W124 Estate - Is this terminal?

[elebub]

Hi

1993 W124 E220TE Estate
The attached pictures are of the near side rear subframe mounting point that has rusted through. Is this terminal? This is my daughters car so I am not really up to speed on Mercs and do not know if there is a practical fix for this problem. I know my way round a MIG welder and have dealt with some pretty horrible stuff on our past and present Beemers but this doesn't look good.
Your advise would be most welcome.

Andy

 

[skymastor]

As long as any plating you put in there to replace the rusted area is in alignment with the current mounting point for the subframe and as strong as the original, then I wouldn't see any problem in welding it up back to new.

Bit of of a job, but if you think more of the car and have the kit and time to do it, then go for it.. I would...

I've welded up worse than that in the past...

Also, I'm not all that clued up with WIS or EPC, but there may be a solution that you could buy in the form of a ready made plate to replace these areas of the chassis? Maybe someone who is a bit of a ninger on these matters could comment...?

 

[Lugy]

I daresay if done properly then it should be fine. It'd take quite a lot of material removal and shaping/manufacturing IMO.

The only other thing's I'd bear in mind is that the other side might be in a similar way and is it economical to do? What is the rest of the car like? As a rough guide I work at £25/hour to decide if something is worth doing.

 

[elebub]

Thanks for the replies.
The other side is OK and the car, although tatty, has been a real gem for the three years they have owned it. Since it was GIVEN to them by a relative, who has more money than sense, three years ago they have had to spend very little on it so it has been really cheap motoring. Now its payback time - or not.

Could I get away with removing the mounting bolt, jacking the body work up away from the subframe and weld a corner piece in from a donor?

 

[Will]

Anything's fixable, but I guess it depends on what the rest of the car is like. If it's worth saving, do it. If not, there's loads of 124 estates out there so a replacement is quite possible.

It's still worth something as it stands so you could sell that one and just move along

Will

 

[elebub]

A guy on another forum asked me how I was getting on with this and it prompted me to get an album together as it might be useful and prevent other W124s from a premature end. So here it is for your general info and amusement.

I decided to fix the bracket and it cost me one M12 HT bolt, three nuts, a new rubber for the bottom plate, various Bilt-Hamber products and a month of my time. It has kept the Merc alive since December and has seen it move vast qualities of furniture across London and an MoT in July. So far so good.

Picasa Web Albums - MacBeagle - Merc W124 Sus...

 

[SilverSaloon]

thanks for the update & pics. I will be replacing my subframe mounts very shortly so those pics are useful to see what i'm dealing with. The mounts appear rot-free from what i can tell but you never know until you start digging around under there.

 

[renault12ts]

Sometimes, I am staggered by the talent displayed on this forum. Great job.

 

[Olivier]

Really impressive. Well done. I had the same on my car but as I don't have any garage I had to look for someone and found a coachwork that did it for 90 pounds. I was happy with the work too.
Again well done and thanks for sharing

 

[Druk]

That is the dogs . where did you get the tricky little vice folder in pic 15?

 

[elebub]

That is the dogs . where did you get the tricky little vice folder in pic 15?

They are called Adjustable Vice Jaw Benders from Axminster.co.uk, magnetic and very useful.

Thanks for all the kind comments.

 

[MarkJunedd]

Excellent job! I was intrigued by the plate bender as well, saves a lot of hassle i bet. Thats on my list now!

 

[Frank O' Phile]

I like updated threads, especially with a happy ending. Another 124 lives on.

Nice work elebub.

 

[elebub]

Re the vice bender - 3mm plate is pushing the envelope a bit especially on short lengths. I bent the vice handle into a nice 'S' shape using a pipe extension.

 

[ianstaley]

ingenuity is allways rewarded, what a fine job, since you have done one, clearly you time? would reduce, perhaps you could offer a service? could make a few quid. great job. Ian

 

[jaymanek]

very very neatly done... and well thought out too...