Lady has an issue with her 220D that she explained as: "the front end fell down while turning out of her parking spot". I asked her to send me a photo and here it is:



That's all I've seen. What would you think happened?

Im gonna guess the subframe collapsed due to body rust. It seems the front end is low on both sides, not just one side, i doubt both springs would break at one time.

Your gonna have to get the car up in the air to be sure....

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Low rider mechanism is in the 'low' position?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Bag it!

Sixto
87 300D

Yeah both sides are down. She did say it is rusty. I'm not that familiar with W114/115's so I'm not sure of the set up. Is it a bolt in front suspension cradle to what I'd call a frame rail? I'm assuming where the front cradle bolts to the unibody frame rail is where it let go. I'm not sure if the balljoints seperating or springs collapsing at one time would be possible.

She's offering it to me for $200. She ran it daily, even had a new motor put in 5 years ago. 4 speed manual car.

In my Datsun Z car days I saw quite a few rusted "frame rails" but never a collapse. She said she had just driven it over 100 miles and the next morning as she turned the wheels to drive off if just dropped down. I would think the fan would have hit the hood/rad, etc... but she says it still starts and runs good.......

only think I could think of would be the subframe mounts letting go

I think it may be a broken ball joint. Happened to an Opel Manta GT/E that I owned during college.

__________________
With best regards

Al

Ball joint is my guess as well.

I dont think a ball joint would cause both sides to fall down.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Car doesn't show much evidence of rust. If the frame has rotted out I'd expect to see more evidence of body rust. I can't think of one failure that would cause both sides to drop. Are we sure both sides have dropped? Are people thinking upper ball joint failure? You need a picture from the front at ground level shot under the car to see if you can see any parts hanging down. Would a badly broken spring show that symptom?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

For 200$, and it still runs/drives....I would get it and find out the problem in my driveway...plus a new motor...worst case as was said air bag it...but I just think its rotted rubber....my friends w115 has a bazillion bushings up front..supposedly the whole underside of the engine can be removed...So I would imagine if the subframe mounts go...this can happen..

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Okay, thanks guys. I can't imagine both ball joints or springs letting go at the same time either so it must be the subframe. I have a front on photo but it shows nothing [other than both sides are down] due to shadows. For $200 it's cheap but add another $150 for a tow bill 50 miles and my investment goes up. I'd kinda like an old W114 diesel 4 speed so................

You know, I only communicated what she told me but after looking at the other photo I believe it is only one side affected. The streets there fall off sharply at the curb to act as a drainage culvert during hurricanes so the cars always look crooked. One like hers with the outer side down would make it appear more level [optical illusion]. Here's the other photo which she sent to me rotated 90 degrees and after setting it upright in my photo program it seems more obvious. Oh, it almost looks like a LCA hanging down from the broken ball joint. I'm headed to look at/buy the car today, I will report back.

The front sheet metal and bumper look nice and straight. I love the clean simple look of those 115's.

It does look to be one sided from the front on pic.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.