Saving A 1965 W111 220

[Squiggle Dog]

I have a rusted out 1967 Mercedes W110 230 Universal wagon that I want to restore, so I've been looking for a non-rusty 1967 or 1968 W111 230S sedan with a sunroof so I can make it into my dream car; a W111 sunroof turbo diesel-powered wagon. There's one that I've been interested in buying for ten years, but it's never worked out and I haven't had any success in finding the right car despite aggressive searching.


Nearly two weeks ago my membership in the Facebook fintail group was approved and I introduced myself. Someone within the group named Troy sent me a friend request and then messaged me saying that he was local and had a complete 1965 Mercedes W111 that he would give to me for free, because his wife wanted it out of the yard, and he wanted to see someone do something with it, rather than scrap it. He said that if I take it, I'm welcome to do whatever I want with it, including restoring it, parting it out, selling it, or trading it. He forewarned me that it had no title, had flat tires, and was stuck in gear. He sent me the following pictures:





I thought it was a great opportunity, but I was really set on a 230S with a sunroof and didn't want to settle for less. I also have limited space and didn't want to bring it here in case the perfect car comes up for sale. But, the body and chrome appeared to be in really good condition, it has the correct bumpers for a wagon, and it at least had a firewall-mounted brake booster and was better suited than an earlier car would be. The cat eye taillights are also really neat, and the price was right. I felt like I would regret it if I passed on it since people seem to want thousands of dollars for rusted out, incomplete cars and it would be good security in case "the right car" doesn't come along at a price I can afford. There's also the possibility that I might be able to trade this one plus cash for the brown sunroof 230S I've been wanting for years. I also made sure that my roommate was okay with me bringing it here.

[Squiggle Dog]

Troy said that the person he got it from bought it as a parts car back in the early 1980s, but it wasn't compatible with the car he wanted to use it for, so it set for decades. Then Troy acquired it and never got around to getting the title and realized he didn't have time for it, so he put it up for sale on Craigslist. It's funny because I realized I had seen it months ago and had texted asking if it had a sunroof, which it didn't, so I already had his number in my phone. Here are the pictures from the Craigslist ad:





It didn't sell, so he decided he would part it out and started removing parts from it, including the headlights, front bumper, grille, driver side door, and rear windshield. He also removed most of the bolts to the fenders. But, the only parts he actually sold were the headlights, and unfortunately he cut the wire harness, so it will need to be repaired or replaced. He also threw away the back seat because it was in poor condition.

[Squiggle Dog]

I decided I wanted the 220 and made sure it was alright with my roommate, so I set up a time to meet with Troy over the weekend. I rented a pickup truck and flatbed trailer from UHaul and drove about 30 miles to where it was. Since there was no title, I brought paperwork for Troy to sign so I can apply for a "Vermont title" which will allow me to register the car in Vermont without being a resident, and get plates and paperwork which will allow me to title and register it in Arizona without having to go through the whole expensive and lengthy inspection and bonded title process.

The car was setting on ancient German Continental tires which had gone flat. I came up with a set of four wheels with tires that held air (two 14" front wheels from my wagon, one 14" spare tire from my W116, and one 13" spare from my roommate's W111) and brought a jack. The jack was stripped out, but the one in the trunk worked. Bees had made honeycombs between the wheels and hubs.


After getting the wheels swapped out and making sure the brakes weren't stuck, I checked out the transmission which was stuck in gear. It was a bit rusted, but there is a trick where you have to pull the shift lever toward you before you can pull it downward, into reverse, and then you push it forward and downward to put it into neutral.

Troy brought me a set of keys, and when I was straightening the steering wheel, I heard the click of the steering lock engaging. I stuck the key in the ignition switch but it wouldn't go in because the key was bent. I straightened the key and it went in, but wouldn't turn. I jiggled the key and it still wouldn't work, so I sprayed penetrating oil inside the cylinder and tried again. It wasn't working. Troy searched his office and found another set of keys and it wouldn't turn at first either, but then it finally turned and I got the steering unlocked.

