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  #1  
Old 03-23-2005, 02:05 AM
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85 300 SD aluminum body?

I just bought a 1985 300 SD and it looks the body is all aluminum , not only the hood and the trunk lid but the whole body, I have the car at the paint shop and they say that it's aluminum after repairing a small dent on the drivers side front fender they found it, also the passanger door is aluminum so I pass a magnet and it does not found any metal in the body only on the crome bumpers and the grill also found a wheel that I never saw on an 126 before (see picture) did MB make some aluminum body ? If somebody knows about this please let me know.

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  #2  
Old 03-23-2005, 02:35 AM
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Question What the oil is it???

Could it be a prototype that got out of the factory by an oops.

My fear would be a rolls rust with massive aluminum patching.
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  #3  
Old 03-23-2005, 02:40 AM
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wheel

can you tell me about the wheel? on what MB do they came?
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  #4  
Old 03-23-2005, 03:05 AM
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That car must be much much lighter due to all that aluminum, does it handle differently or accelerate faster?
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  #5  
Old 03-23-2005, 08:10 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twr
I just bought a 1985 300 SD and it looks the body is all aluminum , not only the hood and the trunk lid but the whole body, I have the car at the paint shop and they say that it's aluminum after repairing a small dent on the drivers side front fender they found it, also the passanger door is aluminum so I pass a magnet and it does not found any metal in the body only on the crome bumpers and the grill also found a wheel that I never saw on an 126 before (see picture) did MB make some aluminum body ? If somebody knows about this please let me know.
That thumbnail doesn't want to enlarge but the photo does apear to be an AMG Penta....or a Ronal R9
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
  #6  
Old 03-23-2005, 10:15 AM
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It probably isn't aluminum, you could run the vin at the dealer.
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  #7  
Old 03-23-2005, 11:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatterasguy
It probably isn't aluminum, you could run the vin at the dealer.

Maybe the old magnet is a petrified sweet tart....
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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
  #8  
Old 03-23-2005, 11:21 AM
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Or the bondo is so thick the magnet isn't close enough to the steel to work. Come to think of it, you better give me that car so you don't have to suffer any heartache.
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  #9  
Old 03-23-2005, 11:40 AM
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300 SD aluminum?

The car seems to be a little bit faster than my other 85 300 SD, I use a ceramic magnet when I place it on the chromed bumper or chromed grill it just feels like it "welds" to it so I know it's good, I run a Carfax Check and a Nada check on the vin, both came with "No data about the car vin number", next stop will be the Dealer, by the way the wheels where on the car they are 255/60/16 I change to 215/50/15 about 2 inches smaller and as soon as the car is out from the paint shop I will try to see if it's faster at take off

There is a lot of play at the steering wheel it's hard to feel if it's lighter but I am very interested in having the car weighted at a truck scale and find the real weight

Thanks for the input on the wheels
I will keep you posted about my finds at the Dealer I hope I can be there this Monday
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  #10  
Old 03-23-2005, 11:45 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twr
The car seems to be a little bit faster than my other 85 300 SD, I use a ceramic magnet when I place it on the chromed bumper or chromed grill it just feels like it "welds" to it so I know it's good, I run a Carfax Check and a Nada check on the vin, both came with "No data about the car vin number", next stop will be the Dealer, by the way the wheels where on the car they are 255/60/16 I change to 215/50/15 about 2 inches smaller and as soon as the car is out from the paint shop I will try to see if it's faster at take off

There is a lot of play at the steering wheel it's hard to feel if it's lighter but I am very interested in having the car weighted at a truck scale and find the real weight

Thanks for the input on the wheels
I will keep you posted about my finds at the Dealer I hope I can be there this Monday
Well its hard to be certain from the thumbnail and I can't get a larger photo to open.....

I have a set of Ronal R9 rims on my W116 ...and soon to have a set of AMG Penta rims...when they get delivered...
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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
  #11  
Old 03-23-2005, 11:47 AM
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Thumbs up Pop can?

