My 190D is nearly mechanically perfect but sucks cosmetically. I have replaced or have the parts for about everything suspension or rubber related, as well as some engine work, rebuilt transmission, and other stuff. It runs great, doesn't burn or leak any oil between changes and rides pretty good (still have a few items left to do concerning springs and sway bars) Really mechanically, it needs little but interior is functional but ugly (tan seats from a 93 in a burgundy interior, cracked dash, rear door cards have some bits chewed up by a dog) and paint isn't great but decent.

Unfortunately as I was trying to unbolt my flex disc today to install my engine and transmission mounts, I found more rust. Before I knew there were some issues but it all was floor pans. All of this was hidden when I bought the car and I had no idea what to look for when I bought it. The rust I had discovered before I had planned to treat then patch with fiberglass but today I found the driver's side frame rail had a soft section about 10 inches long, so pretty serious structural rust.

So it stands I have quite a lot of money invested in this car (far more than it is worth) from all the new parts plus the transmission and some labor from my mechanic before I knew how to do much of anything on a car. The question is how should I proceed?

My main concern is that the vehicle would be unsafe in an accident. Drivers around Atlanta are terrible and I myself am a young drivers so statistically, I am more likely to get into an accident. Not that this is a deciding factor but something I have to seriously consider

So I could:

1. Not worry about it and not do anything about it.

2. Have the frame rail and other bits from my rust free but otherwise destroyed parts car welded into the 190D's body for probably a lot of money.

3. Find another W201 in good cosmetic shape and perhaps swap over the suspension bits and then maybe the drivetrain bits if needed.

4. Something else

5. Cry

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.