1983 Mercedes Benz W123 280CE Restoration | Part 4 | Removing The Rust

Get 30% off a Shop Manual for Your Car: click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/c... (Available for Most Makes and Models)
In this episode of Restore It, James and I remove most of the parts from the engine bay as well as the front seats, dashboard, and carpet, so we're able to carry out the welding work required on the front windscreen.
I then spend a day taking all of the spots of rust around the car back to bare metal with a grinder. I also cut a few large pieces out and made changes to the original plan because of how bad the rust was.
I'm sure some of you are thinking I'm taking on too much at once. But don't worry, I'm in the process of finding help in the workshop. So if you are interested in working at Restore It, please email me at [e-mail], thanks!
Thanks for watching. Subscribe for more!
#restoration #W123 #timelapse
Tools & equipment used:
Quartz Lacquer - goo.gl/8PTVKM
Base Coat Paint - goo.gl/mWhufG
Rust Remover - goo.gl/13gopW
Rohr 250 Welder - bit.ly/33mkOGP
U-Pol Weld Through Primer #2 - bit.ly/2qL38ak
Fast Mover 1kW Infrared Paint Dryer, Stand, Timer - bit.ly/2WYR9jJ
Workbenches - arborgardensolutions.co.uk
Moldex Full Face Mask - goo.gl/NNYGrv
FGL 5 Spray gun - goo.gl/Acg5rd
A.N.I. R150-T Mini Spray gun - goo.gl/cHTJS2
Colad Washable Overalls - goo.gl/3Css9E
Colad Mixing Cups - goo.gl/8DYmE8
Colad TurboMix Sticks - goo.gl/cYZfks
Colad Synthetic Paint Strainers - goo.gl/H79ZgL
Steel wire bits - geni.us/keyaD
Blasting Cabinet - bit.ly/2GxvKJ7
Blasting pot - bit.ly/32TMnrU
Cordless Ratchet - bit.ly/30YNlkG
Parts Washer - bit.ly/2K5G9wA
Rotary Tool - geni.us/HGed
Concentrate Degreaser - geni.us/yUn9
Mannesmann Socket Set - geni.us/HCDZ
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[@karlh6700]

"Grinding and paint make me the welder I ain't!" Splendid job so far.

[@RestoreIt]

And filler! Cheers Karl!

[@joebrodie]

The rust doctor is in! If I was the owner, then I’d be happy to know that you are working on it and doing a proper job.

[@RestoreIt]

Thank you Joe :)

[@tombeverley1]

You'd want to be an owner with deep pockets!

[@4WheelBuilds]

That foam and rags really sum up some of the work that goes into cars out there. Being an owner of a car going in for restoration I'd be glad it's in your hands

[@d-anger-noodle]

I would trust you 100% with my vehicle

[@daedalus_20v]

It's rare to find a car this old that still has the original expanding foam and rags in the sills. What a time capsule!

[@cujocujo]

The sounds of the cutting wheels sped up reminds me of the last time I went to the dentist…

[@Filippulya]

"As long as you're learning you're not failing" - Bob Ross

[@aserta]

"Now, beat the devil out of it." - Also, Bob Ross. :)

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

I’ve been doing a lot of learning lately

[@jimspackman8527]

I thought I knew most of Mercedes great innovations but the Structural T-Shirt was a new one for me!

[@RestoreIt]

Bloody genius. BMW didn't have a clue...

[@dot7107]

I have also seen 2x4", sheet metal screws and fiberglass bondo...

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

So glad you restored the commentary to enable us to fully enjoy your great skills.

[@kylerugg2354]

@Restore It we have a tool for that(1:30), called and impact driver or impact screw driver. its a bulky looking screw driver that you set in the head then smack with a hammer. there's a series of springs inside that convert all the downward pressure to lateral turning force and break them loose. it can get out even super striped heads. plus the down ward smack keeps the tool in perfect contact for the split second of turning.

[@RestoreIt]

Hey Kyle, I actually have one but its been broken for ages. I need to replace it really.

[@addisondiesel]

Thank you for recording all of that terrific work! It is wonderful to get to see the cars inner construction beyond the jack points. Looking forward to the next episode!