The year is right. Mercedes experimented with aluminium panels about then but I never thought all of the cars body panels. The reason of course was to lighten body weight to increase mpg. Did not work out by the way. Production model I examined was the 500sec I believe since I almost brought it used. Aluminum top, trunk lid, perhaps hood and maybe fenders and doors. Try your magnet on strip below rear window and above trunk lid same on strip below front window before hood. There was a fit and finish problem with these cars so they sprayed a coat of bondo on and hand leveled it. Thats where the problem arose. The innability of the bodo to bond permently with the aluminum made for a reallly miserable time if one had to prep for paint. Thats why I did not buy the one I looked at as separation was already underway and that bondo was 1/4 inch thick in places. No the car had not been in an accident. Thought it might have been a climate problem and perhaps would not suffer that problem (separation) so bad in warmer climates. Anyways get your trusty magnet and check the whole car out. The more aluminum panels you discover the better as I believe you might have aquired a now collectable rare version of this model. Trying to get my april the first stuff in early and never a better oportunity than this. Unfortunatly the guy is telling the truth I believe and a further check is in order to find out how many others they built and how extensively aluminum was used. A check for electroylitic corrosion is in order also plus a device should be installed on that car to minumise it going forward about 100.00 I believe for the electrical version or cheap sacrificial anodes installed at least. No electroylitic corrosion was evident on the 84 I examined and believe the paint was original but the car was much newer at time. The passenger cage has to be steel and as a really interesting reseach project you might enjoy doing. Just occured to me that because of the thick layer of factory bondo you might require a decent magnet to really determine what panels are what metal. This time I have really done it leathermag, have you ever seen me generate more confusion with one post? You cannot strip to bare metal and clearcoat in my opinion and thats perhaps a shame. Thought it might occur as an ideal but the panels underneath are far too rough in my opinion but others may vary. Gotta stop here or you members will hang me. I gotta feeling it's going to be pretty bad as is. The best for last. sure all panels in aluminum should have reduced weight but when you weigh your car and you will the difference will not be as much as imagined. You might have gallons and gallons of factory bondo on your panels. But do not concern yourself as spring is approaching and I will make a standing offer of a thousand for your bondo bucket. Always willing to help a member out.

Last edited by barry123400; 03-23-2005 at 12:56 PM.
  #12  
Old 03-23-2005, 11:56 AM
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How about checking

the inside of the door, like along the window frame? Less chance of rust repair there. How about near the top of the fenders away from the wheel well?
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  #13  
Old 03-23-2005, 12:07 PM
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Heres an ebay link with a set of wheels for you to see....are these the same...These are the real AMG Penta Wheels.

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=40262&item=7962957016&rd=1
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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche
  #14  
Old 03-23-2005, 12:21 PM
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Well....perhaps driving that car will reduce the need to wear an aluminum foil helmet for protection...I know I don't need to where my hemet when I'm in my old land rover...
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  #15  
Old 03-23-2005, 12:23 PM
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Ray I was having a litle fun with my post. The centre cage (areas you were basically mentioning) have to be steel or car would not have the structual integrity to drive. Front and back window flanges have to be steel as well. If it has the aluminum roof panel like the 500sec had there are some strength concerns in rollover and thats why electroylitic corrosion has to be checked. Panel may be held just by the bondo at seams if the corrosion is active. These same concerns surfaced in my mind when examining the 500sec. The owner did not even realise aluminum panels were incorporated in the cars construction. Only found by me as some of the bondo had separated and crazed and when investigating if car had been in accident discovered the aluminum panels. Yes did take the time to physically inspect car as initially though must have been in an accident. It was several hours steady going before I was totally satisfied what I was looking at was genuine. Also think car was about four to six years old at time of inspection but my memory might a little hazy. Well I better go finish another six pack before lunch.. Where are you leathermag?


Last edited by barry123400; 03-23-2005 at 12:47 PM.
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