IMO, odds are with that much visable rust that the really important areas underneath the car are getting close to the will not pass inspection point, and then you have an unsafe car that just became a $$ and/or time pit.

Life is short

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

There are no car inspections where I live. I could get away with putting a 454 in a cavalier if I wanted to with nobody to tell me otherwise

Just bought a 2001 Toyota Corolla today to replace an 02 Sable I totaled last weekend
$5K
Let the other car go because Ive just got too much on my plate right now. Plus I can never find a fair price on a diesel mercedes to make it worth my time as a project car. Ill probably just look for a ford or chevy diesel pickup or an oldschool suburban. Those are a dime a dozen and can be used for lots of handy stuff

Good car, Corolla.

Old mercedes are hard to buy especially since the ones in good shape will cost you some money. I ve found by lookin at the cheaper ones, that they either have major body work or mechincal work to do. So you either have to know some people who good at autobody or fixin cars or be able to do it yourself.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

Thats to bad, I think inspections for the most part are a good thing. There was a time when I new every little thing about my car, now my cars are either coming and going so quick, or I am, so I value a good inspection. If they find rust or something that could cause a major accident then I'm liking that.

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.