Here's a heads up for all you W123 owners. I was doing some maintenance on my 300D over the weekend and I took a look at the area where the hood springs and hinges conceal into when you close the hood. This is one heck of a collecting area for who knows what. It looks like a great place for rust to get its evil grip if you have any crud in there. I found a great way to clean it out by taking a piece of old garden hose and taping it to my shop vacuum. You need something small like that hose to get it there to thoroughly clean out that space. You'll probably have to unclog the hose from time to time since it may be smaller in diameter than the crud you'll vacuuming out. Then take a stiff piece of wire and rod out the drain holes that are actually there. Something to get started on before bad weather sets in and before whatever you may have there in those "pockets" turns into some thick stew that'll be a real pain to clean out.

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DJ


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

W123s and W116s are known for rusting out in that area. One W123 I owned rusted all the way through so I had to pump the area with waxoil to stop moisture getting under the floot and into the sills.

On W116s the front mounting point tends to rust out causing lateral movement when the spring is in tension.

Adam

Thatsa good heads up for all 1970's series benz'...... other drains that deserve to be cleared are those in trunk bed compartments on both sides. Hidden under plastic liner (in the case of 123's) they often get clogged and collect unseen puddles of water.

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'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd

The 123's are also famous for corroding the battery box and firewall resulting in a huge leak into the interior, rusty floors and ...

Keep the battery tray clean and painted.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Yes, how does water get in there? I never understood it completely.

Water in trunk compartments? My guess is trunk lid seal. I pulled those plastic liners, even the plate that covers the fuel tank - making more space for tools and fishing tackle. 123 trunks are surprisingly small with fuel tank behind rear seat. The rubber drains can be cleared with finger. On throwing away the plastic liners, i found 4" deep puddle of standing water on one side.

Another nasty one is if the hood hinge drain on the driver's side clogs, water will get into the wiring under the fuse box and corrode the connections. That leads to bizarre electrical problems like flickering lights and jumping guages. Once on my 280E, the flashers came on by themselves.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Let me add that in driving an e-bay purchase (79 280ce) from Florida to Minnesota in June, I stopped to nap during a storm and took off my shoes. When starting to drive again still barefoot, I felt drips coming off the emergency brake pedal. Chuck suggested looking at the drain holes under the hood hinge pockets, and sure enough, they were plugged with 24 years of old leaves and florida sand. Fortunately no rust though. No problems since in any kind of rain.