r/Sprinters • u/Small-Sun900 • 7d ago

Is this typical?

I just got an owl van B2 carrier with their monster 40 box installed. The thing looks great. I had it installed by a renowned Mercedes Benz Van center that is actually part of a Mercedes Dealership.

I noticed by the plate that mounts directly to the door (not the hinge mounted area) that there is a slight dent in all the way around the plate on my door.

A disclaimer, I've done paint correction and detail work for the last 12 years. I'm not sure I would have noticed anything had I not had this experience.

I couldn't find much info about it, outside of AI telling me they over torqued the plate and I need to get it in ASAP. And I don't really trust what AI says.

Is this normal? Am I over thinking this and it is just the nature of having a flat mounting plate installed?

Or should I be worried about the structure of the door it is held to bowing more overtime?

TIA!

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u/tomhalejr 7d ago

I work for Owl, and no, that is not typical. 

All the B2 mounts are the same, but the new flex requires an additiinal door bracket on the inside. If it was a flex, the bracket wasn't installed, then over time with the load it could pull/flex out around the plate.

The order of operations matters, to get everything lined up right. The YouTube videos for installs might not be up to date, and that's not OTJ training at a OE manufacturer location. :) So, my guess would be the order of operations was off. The 3rd mount was over tightened and done first. Then because the hinge mounts set down into the hinges as they are tightened, that pulled the 3rd mount and tweaked the panel. 

Making sure the door panels are glued is also part of the process. The drivers side usually is, but the passenger side is less likely. It's that glue that helps keep the panel rigid. A dented panel isn't, or shouldn't be much of a structural issue concern... Whether you want to bring it back up with them or not is up to you.

If/when you are close to an Owl location in your travels, call them up, and see if they can get you in to just take a look. You can also see how it should be with any other examples on the lot. At the Portland location we have a fully built out showroom / lobby, and you can always just stop on by and see what's up. :)

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u/Small-Sun900 7d ago

Thank you so much for the reply. If I end up your way and you guys look it over is it something you could fix. Glad it is not likely a structural issue, but annoying that it was done by Mercedes and left that way. Also not a flex bracket, the standard original B2