I used a mechanical winch and pulled it onto the rented UHaul truck and trailer by hand. The car rolled rather well for having set for so long.


That wasn't bad! It's strapped down tight and ready to travel to Surprise.



Backing it in behind the RV gate. The rear windshield had been removed and I found the most secure way to transport it was to wrap it in moving blankets and strap it in place.

[Squiggle Dog]

A new old stock (but dirty) horn pad in the original Mercedes bag was included, as well as a new VIN tag (because the VIN and options plates that go on top of the radiator core support are missing). I wonder if new VIN and options plates can be ordered. I contacted The Classic Center to inquire and also asked for the data card, but they are on vacation all week. This 220 is one of the last ones made, with 1965 being the last year for this unusual variant.


Today I started putting parts back on the 220. It was originally a beautiful maroon color and was painted light beige at some point. It's a highly optioned car for not being an S-class; air conditioning, power steering, automatic transmission, curtains (at one point), Becker Europa TG AM/FM radio, front seat center cushion and armrest, and Oris trailer hitch. It also has side trim to prevent door dings. Fortunately, new trim, parts, and replacement rubber for it are still available here: https://www.customautotrim.com/body-side-moldings/rivet-on-molding/.



Putting the parts back on was challenging as the hardware had been discarded, but I robbed some bumper bolts from a spare set of bumpers Scoot gave me, and found some screws to install the grille from a collection of nuts and bolts I've kept from Mercedes I've gotten parts from over the years.

[Squiggle Dog]

The hardware for the door that had been removed was missing, but I found a set of door hinge bolts that fit and were even the correct DB716 Graubeige color in which the car had been repainted.


There's not much more than surface rust to be found in most places.


Even the rocker panels are solid.


The bumpers are in amazing condition.



I'm really excited about the 220. I guess good things do happen to bad people! I mailed off the paperwork to get the "Vermont title" today and ordered a new cheapie $40 Febi seal so I can put the rear windshield back in. Hopefully I won't have to fight the seal much, and I don't plan on using any sealing compound for the time being as I just want to have the glass secured and the inside of the car better protected from the elements.

[Mike D]

You are a glutton for punishment aren't you!

Looks as though you'll be busy for awhile.

[meltedpanda]

I have rescued many but not many that close to being reclaimed by nature , good luck, if we can help let us know , I have a lot of bits for that car if you run across something you may need

[Idle]

You could come out ahead on this deal due to the A/C bits this car has. The original owner cheaped out on the inside unit since this looks like a general type of under dash unit, but the mount kit on the engine is worth some money.

Check on Ebay during the spring months as that's when these type of things come up for sale. If someone is wanting to add ac to their 220 they need the entire mount kit including the additional pully that was added on the engine pully assembly. These are tough to take off but the entire pully assembly can be pulled off.

The compressor is likely shot but you never know. Those old York units are pretty tough. I have seen them come right off a 111 and work like they should, ac clutch and all.

This also appears to have the original radio. Also check the operation of the temp gauge. Just unscrew it from the engine and drop the blub into some very hot water. The needle will move in the instrument cluster if the tube is still good. If so this can be carefully removed and there is always a market for these gauges.

[Squiggle Dog]

The 220 had curtains at one point, and the mounts are still there. How interesting.


I ordered a new $40 (and free shipping) Febi seal for the rear windshield. I just needed something cheap to put it back in and figured I'd fight it and live with the results. We'll see the quality of Thailand seal.


I used a chisel and scraped away old sealant and rust from the pinch welds.


After a good wire-brushing and cleaning with brake parts cleaner, I then applied Corroseal Rust Converter to convert the rust and seal the surface so it won't continue to rust under the seal.

[Squiggle Dog]

I used a razor blade and scraped old sealant off of the glass.


The trim that fits into the seal was bent, which is typical if it's not removed very carefully. Pulling it from hardened rubber makes it more likely to bend. But, the trim has to follow the curvature of the glass exactly or it won't stay in the seal, and there will be fitment problems installing the glass.


