I fear I just acquired the proverbial lipstick on a pig car, 1995 E300 Diesel beautiful on the outside, but ohh what's on the underside... This vehicle was acquired at auction.

In my review of the car I found the following damage to the main front cross member. I believe this constitutes frame damage but would like to hear what others have to say.

Attached are pictures of the main front cross member and the drivers door both at rest will all 4 feet on the ground and a second with it jacked up at the drivers side jack point.

Thanks for any and all feedback.

- Mark

Attached Thumbnails

       

__________________
1987 300DT 127K
1987 300TDT 283K (Sold)
1999 528iTa 75K
1991 300D 2.5T 214K - Dead Tranny
1984 300DT 375K (Sold)

Is the crinkled / scraped surface facing the ground? To me it looks like it's just poor jack placement... if the frame were crinkled it would be crinkled on all sides.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

The cross member may have just hit bottom, a not too uncommon occurrence. You may want to get a body shop to inspect for repair work. You may be able to see something yourself if you inspect the B-pillars.

But, I wouldn't despair if the repair work is good. At 16 years, your car has low resale value anyway, and if had a good long-term repair it shouldn't impact it much anyway. If it's safe, aligns well, drives straight and quiet, then it's a keeper.

__________________
Prost!

Mark, it's odd that the front door gap changes when the car is jacked-up. Have never seen that happen on any of our MB automobiles, even the coupes. Best to investigate further to assure that 1995 E300 is safe to drive. Your local indy can put it on a lift and thoroughly inspect the frame integrity.

__________________
Fred Hoelzle

Mark if you just purchased that car, you should have a reject option possibly. Real-time frame damage isn't cool!

Are we sure it isn't just worn door hinges?

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

My frame looks like that, and I have no damage. I think you have two separate issues.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

???

Maybe I'm blind or stupid or both, but I can't see much of a problem from the photos. You should see my old diesel underneath, and it drives fine & dandy. What you should worry about is rust & I don't see any.

If you're worried, take it to a body shop and have them inspect it for any sign of prior repair, and check the Carfax as well. That car is probably as solid as they come & you're just suffering some anxiety over your purchase.

__________________
'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

Not a great photo, but you can see at the top mine...identical to yours:

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

How much door movement?

+1 on bad hinges, but worth a closer look by a shop just to make sure. A 124 E300D is a nice car to have, but your life is worth even more. My 2c

Thanks to all that replied. The car was covered under arbitration and has been taken back. Mechanical stuff doesn't bother me but body/chassis stuff does greatly. And along those lines regarding the damage, maybe it's me but of the other w124 cars I have owned, 2 sedans and 1 wagon which had been hit and repaired, none had a main front cross member look that liked this one.

The issue with door alignment and more the movement was also disconcerting as I will be putting a young driver behind the wheel of the car and didn't want any concerns regarding body integrity.

Cheers, Mark

__________________
1987 300DT 127K
1987 300TDT 283K (Sold)
1999 528iTa 75K
1991 300D 2.5T 214K - Dead Tranny
1984 300DT 375K (Sold)