[@TheDaf95xf]

It made perfect sense for the customer to replace those rotten sills 👍🏻 It also gave you some extra work learning to remove them 🤩 Keep the good work up buddy 😀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@michaelskinner896]

Great episode with lots of content! It just amazes me how many hacks there are when it comes to "repair". I still can't believe what you pulled out of that arch.

[@cormacjordan7173]

Outstanding work. The state of those replacement arches was beyond ridiculous - i was aghast!

[@MetalRestorationBho]

Great my friend! This is a masterpiece. Congratulation from Vietnam.😉👍🍺

[@ehartzable]

Fabulous work! You inspired me to try a small project -- I disassembled my 240D throttle linkage, did wire wheel, adjusting, grease, snapped back together, etc. I'm concerned that if I keep watching you, I'm going to remove my fenders and see what's lurking...maybe I have boots and a raincoat stuffed in there 🤣

[@broomad]

Great progress - really enjoying this series. Will hopefully learn a lot along the way, especially in relation to tackling the welding. Many thanks !!

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks broomad!

[@noexpensespentstudios]

One of the welding tips I was given for patches like the one you did - nice job, btw, especially on such a visible repair - was to put round corners in to avoid burn through. Make use of the round edges the drill holes give you and join the dots without squaring them off. It really helps lots to avoid small points if you can. Looking forward to seeing the project progress. Those bent panels are pretty shocking too.

[@JGV_IX]

Not gonna lie - I was getting some current day Titanic vibes from those rusted sills 🫣 Great job fixing it up!

[@Pedro5antos_]

That's a lot of work. Congrats mate, I know this car will turn out awesomely

[@Thiago5993]

Dude, you guys did an awesome job!! Must be a hard work, but the results will be great!! You should be proud!!! Cheers from Sao Paulo, Brazil!!

[@dillanmistry]

Ill be back after exams, ill have lots of great content to watch. Great work

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Dillan and good luck!

I love watching this channel, so satisfying.

[@RestoreIt]

Glad to hear it Taner!

[@houseofno]

One suggestion: you can use stainless steel tape for both temporary repairs and to use as a template to shape the repair. It's inexpensive, strong, and very easy to cut and shape. Hope this helps. Great job and keep up the great work!

[@DashDrones]

Your welding at 18:30 was brilliant 👍

[@jayinmi3706]

Wow. The woodgrain pieces in that car are better than just about any other Benz I've ever worked on...and there have been a few.

[@vijayantgovender2045]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful videos your welding is very good I am from South Africa

[@mceajc]

Wow, your skills and knowledge have increased so much over the years! Glad to see the enthusiasm, care and attention to detail have stayed consistently high. Superb stuff. Edited to ask: do you know what the original underseal is - it seems like pretty tough stuff!

[@Lumithell]

So satisfying to watch, mine needs this stuff to I want to do it myself, hope I will have the time and courage to do it Thanks for you’re work wish you all best

[@manoelguilherme265]

Working on my food truck and watching this episode. Very good. Hugs from Brasil.

[@DaleDix]

I fixed the glovebox by hitting it with a hammer and it was very satisfying. Given what some of the cars have put you through, I think that's a quote for a workshop sign or merch one day.

[@rachidmessaoudi7339]

You are a big boss my friend you work is just amazing

[@coolissimo69]

Great mate a new episode, your soldering skills are improving , given the time you will do great dimes with soldering. Awesome video as always, all the best.

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks dude! I think I'll give the sills a go myself you know :) Cheers mate.

[@coregamer8053]

Vous faites un travail de restauration magnifique et dans les règles de l’art. Vous même êtes-vous mécanicien de métier ? Nous pouvons vous féliciter de votre travail méticuleux. Super boulot 👍👍👍

[@EnriqueLopez-hb5jn]

Congratulations, you are doing an awesome restorarion👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@pamed76]

I like what you’re doing. Chapeau!! (My 126 had to go through the same.)

