hi forum! I have a 81 300D with 180k...The car is mechanically in very good condition. I thought the pan and body were too..Until this a.m. - I was looking under the car checking on a trans pan gasket leak I've been fighting. I noticed that there are two spots, one on each side between the front and rear doors on the pan...about 6-9 inches in from the outside of the car...There appears to be rust building up underneath the undercoating on both sides...I can kind of push up on it with some force and move the area up and down...My question is: I'm considering a trade for a 74 450sl right now. but I really cant decide..I know what I have with my 300D..and it, cosmetically, is in better shape than the SL. Is this a common rust spot?...is it easily fixed?...or is it cost prohibitive to fix?..I don't mind sheetmetal rust..but when I find it in the pan it freaks me out!..Once again, it's not bad..but will only get worse...

Any opinions?..please ?!?!

sean h.

Sean,

Once you find rust its too late. It is in many more places where you can't see it.

What kind of weather do you have in Kansas in the winter? Are roads salted? If they are and you drive in the salt, you can be sure of one thing: RUST.

Sections can be cut out and new welded in their place. But soon rust pops up some where else. Keep this one for a winter car and get a rust free car for the summer.

P E H

PE...I was kind of leaning twds trading the 300D in on the 450SL...That way I wouldn't feel so bad about dumping money into it....Not sure what to do on this one...the 300D is just a toy car...mostly sits in the garage...Here in KS I've seen cars 5 yrs old rust...

I dunno?