I actually used Eastwood's Heavy Duty Anti-Rust, not the internal frame coating. It is indicated for rocker panels, and I've used it for years now. I spray it with their conical nozzle. I didn't remove anything that was in the rocker panels aside from what I had to clean out to weld.

OK Thanks. That is similar to the Fluid Film I used. Probably not much different than the original COSMOLINE. Not sure if we can get it here. Maybe NAPA has it in Canada?

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Had this car for 30 years. It's been about 8 years since I last really thought about selling. Then decided to have serious rust issues repaired. Again in 2014 thought time may have come, but stayed with it. Thinking about it again

Car has newish engine & tires, runs well, body OK (needs a few touch ups).

Right now, following items are on job list. Excluding parts, how many hours do think a shop would require for these two jobs?

1. Replace oil cooler lines and likely motor mounts at same time. Maybe repair cooler nozzle.
2. Replace guide rod mounts/bushings while at same time installing new spring shims and maybe springs at same time.

Current thinking
- have shop do #1 once I have parts.
- postpone #2. Clunk comes and goes. Nothing safety related that I can see. Only do if clunk gets worse. Today it wouldn't clunk at all.

Maybe I should soon try and sell the 300D. We don't need 4 cars. Two older ones have been with us for 30+ years and are more hobby than required transportation! As issues build up, and being over 80 with no capable help around, it may soon be time to pass it on to someone who can enjoy the car.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Take the front end apart and refurbish all. It will take a few days working as you wish and you'll end up with a like new driving car. Parts cost ~$500 is what's in my mind.

Next project if you have oil leaks is to take it down to almost a long block and seal everything. There are gasket kits for $60.

I think you missed this part: "As issues build up, and being over 80 with no capable help around," Plus health issues.

This means, that any jobs I take on must be smaller with no heavy lifting! Over 30 years, I have done a lot of work on this car, but eventually we have to stop.

I will likely get some of work done piecemeal by local shops. Problem there, is that we no longer have local shops familiar with these cars. I will have to guide them, but they don't usually listen! Frustrating.

First job will be oil cooler lines plus motor mounts (Parts ~C$300) Labor??

Second will be Guide rod mounts plus likely guide rod bushings and new spring shims with or with out new springs I already have. (Parts ~C$300) Labor ??

Running on original axles. Boots hanging in after repairing cracking. About C$700 incl aftermarket axles.

Looking like $2000 ????? Needs a younger guy who can save the labor.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I too find that shops don't listen - not even when the shop owner is your friend. They also don't read the FSM.


I have 60 acres of hills and rocks that I've owned for 41 years. My neighbor is an industrious farmer who likes to work. The other day there were cattle trucks blocking our still gravel road. My neighbor said he'd sold all of his cattle (100+ head) and it fealt lke he'd had his last tooth pulled. He said I'd have to go through something similar sometime.


I've been riding a road bike for the last 20+ years. Now my peers are mostly retired some working a little when they want. We can all pedal upwards of 50 mi on any given day. Most are targeting 150 to 200 mi/week which can be accomplished in 3 easy mi days with 1 longer day. The oldest person turns 81 this year and we celebrate by riding his age and have since he retired at 65.


Extended family members are dropping out and the oldest is 80 and in good health. His peers are gone or in very poor health. Strange and interesting at the same time to watch people who were drivers have to back off and eventually quit.

You don't seem to need the money so fix the car if you'd like what you have when done and will enjoy the process whatever it is. $2,000 isn't much if you have it. Would you buy a $2,000 car like what yours will be when done?

We shall see how long that lasts and who goes along.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Thanks for that post Junkman!

Re bikes - We don't ride that much, but my wife & I do have bikes and do 3 or 4 20km rides a week when we are snowbirding in USA over winter. Not as much back home, but were getting out walking or riding every day when isolation here was stricter. Now golf has opened, and we do play about 2 or 3 times a week (walking) and that cuts into the biking/walking. We will be 79/81 this year. My target is more to shoot my age at golf rather than ride x km! Done that twice this year, but it is getting harder!

Having been diagnosed and being treated for metastatic Melanoma doesn't help, but I know I am likely going to keep the car. Been through this several times. This will be 4th time around for a major project!

First time in 2001 when bits of turbo entered engine and it had to be junked. ($7000) Second time when front fender and body in general needed a re-fresh and repaint ($3000) Third time when major chassis hidden rust needed attention. Got close that time to junking car! (Described in the car restoration section). Lucky to get welding etc done for $3000 and I did rest of rust treatment.

Forth time looks like:
1. oil cooler lines plus motor mounts,
2. Suspension clunk (guide rods mounts, spring shims or ??)
3. Hopefully later - axle boots.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I'm not that old but I am badly broken at this point and I too need to have some repairs done by others .

I'll certainly rue the day when I no longer drive a Mercedes W123....

I expect my '82 240D stripper will be the last one to go unless it gets wrecked .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better