I recently installed a new battery, and noticed the " battery tray " was very rusty. Looking on many parts sites, I tried to find one, but didn't have any luck. Can anyone help?

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1984 MB 300SD Turbo

Is it rusted through? If not, the cheapest repair is to thoroughly clean it, then us a POR-15 or similar product to paint it, then use a Rustoleum product to finish it off. I did this with one of my cars (not M-B) and it held up until the car ran out of steam with 450K miles on it.
I don't think replacement trays are cheap.

They are readily available but not cheap. The hold down clamp things are about $42 a pair. What I did was use a POR15 rustproofing kit on it and it looks like new. Also, the firewall area behind the battery is a known area for lots of rust. Mine was clean but I used the leftover POR15 on that firewall area to prevent any rusting.

POR 15 is here at http://www.advanced-rust-protection.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SSK&Category_Code=POR15

Or a new tray from our forum sponsor http://www.allpartsexpress.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1982-MERCEDES--BENZ-300dt--/l5_3.0l_diesel_turbo-Electrical&yearid=1982%40%401982&makeid=MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40X&engineid=1193767%40%40300DT+%2FL5_3.0L_DIESEL_Turbo%40%40300DT&catid=Electrical&subcatid=Battery%20Tray&mode=PA

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"Life is tough...it's even tougher if you're stupid." John Wayne


Dave
Pawleys Island, SC

'79 300CD

I agree, remove it, clean it with fresh water, prime and paint it atleast.

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1982 300SD

yeah, take pics of it, and take pics of the fender below it. CLEAN THE SNOT out of it! clean the area below BOTH spring perches, and clean out the poorly located drains in both the spring pockets, and the area below them on the fenders themselves under the battery tray, and under the fuse pockets!
I just got a nearly mint tray with both hold downs, and nuts for 10.00 at my PNP...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Non rusty battery trays are hard to find- I pull them if I find them and I currently have only two- and both are in my wagons.