450SLC rear windscreen screen rust update

A couple of weeks ago I discovered rust around the rear windscreen in my 450SLC. At the time, I was having the 450SLC rear windscreen changed for a unit in better condition than mine. The rear screen seal was replaced back in 2006, but no sealant was used. Even though the car has been garaged the whole time, water had gotten stuck between the seal and the metal. While the cars were originally built without additional sealer, it is generally a good idea to use it. It stops the water getting stuck behind the seal like it did on my […]

450SLC Rear screen rust

A couple of years ago, MB Spares & Service closed their spare parts division to focus on their restoration and servicing business. At that time, I was able to buy a very nice rear screen for a C107 SLC. The car that it came out of was very rusty, but surprisingly not around the rear screen. My screen is quite delaminated from previous rust around the screen area. As you can see from the picture below, the new screen is really good.

After having that screen sitting in the garage for the last couple of years, I figured it […]

560SEC Major Checks

My two biggest concerns buying this 560SEC was the potential for rust being a UK car, and the condition of the timing chain. I was pleasantly surprised when I looked underneath the 560SEC and found that it was not a rusty car.

The other common W126 rust area is under the rear windscreen. This is also an issue in Australian delivered cars as it’s caused by rain. Rain gets under the rear window seal causing rust. The first evidence is that the rear windscreen starts delaminating at the corners.

As can be seen from the pictures, the rust has […]

450SLC Repaint part 1

My 450SLC has now spent a week at the panel beaters having rust removed and being prepared for paint.

The starting point was the chassis rail on the drivers side. This is as very common W107 rust spot.

This was welded and then painted.

From there, work moved to the boot where both sides were rusting and there was some rust starting in the spare tyre well. Again this is a very common W107 rust spot. Even Australian delivered cars that have been garaged can develop rust here.

This section was probably the worst on the […]

450SLC Rust

The big Achilles heel in the R/C107 chassis is its propensity to rust. They are pretty much bullet proof mechanically, but the rust proofing from the factory was poor and there are a lot of areas where they can and do rust, even in climates such as Australia that are not prone to it. Once the rust gets to a point, the cars are pretty much scrap.

My car is pretty rust free – but I had some rust cut out about 10 years ago. There were four places and they are all common rust points in these cars

near […]

280CE no longer a colander

Not a perfect match, but a good repair for $300 cash.

Small rust hole causes the CE to fail its blue slip

After replacing the water pump and test driving the 280CE, it was time to get it registered.

Unfortunately it failed due to a small rust hole in the body work. This is not structural, but NSW is very strict in this regard. There was also a minor leak from the power steering and minor leak from the rear muffler. All will need to be addressed.

W123 Mercedes rust here when leaves and other debris are left to sit around the bonnet hinges – they break up and fall through and you end up with wet mud that lets this […]