Anyone ever experienced some nice chassis flex on the W123 cars? I remember when I did upper control arms, I jacked the car up pretty high and the doors would take some muscle to shut.

I'd heard of this happening on crappy 80's Mustangs but didn't expect it on this big chunk of steel. And yes, my doors are aligned properly. Though is this a sign that my subframe mounts are worn out?

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

no. not me.

is the car rusty?

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

No rust. At all!

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

I have NEVER seen such an issue with a 123 or any other MB that I know of. That is one of the areas where the 123 stands out. The car seems as if it is cast in one SOLID piece.

Hmph. It was the only time I'd ever got it to do that. Both front doors didn't latch when I tried to close them normally. Maybe we jacked it up oddly

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Maybe so. If you've placed the jack against the bottom of the door and lifted the car with it when it's wide open they would definitely be hard to close. Use the jack points next time.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Ara T.
Ditto....I never heard of it happening to a 123, 126 or any of them unless they are real rust buckets. They are the strongest monoque construction on the road.
I have had problems with "through away" cars like Austin Minis and DS21 Citroens ( thin junk steel!) trying to keep them straight while welding new floors and sills in them. One way was to jack them up and set them evenly on jack stands on all four corners and add additional support where needed......and don't open the doors they help keep things plumb unless you temp. weld cross bracing in the door frames.

I am assuming that once the 123 was set down off the jacks everthing lined up again? NO perminent damage?

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FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K

You might want to check that for accuracy. w123s are originally pretty stiff chassis. I've had mine on stands in the past and opened/closed the doors and they all closed normally.

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

My doors open and close fine with the car on the factory jack in the factory jack hole.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Same here, I've had my car jacked up in the front and in back by one factory jackpoint, waay up, and I could open all doors normally...and my car has some slight rust....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Just because you can't see any visible rust doesn't mean there isn't a lot hiding under the undercoating. If you get a small nick in the undercoating from road debris or what have you, it might be enough to let moisture in and get the rust started. The undercoating actually begins to have an adverse affect, holding the moisture in and making the rust worse, all the while hiding it from your inspections.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

Mine has no flex and two of the frame members in front are rusted through!

Well, just one now....

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-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
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Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

Damn, your not spoz too do that??

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Mine was jacked up under the left front chassis frame? if that's what you call it. I thought the drivers door might be about a millimeter out of alignment but I was still able to open and close it without any problems.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

The first manual transmission I installed in my wagon came out of a boneyard 240D that had two cars (IIRC, some sorrt of a Volvo and a 124 chassis Benz) sitting on top of it. All the doors opened and closed just fine both before and after the cars were on top. Ara, you've got some other problem...are you sure you were working on the Benz?

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.