1983 240D repair/restoration shop
 

Hello Diesel Fans

I recently purchased a 1983 240D manual shift with 81k on the odometer. The car is a one owner southern car in fantastic condition with a strong documented service history. Since is becoming difficult to find clean low milage 240D's and considering this car's condition, I would like to take it to the next level. (i.e. repair small rust area under battery tray, replace carpets, replace rear hat rack, repair small dash crack. I live in the Birmingham Al area and am considering having Bud's Benz outside Atlanta perform the repairs. Does any one have any experience with this facility or can you suggest any other facilities in the Birm/Atlanta area. Thanks for your feedback!

I think most of us on this forum consider those things an owner would enjoy doing.. it will help you get acquainted with these sometimes unusually made autos.....you will just get more and more fond of your car....especially with the manual shift..


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1980 240d manual shift, manual windows, manual climate control, no sunroof... does not get any simpler than this... :D

Leathermang

I appreciate your response but I am not experienced in rust repair( small hole under the battery tray) and I would like to make sure it is done right the first time. Any feedback on Bud's Benz in Douglasville Ga would be much appreciated. In addition, I am looking at Ron's Upholstery (Atlanta) for the carpet replacement. I would like to utilize the original carpet style. Any and all feedback would be appreciated.

I am a couple or three miles too far from there to have any experience with them....:D

There is somewhere on this forum which lists or discusses good MB shops... have you looked around there also ?

We have a couple of members near Atlanta but I don't remember their names...

But I am sure you would enjoy fixing that yourself...

:D

Not so fast gp - the carpet is actually easier than under the battery area. It just unsnaps and pull out. Try to find some replacement on ebay. I really don't think an upholstery shop will do it right. In reality, all you really have to do under the battery tray is to remove the battery, remove the pan that holds the battery and then clean everything underneath there real good. After you have cleaned everything up you should be able to identify the rusted area. Make sure everything is good and dry and put some "stop rust" type material on the edges. Try not to get it on the surrounding painted area. After this sets just prime it good and then whatever top coat you want on it. You will save a good bit of money by doing it this way. The neatest thing about these cars is how easy they are to work on. Pull one of the carpets up tomorrow and you will see BUT if there has been any leakage into the car it will show up by more rusted areas underneath the carpet. Again, just fix it like I just described and do whatever you have to do to stop the moisture from coming in.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=339796&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

Try this link...

For the bodywork I would recommend European Paint & Body, north of Atlanta. I've had them do work a couple of times on my SD, and they did a GREAT job, so well that I'm eventually going to have them smooth out and repaint the entire car! Ask for Mike. 770 309 0844. Tell him "Rockstar Mike" sent you...he'll know who you're talking about. ;)

I've heard good things about Bud's Benz, but I've had no experience with them. I have heard that they are more geared towards working on the "classic" SLs, coupes, etc..., but I don't know for sure.

Best of luck, keep us posted.
Mike

Now we know what to call you at the next gathering:).
Can the groupies be far behinds;)?:)

LOL...I knew I'd take some jabs from you guys for that! :D That's HIS nickname for me...not MINE! :p

Mike

UhOh..... Here we go talking about groupies behinds..!

Sounds like a really nice car GP. Try www.por15.com They have anti-rust products including a mesh/fiberglass trunk/floorpan repair product that should work great for fixing that rusted area under the battery if the rust has penetrated all the way. Get a acid absorbing battery pad if the battery is still oozing. That or replace it. RT

If you would like to just read about the stuff available to prep before you use the POR15.... this is an interesting company/site....

http://www.eastwoodco.com/

( We never give up :D )

Fellow 240Der!
 

Great car, your car probably has no rust (unlike mine) and has lower miles. Fix it up very good. Don't go to an upholsterer, by the carpets online...BTW...what color is your interior...I might be able to get some locally. Tell me the color and I'll give it a try.

I really appreciate everyone's assistance regarding the 240d repairs. As mentioned earlier, I really want to do a proper job on the repairs. The car was garaged since new and even came with a car cover. The car is orient red/palimino interior, man. trans, man. windows, w/o sunroof. According to the original owner it was one of the last cars made for the 1983 model year.