W116.org

Hi Guys, new to the forum, new to w116 ownership!...
I recently purchased a 280SE from Ebay, and at the time felt the vehicle was in OK condition. Sure, it needed some suspension work and had two rust spots near the antenna and on the bonnet, but apart from that ... sweet! Under 150,000ks with log books!

...then i got home

.....pulled up the carpet mats in the front

the disaster began. Water, water everywhere....

There is a fair amount of surface looking rust over the whole vehicle, it needs the rear shocks, engine mounts and steering coupling replaced, other than that the motor is awesome as is the gearbox...

What do i do? Sell to the wreckers for $500? Relist on Ebay? Buy another one and swap out the running gear? Fix it up and drive it around until the body falls totally apart?...note: it has 12 months rego...

Any comments, totally appreciated.

Hard to know without seeing it, but it doesn't sound too bad from what you say. Surface rust is easy, particularly using POR 15 paint or that new Oz equivalent which is a bit cheaper. Where is the water coming from though. A screen seal, quite cheap, firewall rust etc. not so easy.

Using cavity wax, like tectyl, should keep rust in those areas at bay. Rear shocks and engine mounts cheap enough (check out Autohaus on google) sort of depends how much you can or want to do yourself, but probably best to get someone who knows the model to check it over. They will look at all the known points for rust and then work out how hard it is to pursue.

Bit of a brief reply but hope that helps.

Thanks Craig.. i have had a few people look over and give the 'forget it'.. Strangely, there are no rust 'holes' or any actual points where it has broken through any metal, its just nasty surface type.

Awesome vehicle though, even with the dead shocks i got what it was all about on the drive home..

If anyone would like to see the vehicle, or have me whip it around to give an opinion that would be great...

Thanks for the tips as well! I figure i can definitely keep what is there at bay with fish oil and por-15, the rust around the antenna and on the bonnet has to be sorted, definitely repair the seal for the windscreen..

Sad to hear this Dan but with 12months rego and at worst you'll still get $500 back in 12months time, you've got plenty of time to enjoy it and evaluate the situation.  Water in the cabin isn't uncommon but you'll have to go round and examine just how extensive the rust is.  Is it just surface rust or are your feet going to push through the floor, that sort of thing.  Also check around the wheel wells and into the sills below the doors, see if the rust is terminal and if you can push a screwdriver handle through the metal.

Windscreen seal and door seals are major culprits to letting water in and ruining the floor carpets not to mention the ensuing rust, there's also another hidden area posted here http://forum.w116.org/interiors-and-exteriors/a-source-for-cabin-leaks/
If you've got a sunroof, that may provide a source as well.  If the rust isn't too bad and is as you say, surface rust, I'd go about replacing seals and treating and painting the rust myself.  If it needed extensive welding, then I'd be considering doing that drive around for 12months option.  If you didn't pay too much for it, all the better. 

The rear suspension - Have you got Self Levelling Rear suspension.  If you're experiencing a bouncy ride and no dampening it's most likely the spheres (accumulators, pressure cells they have a few names) need replacing.  Look here -   http://forum.w116.org/mechanicals/new-hydrospeichers-and-pendelstutze/

Feel free to post pics, we love pics but it might help to evaluate how bad the rust is and point out any further trouble spots.

Dan, send me a PM with your phone number and I'll contact you re viewing your car.