Ol' Rotchester





The wagon has 187k documented miles, spending most of its life in New York. Somehow it made it over to Kansas in the last 5 years or so, with brief stints in Wichita and Lawrence.

So, the good:

Runs and drives amazingly: 250 miles logged just today driving it back from Lawrence


Near Minty interior:





Second row 60/40 with headrests, which means...



Third row:





The best part of the car is this:



I haven't done a tally yet, but I estimate 20-30k in service invoices alone on this car. One of the last ones in NY was nearly 6k for an entire front and rear suspension rebuild, all belts, hoses, and fluids, along with other odds and ends. A 3k transmission rebuild is in there as well.

Now for the bad... this is why the car begins with rot.









Pretty good wallops on the front fender, passenger door and rear quarter as well.



Okay, now the ugly... Brace yourself.



That's my fist poking through the wheel well.



Engine shot:



I can't believe the owners would maintain their car mechanically with such fastidiousness while allowing rust to consume it. Its so depressing.

Many parts are going into trigger, and I may be parting it out to (peachparts) Members. It seems such a shame, though.

a shame, though.

Attached Thumbnails

         

         

         

     

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Wow. Amazing they put so much dough into a shell that's so beyond hope Great parts donor though, that blue interior looks great. Looks like the SLS even works!

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

That is indeed odd.....so much $$ into a badly rusted car....makes no sense.

By the way, in Michigan that'd be considered a perfectly good car. It'd make a great winter driver for several years at least. Parting it seems a waste if it runs and drives so well.

How much did you pay for it?

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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)

LOL. Assuming it's not so rusty the "frame" is about to snap in half...

$500.00

I'm not sure if I can let this thing die that way...

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Oh, Tyler,Tyler,Tyler(shaking head)
You got your work cut out for you, I wish you the best.

IMHO though, I really think you would be better off finding a
rust free donor body and transplanting everything.

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

With the exception of the wheel well, my 300D has more rust than that. And more dents. (Note: I take great pride in my engine's health, not the body health)

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Poor bugger. It's heart and guts will live on

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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

It looks great 20 ft away and at the right angle, maybe with some of your
photo shop expertice it will be perfect .

charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Wow, what a great idea, You bought a parts car before
my wagon even ended.

You really are serious about my rust free wagon.

and now you have everything to fix it.

BTW folks, my "gem" goes off tonite

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

I'd drive it until the rust was real bad, then I'd do transplantation.

$500 is a steal for a vehicle with so many good parts though!

__________________
-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)

And some lucky young forum member is going to benefit greatly from that awesome blue interior. Sadly, I'm not young..........
It is mind boggling to think of that much $$$$ spent on that wagon. So much in the way of good parts!!!
BTW, you really have a knack for coming up with very applicable car nomenclature. Rotchester is very clever, and very fitting......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

x2. There is DEFINITELY $500 worth of parts in that car. Good Buy, Tyler.

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1982 240D 4spd, 327,000mi

^Hmmmmm.... I wonder who that could be?!?

Norm is going to like headrests!

That poor car could part itself out on a rough road.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012