I carefully bent all the trim by hand until it followed the shape of the glass.


With the glass face down on moving blankets with a little support on each side, I fit the new seal over each end. It's best to install each end and then work toward the middle in order to avoid bunching up or stretching the seal and ending up with too little or too much material.


The seal fit the glass very well.

[Squiggle Dog]

I started pressing the trim into the seal.


The Febi seal has a lip that locks the trim into place as do the genuine Mercedes seals. Years ago I tried installing a ÜRO brand seal on my roommate's car and the trim would not stay in place because it lacked this lip.


The trim is in place.


I fit two 3/16" laminated wire cables into the pinch weld grooves and overlapped them in the center, securing them with tape. The cable can be bent to conform at the corners. The trim can be secured with tape, and the cords can be coated with dish soap if desired, but it wasn't necessary.

[Squiggle Dog]

I positioned the glass in place on the car and made sure it was perfectly centered. You'll want to have Mercedes Sealing Compound 001 989 31 20 or 3M Bedding & Glazing Compound 08509 along the sealing surface of the body before the glass goes on. The headliner and lower vinyl covering should be replaced before this step, however I will not be doing those things for quite some time and for now just need to get the glass in place. Then I carefully pulled out the cable, starting from the lower middle, perpendicular to the glass, going toward a lower corner. Then I worked out the cable around the lower corner and up one side, using a plastic prybar to make sure the lip of the seal was over the pinch weld. Then I pressed the glass downward against the body and pulled out the other cable from the center toward the opposite corner and then up the side while pushing down on the glass and making sure the lip of the seal was over the pinch weld. After this, the cables were pulled out from the corners to the center, one at a time. It's easy to rip the seal if not careful and there is too much pressure between it and the body.


On the outside I used a plastic prybar to work the outer seal lip outward so the glass would shift downward.


The lower corners needed working with a 90 degree pick, being careful to not punch through the seal.


After the seal is fully seated, you'll want to pry the seal away from the glass and apply sealant between the seal and the glass. The Febi seal fit extremely well. I have no complaints. It's nice to know there is a quality, low-priced alternative to the expensive genuine Mercedes rubber seals. I'll see how long it lasts in the Arizona sun.

[Squiggle Dog]

Now it's time for the lower garnish moldings to go into place. The old fasteners were in poor condition or missing, so I bought twelve new ones, part numbers 000 988 09 81 and 000 988 10 81.



The garnish moldings were in poor condition and missing the connector piece, but fortunately Evlkarl had given some to me, so I used them and found that I already had a spare connector. I straightened the moldings and tried to get some overspray off of them with paint stripper, but the paint stripper seemed to have gone bad. I put a molding in place, starting with the lower corner and used a plastic prybar to lift the lip of the seal over the molding a little at a time until it fit close up under the seal. From there I lifted the molding a little, aligned the fastener with the hole, then tilted the molding downward until the fastener was over the hole and pushed it down into place. I worked the molding and seal a little at at time until it was in place and then did the other side.


Finally, the securing screws are installed.


A perfect fit! I could not be happier and don't think I would have achieved better results even with a genuine Mercedes seal. The aftermarket companies must be making improvements, which is reassuring given that parts availability from Mercedes is drying up.

[Squiggle Dog]

The external rear view mirror was broken, and I found that I had the piece I needed to repair it.


The glass comes out by pushing down on it and pulling out the plastic retainer.


With the glass out, the broken socket could be replaced, and it has to be installed with the glass out so the socket can be held in place while the threads are started.


The glass is installed back in and the mirror is repaired!

[Squiggle Dog]

The rivets on the outer ends of the door ding molding had popped out and needed to be secured so it wouldn't get hooked by one of the dogs or clothing.


I used a sharp flat blade screwdriver and chiseled off the rivet head and removed the end pieces. I punched out the remaining pieces of the rivets and then found that my rivet gun wouldn't fit down into the channel of the trim, so I took a ferrule from a Schwinn bicycle cable and stuck it on the rivet gun. It worked well.


That looks much better!