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  #1  
Old 01-07-2005, 07:30 PM
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Dieseldiehard
 
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Why so many MB rust buckets?

Spotted a 300D on eBay:
1976 300D DIESEL AUTO * LOW MILES*EXTRA CLEAN *N/R
I check the photos, nicve blue paint, straight body even the headliner looks mint!
Sure looks nice! I used to have a '76 300D, maybe I'll break down and buy this one for sake of nostalgia (shhh! Don't let me wife know I am even thinking of such a thing!)

OK, I read on. The seller uses words like "very clean condition.The original paint is still very georgeous.The interior of this vehicle is absolutely a beauty."

He then says under CONDITION:
"The engine of this 300 Diesel sounds very good.The transmission according to the last owner is in good condition.We could not drive it on the highway because the SWAY BAR is broken.It came off the housing frame of the vehicle because it was rusted.This vehicle also has a RUSTED through floor panel and also in the trunk area."

Why not say up-front "This is a RUST BUCKET" and save me the time reading all the other hype? sheesh!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4516545970

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Last edited by dieseldiehard; 01-07-2005 at 10:12 PM.
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  #2  
Old 01-07-2005, 07:36 PM
DENNIS
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because he wants you to buy it---Dennis
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  #3  
Old 01-07-2005, 07:51 PM
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Talking Michigan car. LOL

Salt, salt and more salt...
Move here and enjoy the salt, oops, I mean winter.
Here is a thread I started 02-06-2004, warning, you need a strong stomach to view some of these RUST pictures:
Who has the most rust and still drives
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Last edited by whunter; 01-07-2005 at 08:02 PM.
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  #4  
Old 01-07-2005, 08:32 PM
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Dieseldiehard,


Is because stupid people drive their MB on salt covered roads.

P E H
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  #5  
Old 01-07-2005, 09:01 PM
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Most vehicles made in 76 and before have already hit the crusher, many 2 to 3 times by now. It's a tribute that any rust belt ones still survive at all in any make, be it ford, GM, MB or anything.
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  #6  
Old 01-07-2005, 09:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P.E.Haiges
Dieseldiehard,


Is because stupid people drive their MB on salt covered roads.

P E H
guess I'm one of those. Gonna do it tomorrow too. Yes, my car has some rust. I plan to enjoy driving my nice, safe car all winter long. I discovered long ago that a car provides little enjoyment sitting idle 4 months a year.
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  #7  
Old 01-07-2005, 10:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P.E.Haiges
Dieseldiehard,


Is because stupid people drive their MB on salt covered roads.

P E H
I just felt an awful pang of guilt as I read this, thinking of the abuse I put my poor little car through. Then again, I think sometimes my car would rather dance around in the snow than be garaged. Nonetheless, whenever it becomes convenient, I'm going to reduce my winter driving time.
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  #8  
Old 01-07-2005, 10:11 PM
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yes I guess stupid drivers don't have any alternative vehicle, and don't want to use a cab or public trans. so they let their fine car get a terminal case of salt = rust.
I have driven the Boston and NH area and I've seen my share of rustbuckets. But my point was that this seller just led everyone to think they were reading about a really fine automobile, then suddenly, in the last sentence says Oh by the way it can't be driven because the sway bar support has rusted off the frame, and the floorboard is rotted out and the trunk is rusted out too -I felt like I was SET UP !
Stupid Seller
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  #9  
Old 01-07-2005, 10:28 PM
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I have to drive and the roads are coverd in salt; what I am supposed to do? Miss class to keep the car clean? Having a beater is nice but not everyone can do that. Besides rust only gets bad if you let it. If you keep the underside of the car clean and every summer clean up the little rust spots that are starting you will not have a problem.

Besides a 76 would be almost 30 years old, the fact that the car is still on the road says something.
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  #10  
Old 01-07-2005, 11:01 PM
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You have to remember some of these cars are 25 years old.. time and salt takes thier toll on metal.
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  #11  
Old 01-07-2005, 11:17 PM
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yes I should have raised my suspicion re: rust from the get go. The car is in MD, the East Coast (Rust Belt, no?)
My '72 115 chassis had a little trunk rust because the PO was too cheap to replace the rear window seal. I used Eastwood's rust inhibitor and some undercoat and the rust is dead now. It has the original A/C, no power steering! and a stick shift!
I use it when the weather is wet or cold, it warms up in a hurry compared to my diesels, and handles better than they do, except for the 124 300D - it handles better than anything except the Jag I used to own, maybe OTOH my SAAB 96 handled better than all of them, but that is a SOB story
To be honest tho IF I lived where they salt the roads I'd sure drive the 115 before I exposed any of my other cars to that stuff. Yuk!
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  #12  
Old 01-07-2005, 11:33 PM
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I've been in Michigan a long time, and have been driving cars a long time, and haven't had one that didn't rust yet.