[@TimDaCorgi]

What a great video! Cheers mate from the state of Pennsylvania, USA

[@Perception_]

Respect for doing this kind of work. Personally I'm just done with rust, and feel it's just worse than the devil lol

[@SirWolf67]

Thought you were gonna pull a rabbit next out of that sill , great work , lovin the content.

[@lglg4151]

Great job...from Argentina with respect...

[@dazt103]

Really enjoying this channel. Great work 👍

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Pheonix :)

I wish the video was 5 hours long ✌🏻✌🏻 keep up the good work ❤

[@RestoreIt]

Mate I would die in the making of that haha. Cheers though!

@@RestoreIt haha I wish I could help but I'm living in Turkey 😂 Great effort tho. cheers

[@wajidkhan.therestorespecia247]

Perfection at its peak

[@St.Maurice]

Incredible work!!!!!!

[@michaelpietnik9001]

Awesome episode mate! Maybe you can look into a sand blast gun for the rust spot. Keep up the great work

[@coolwaterdvr]

That was so satisfying to watch. 👍

[@williamlee7371]

The tea towel and gloves just made my day

[@pascaljeske7307]

Very good Video Love it and Love what you do ❤️👍❤️

[@BEUSA42]

Excellent video

[@formanwillis4330]

Do it right attitude is what I like to see. More video's please. :)

[@kieranmann9761]

Rust never sleeps!!

[@RestoreIt]

haha true

[@aserta]

2:01 TIP: take a punch that fits inside, but is also stout, and at 45 to the head of the bolt, give it a whack. Repeat for all orientations of the Phillips flower (or from all cardinal points). This helps loosen the thread, doesn't always work, sometimes it's so rusty, there's no cigar, but it's a good way to get the pesky ones out at least. PS your welding skills have skyrocketed from when you showed the first example. Excellent patch. You can help the cooling time by having one of those loufa sponges dipped in water, and putting it over the welds every few moments to cool it down. Speeds up the process quite a bit.

[@Nicholas10101]

Awesome job.

[@cranno99]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@waseemsalem6086]

your work is very nice

[@Narwaro]

That grey stuff is called elephant skin in German and its amazing how much Mercedes used (and uses) - often still holding together cars even if all the metal turned to rust. Its some strong stuff, unlike rags and foam :D

[@DoughnutsInspace]

Wonder what cowboy worked on this car before,? For a second I thought you were a magician pulling out all those rags and foam.

[@remnl]

love the channel keep up the good work small tip use some weld thru primer so you work last longer

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Remco!

[@karroome]

Damn, 22min went by in a second👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers Karroome!

[@VSB83]

Them rags!!! Goodness! Talk about about cowboys! Keep up the great work guys!

[@Duvelz]

i love this series!!!

[@RestoreIt]

Glad to hear it!

[@anormaldegenerateiam9432]

Love your vids mate, you got me into cars

[@RestoreIt]

Glad to hear it! Cheers mate

[@anormaldegenerateiam9432]

@@RestoreIt Cheers

[@maxnugteren4837]

Always nice to have a video remind me of the musquitos in my room! Jk it’s still as good a vid as always, keep up the good work!

[@joeygaming2987]

You do a really good job

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Joey!

[@Bri-tg6xr]

Wow-what a job! Too bad about those wheel arches, wow were they crushed.

[@tomswindler64]

Great video 😎😎😎👍👍👍

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers Tom!

[@izsaratova]

I highly recommend you to try nylon sanding disc to remove paint and rust. It do amaizing result.

Titanic work! :o I am amazed!

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Dan!

[@bobjoncas2814]

...lookin' good, nice job, keep safe...

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers Bob!

[@georgimihalkov4781]

Great work as always! Now do you see yourself switching from old BMWs to old Mercs? 😄

[@BOKOLIS76]

That mercedes brown colour is so nice

[@mozartcarclassics]

Love the way you‘re Removing the old sills.

[@nitt3rz]

I think your welding was pretty dam good; it sounded like frying, which is good.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Is that whole car made of body filler and foam? Gosh, I can't believe all that stuff in the front corner. You would never have known by looking at the car. Judging by your past work, this should end up beautiful. I really hope the customer is satisfied and all your work pays off. 😊👍

[@guadalupesanchezherrera5670]

Esperaré con ansiedad a ver cómo reparas la chapa. Ánimo...

