz restoration is mostly labour.
| Hours | Here€60/h + VAT | Western Europe€85–130/h |
|---|---|---|
| 500 h | €30,000saves €12,500–35,000 | €42,500–65,000 |
| 1,000 h | €60,000saves €25,000–70,000 | €85,000–130,000 |
| 1,500 h | €90,000saves €37,500–105,000 | €127,500–195,000 |
Illustrative arithmetic at the published rates, before VAT. Not a quote. Cars that leave the EU after the restoration — to the UK, Switzerland, the US and elsewhere — are normally invoiced without Romanian VAT. Collection from Western Europe, the UK or the US is arranged by our transport service.
Mercedes-Benz FAQ
How much does a Mercedes-Benz 190SL restoration cost in 2026?
A Daily Driver-level 190SL restoration starts at around €40,000. A Show Driver build typically costs €55,000–€80,000. A Concours-level 190SL restoration with NOS-only sourcing and full documentation starts at €95,000 and can exceed €140,000 for a car with heavy bodywork needs.
Do you restore pre-war Mercedes-Benz?
Yes. We have restored pre-war Mercedes, assessing each car individually before taking it on. These projects need reliable provenance and a pragmatic discussion about reproduction parts, because many original components no longer exist. If a pre-war car isn't a sensible investment for the owner, we say so before work starts.
Where do you source NOS Mercedes parts?
Through a network of long-term partners in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and through Mercedes-Benz Classic Center directly for cars that warrant it. We don't charge a sourcing markup on parts; invoices show the actual cost.
Can you match the original factory paint colour?
Yes. We work from the colour code on the data card, spectrophotometer measurements of surviving original paint (often found under door handles, inside boots, beneath trim), and period colour libraries. The paint is oven-cured in a temperature-controlled booth.
How long does a Pagoda SL restoration take?
Show Driver-level Pagodas we've restored have taken 10–14 months end to end. Concours Pagodas take 18–22 months. The long tail is usually parts sourcing (original dashboards, correct hardtop insulation) rather than labour.
Do you ship cars to us for restoration?
Yes. Our Transport service runs Rotterdam–Bucharest on demand and we can collect from anywhere in Europe or the US, with EU customs clearance.
Is it cheaper to restore a Mercedes-Benz in Romania?
Usually, for labour-heavy work. Our labour is €60 an hour plus VAT, against €85–130 in Germany, Switzerland and the UK, so the same 1,000 hours costs €60,000 here instead of €85,000–130,000. Parts cost about the same everywhere, and transport from Western Europe is a small share of the difference. We bill monthly on the hours actually worked, with supplier invoices shown on your statement.
Do I pay Romanian VAT if my car goes back to the UK, Switzerland or the US?
Normally not. Cars that leave the EU after the restoration — to the UK, Switzerland, the US and elsewhere — are normally invoiced without Romanian VAT. EU clients pay Romanian VAT (21%) on the work. Your home country usually charges its own import VAT on the value of the work when the car returns, under its outward-processing rules, so plan that with your customs agent. We confirm the VAT treatment for your car with the quote.
How do I follow the restoration from abroad?
Every restoration client gets a private online tracker: each stage of the work with photos and notes, viewable from anywhere. Monthly statements list the hours and parts, and you can visit the workshop in Moara Vlăsiei, near Bucharest, by appointment at any stage.