Pics of my 85 300D, 470Kmi

Well a few weeks after I bought it off ebay, ALOT of hours fixing rusty rear floorpans, making seat mounts and a seatbelt mount, transmission problems, blinker problems, radio problems and general tweaking, detailing and a bottle of redline, I am very impressed. This car drives amazing. Drives like a 300D with 100K. I washed it, threw on a coat of wax and it looks very respectable for a car with almost a half million miles.

[Ken300D]

Yes, its a good looking car. Thank goodness most people don't realize the value of the '82-'85 300D turbo. Scares the heck out of the average used car buyer to see a car with more than 100K! I'd say you got a good deal, and the exterior metalwork looks pretty good. I think mine is great - the anxiety I have is being able to find another one to use after the one I have wears out in 6-10 years.... :p

How much of the floorpan did you have to replace, and do you have any tips or pictures of that work?

I have noticed that the 123 body style is subject to rust just behind the rear wheels on the lowest part of the quarter panels. It seems this area gets constantly sandblasted and pelted with rocks, resulting in a loss of paint and subsequent rust. Important to keep touch-up paint or a repaint going in this area.

Say, that power cord doesn't go to a radar detector, does it?

Ken300D

Very nice work John, great looking car... Seems like it was maintained well from new, I notice a new multi guage and what not. Very nice...

The rear floorpans were pretty rusty. They werent completely rusted but they had alot of spots where they were paper-thin and you could push it with your finger. What I did is lay down sheets of galvinized steel over the rear, and pop rivet it down and use alot of silicone as sealant. I had to make a drivers seat mount because the old one was rusted and as you see I had to make a passenger lap seatbelt harness because the old one was rusted out where it connected to the wall of the interior. I had to grind ALL of the seatmount bolts out, grind the seatbelt harness out. It was alot of work, but worth it. I am very happy with the results. Here are some before and after pics.


passenger side

driver side




I will snap some better pics of my work today and post them.

John

[Ken300D]

All I can say is "wow".

Is this kind of rust essentially always caused by a leaking windshield gasket?

I'm going to inspect my floorpans again this weekend. They were clean the last time I looked but slightly damp in one area. I let it dry but had better check again.

I'm probably going to spring for a new windshield and back glass gasket along with installation labor next summer. The seals are getting pretty age-cracked.

Ken300D

Yes the water for the front floors come from the windsheild gaskets in the corners. What I have done is put some silicone in the corners as a cheap fix. The water for the back floors and trunk come from the corners of the back window gasket. I did the same back there and I dont get any water, or very little when it pours for a day, where before it would be soaked (as you can see by the pics).

BTW my radar detector is a valentine one

John

hey guys,

WHile we are on the subject. How much does it cost to get new seals put on the front and rear glass in an old 300d. I Think that mine are leaking and I hate it. I check under the battery for decay with not much found.
Is silicone touch up a sound solution.

Any way I hope my benz goes that long.
245K and still rolling strong

thanks

bob

[Ken300D]

I was recently quoted:

Windshield:

Gasket $81.85
Labor $100.00


Back Glass:

Gasket $79.55
Labor $100.00

The rubber gasket quoted is not Mercedes OEM but supposed to be of good quality.

I am told the task is complicated and a little touchy on the 123 chassis - partly due to the chrome trim. Was advised that particularly the back glass is difficult to handle and subject to possible breakage - sending the cost way up.

With the multi-lane interstate commute I take each day, its only a matter of time before the windshield needs replacement, it has a chip in it now. So its a given that the front glass and seal will get replaced together at some point.

Maybe I can just get by a while longer with silicone around the back glass seal - if there is any leakage detected.

Ken300D

[MikeTangas]

If that is the same one I saw on eBay a couple three months back it sure cleaned up nice. Hats off to you.

Here's the original ad with the pictures, if mine is the one you are thinking about..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=595288712

John

turbodiesel,

The car looks great!

My high miler is not look as good. My son drove it two years and it was side swiped on the high school parking lot. I am anxious to restore it one day. I have new Euro bumpers for it and expect that it will restore well.

I was hoping to buy a digital camera to post some pictures. The company I work for was barely hanging on and the attack effected our Q3 results. We are now going on four day work weeks and who knows what happens next. I hope to borrow a digital camera to post pictures here. You have inspired me to put mine back on the road. Which may be mandatory if the company goes down the tube.

BTW. The windshield gasket is not the most common cause of water in the rear floorboards. The most common cause is plugged up drains in the pockets below the hood hinges. I suffered this scourge for years before I found mshop and was given the tip by someone who had figured it out. I now have no more rear footwell standing water problems.

Congratulations for keeping another of MB's finest alive and well.

Have a great day,

is the color grey172? my '84 300d-t looks just like yours, without the pinstriping. actually, your exterior is in a little better shape - and mine has half the miles. guess I had better get to work
i had leaky winshield corners, also, and found silicone to be a great fix; can't really notice unless u look closely.
by the way, if anyone needs good color matched spray paint i got my grey172 here http://www.towerpaint.com/
and am quite happy with it. It is a bit pricey, however, for one can. I think u can get a better deal on four-paks. i have several small rust spots and scratches to take care of...

Thanks! My car is 199, pearl black (metallic). Its a gorgeous color, if the paint was in better shape.

John

[benchracer]

I don't want to burst your bubble John, but 469,000 Kilometers is a long way from half a million miles. I don't know the conversion rate, but I think it would be closer to 250,000 to 300,000 miles.
Anyway, you've got a great looking car now and I'm really impressed with your seat belt mount. Looks professional!

That isnt kilometers, that is MILES, all 470,000 of them. Car dosent look like it, does it.