Salt eats metal, or more specifically the water attracted to and held by salt eats metal.

Automobile body corrision in Detroit cars was at its worst in the mid-late 70's when nothing would last. GM started a campaign to eliminate visible rust for the first 5 years of the car's life. That was considered a monumental task, and at first they had to cheat by adding plastic moldings to hide the rust...

They discovered that body sheet metal had to be properly prepared, cleaned, cleaned again, dipped, coated and protected. Then took the cleaning, dipping, coating and protecting chemicals had to be renewed (imagine that) and then the proper paint coats applied.

Have you seen any unrestored 1970's Detroit iron on the streets?

The lower part of the rear doors on my 1992 GMC Suburban is gone. It's a well-known problem with Suburbans.

Our 1990 Taurus rusted so bad that the license plate light fell off, and you could see into the door below the outide door handles!

Our 1994 Grand Marquis is not rusting, but it is blowing blue smoke and gulping oil. I think the valve stem seals are gone after only 215,000 miles.

The 1996 Grand Prix isn't rusting, but only 4 of 6 radio stations work, the Check Engine and ABS lights are permanent fixtures, and the dome light won't go off, so we pulled the lamps. It has 217,000 miles, a slight ticking until warm, and the 3.0L V6 with the intake manifold gasket that needs to be replaced about every 100,000 miles or so...

I guess my 1986 300SDL, 251,500 miles today, is to be forgiven for showing a few rust bubbles. It spent it's early life in Chicago, and western Michigan for the last 5 years. I've had it a bit over 6 months, and I'd rather drive it until it dies than anything else in our fleet...

Best Regards,
Jim
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Old 01-08-2005, 09:00 AM
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As long as you wash it off, I don't think winter salt is that big a deal. That a large "As long as" though.

Beyond that, it amazes me how east coast cars rust, you just don't get this out west. Even my half million mile 80's VW's are rust free, driven year round, and god knows there sheet metal is thin and cheap. But out here in N.C., I see 90's model cars with more rust than anything I own on a daily basis, it's reallly amazing. I'd never buy a car out here without doing some really, really serious looking it over.
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  #14  
Old 01-08-2005, 10:49 AM
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Like many others, I have to drive on salt covered roads. I mean, thats what cars are for, right? Getting to places? Even when the weather is bad? I mean, retired folks don't have to do that, but most of us do.

I think its been said before that W123s aren't really 'classics' persay, because there were so many of them made. I think they are great cars, but they are meant to be used. Now, if I had a truly pristine example, or a rare model, maybe I'd garage it, but anything less than pristine and I'll use it like it was meant to be used.

Not to say you shouldn't take good care of it, I keep it clean, just replaced some window seals, and I've got a can of POR15 ready to tackle anything I find cropping up this spring.

But I don't own a garage, and I need to work if I ever hope to own one. So, salt-covered road it is.

peace,
sam
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  #15  
Old 01-08-2005, 12:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolf_walker
As long as you wash it off, I don't think winter salt is that big a deal. That a large "As long as" though.

Beyond that, it amazes me how east coast cars rust, you just don't get this out west. Even my half million mile 80's VW's are rust free, driven year round, and god knows there sheet metal is thin and cheap. But out here in N.C., I see 90's model cars with more rust than anything I own on a daily basis, it's reallly amazing. I'd never buy a car out here without doing some really, really serious looking it over.
Caution with "washing off"- it could end up more like "washing in". Water pressure, especially in a high pressure car wash could simply flush the salt deeper into the car's body seams and cavities. Best thing to do is wait for late spring, and do a complete detailing of your car with low water pressure- look for new rust, and treat every bit of rust you see. Grind out as much rust as possible, use a good metal treatment, cover with zinc primer, then paint. This is an annual May Holiday Weekend ritual for me with all cars I've ever owned. Also, look for interior moisture, seek out water leaks and fix them, and go for professional complete undercoating every fall.

Where I live in Maritime Canada- may well be worst possible scenario for rust. We are three little "turds" of land called the Maritime Provinces surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean- we get lots of snow, cold rain, clumps of road salt and worst of all- salt sea spray during severe storms. I think it's that sea spray that affects cars here worse than anything else- same as the New England States.

Dave

1976 White 300D W115 "Pearl"- hardly any rust - yet....

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