w210 rust prevention measures. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

citationtech · #1 10-04-2010, 10:09 AM

so i've always heard of the w210 body being very prone to rust, both structural and aesthetic. my questions being: where do they develop rust? what have owners done to prevent rust? i live in southern maryland, so we get snow, thus we get road salt. i'm very good about blasting built up salt/mud/road debris out of fender lips and other areas under the body. in my old pickups i would dump clean oil in the doors and in the cab corner areas with good success. i'd even gone so far as to paint the frame and metal parts with spent oil as a redneck undercoat.

JHZR2 · #2 10-04-2010, 10:24 AM

fender edges, strut towers, hood.

Id take it up to Krown Rust Control in Canada if possible to get as much innondated with creeping protective oils as possible.

Id also look at eastwood rust protector and amsoil HD metal protector as some options for certain spots. IMO they dont creep as well though...

citationtech · #3 10-04-2010, 10:36 AM

i've been using an oil called corrosionX. the military uses it exclusively on airframes. kept hatch rust at bay on my mk3 vw gti's. i need some insight on where to shoot it though. shock towers though? that scares me.

JHZR2 · #4 10-04-2010, 10:11 PM

I'd be concerned with corrosionx for two reasons. First, it is petroleum based, so be careful anywhere near plastic or rubber, and second, it may not stay in place.

Fluid film is a bit more viscous but still creeps, so it can make it's way into crevises.

Corrosionx will surely creep well, but I'd keep it away from rubber/plastic, and I'd topcoat it with fluid film and/or a drying, self healing coating like Eastwood or amsoil...

dseretakis · #5 10-04-2010, 11:41 PM

It seems like the W210s rust in the north but the Maryland cars seem pretty rust free. I know that they salt the roads down there but the salt exposure is still way way less than in Boston for example. If you are as religious as you say about hosing off the underbody you might never see any rust on that car.

JHZR2 · #6 11-16-2010, 07:32 PM

Also consider using a product called salt away in a garden sprayer. Make sure the car gets this all over. It is a liquid available online and at marine stores.