Wow can't believe this, thought a South Africa car would not rust. I looked at 4 cars here in wet Ireland, all ex UK where they salt the roads in winter, and never seen anything so bad. I've actually had all the beading off my coupe and it's fine, also inspected the doors and the rear windows on the inside. Another important dain to check is the sunroof ones.

V good video. Moisture is a killer. I have 1985 300d TD. I have never driven in rain, and keep polished and stays in garage. Still looks like It came of the showroom, when new. These cars are legendary cars, but moisture kills them.

Wow,thanks for sharing! I'll definitely do the hosepipe test on all beadings and check the bonnet hinge areas. Then drive my 1981 200 afterwards. Greetings from Johannesburg

Thanks, very helpful, (W123 owner)

Hey Keyan! Great info, thanks! Even up here in Joburg I find these issues especially in the bonnet hinge furrow! One can also remove the plastic cover in the front wheel arches and clean there. I found a heap of sand and spider nests on my 82 123! Luckily no rust!

Amazing rust for South Africa since I thought it was drier there. My two W123 California cars have almost no rust. The only places I've found rust is at the bottom middle of the rear windscreen (common) and the bottom of the trunk side pockets where a prior owner let a water level sit due to clogged drain holes. I think water got in the trunk from the first issue. But, no rust-thru, just surface rust which cleaned up. Rather than spend months repairing such rusted sheet metal, seems better to buy a CA/AZ car and pay $1K to have it shipped east in the U.S.

Very interesting and helpful. Thank you. Scary though! I remember the few W123's that I bought from Upington and surrounds, all had the rear window rust trouble. Although very reliable, Tin worm is their biggest enemy.

Great video but now i dont dare look at a lot of places on my 123...

Great info on w123 rust.👍

Very helpful insight

Great video. I'm going to check out a 300D this weekend. Has been sitting in a dry garage since 1990, ever since the husband died. At least now I know what the points to inspect are.

Thank you

In a constant battle trying to clean out clogged drain holes, wonder why they made them so small.

I also take care keep it covered in rain water proof cover

Very informative! Greetings from the UK. Would be useful if you could do a similar walkthrough for the /8 chassis as well.

Интересное видео. Очень жаль что данные автомобили находятся в плачевном состоянии. Я также владелец 123 и 124 Мерседесов в оригинале и в очень хорошем состоянии, также выкладываю видео на своем канале о них. Вам спасибо за видео, мой лайк и подписка.

do you have a decent w123 rear bumper corner?

Excellent video and this is alarming, I understand the drain holes under the hood hinges, and the wheel wells, but how can a vehicle rust so badly like this??? You continue to mention "dirt and sand" May you or someone else clarify, I don't understand how dirt can create rust. Or do you mean that the dirt and sand contain salt residue? I understand wet dirt "mud" getting caked up in places and staying wet for too long, further the "mud" is what cakes up and dries, which clogs up the water channels designed to drain water out of the vehicle. If so I get that. Thanks

Rust rooking 👀