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers!

[@sonyhk3824]

Great job guys 👍 💯

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers Sony!

[@sonyhk3824]

Cheers man 👍

[@pocaofamilia]

Boa tarde Jesus te ama muito você é tua família abraço tamos juntos 😍😍😍

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks :D

[@RoderickSpoke]

Incredible using foam , you see it regularly on restorations. guess it’s the only way cowboys get work quote cheap - for a good reason. Cheap is always the most expensive option ! Well done 👍 this car will live again.

[@andrewedwards6548]

Always puts a smile on my facing seeing you've uploaded :) 👍 Aso for those tough bolts use an impact driver from teng tools. Quality tool Teng Tools ID506

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Andrew :)

[@dagobertkrikelin1587]

You are a car Jebus - saving cars from damnation!

[@RestoreIt]

Myabe one day! haha

[@dariusciegis1991]

Respect ✊

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers Darius!

[@stanley4290]

Looks mint, you should've kept those rags for future generations xd

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks! I still have them don't worry :D Going straight back in the car! That's how it done right?

[@stanley4290]

@@RestoreIt thats how they do that around here

[@stanley4290]

at least in some not autorised repair shops deep in poland

[@sibendrachanam6590]

Upload next part also... very interesting

[@dmdm8018]

I am baffled how you remember where every parts goes back to. Even with a video recording to help.

[@reviewaccount469]

Man, I wish you were here in the US so I could send you projects. I am working on removing just a wiring harness and that alone is taking me days while I'm losing patience. Forget even having a clue how to put it back in.

[@RestoreIt]

Haha I feel your pain man

[@BEUSA42]

You are like a best dentist removing cavity 🦷 form a tooth

[@leedress2187]

nice work so far. maybe that oscillating tool would help removing the sills.

[@ulmanito5237]

Suuuuuuper made

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers!

[@infernalGotYou]

Don’t forget what they say: a grinder and paint make me the welder I ain’t😁

[@maxadrian]

O.K. I'm no welding pro but I finally read the manual for my mig and found out that the pressure I was using for my gas was way too low. After I reset it I was able to get nice flat coins over lapping. I put them in one at a time along a seam. You might try checking for the recommended pressure and make sure you are right on. From one amateur to another good luck.

[@bcjbmw]

Great work what’s going on with the 325is

[@horstszibulski19]

That stuffing with rags, gloves and foam reminded me of my Uncle who repaired his Audi 60 with chickenwire, newspapers and lots of "bondo", back in the 70's...achieved Tüv (german MOT) with that... :-D What happenend to the replacement arches, did they stomped them into a too small box for shipping?? Thx for the update! :-D

[@BH.22.]

I love your videos, totally informative and nicely paced. But I keep on asking myself: Who can pay this amount of worktime? That must cost a fortune for the owner ... imho cheaper to buy a W123 in perfect/better condition (even in UK).

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks! And some people just love their car i guess... Who knows :)

[@XenonG]

I forgot what those are called, but there's these sprayable coatings that are used on wheeled vehicles that go on/near sea waters. And when the coating is removed to redo them the cars are usually pristine under the coating even years after. Why don't people use those on salted roads?

[@RestoreIt]

I'll see if I can find what you're talking about cheers Xenon

[@graemefisher2487]

Get yourself a knotted wire wheel for the angle grinder. Removing rust and underseal without taking away good metal.

[@jamescross2229]

Great video. How is the firewall area under the battery tray? I went through the ball-ache on my 230CE because there was a massively bodged hole, right next to where the anti roll back mount is Out came the dash and all the AC gear in order to not set the whole lot on fire! I also had massive holes in the floor, under the beams where the seats mount. Question - where did you get the replacement panels from? I`m quite keen to get some front wings , and possibly a some floor panels.

[@jayinmi3706]

I don't know if you've seen it, but Soup Classic Motoring (YT channel) made a bunch of repairs to (I think) a W123 Sedan. He made a lot of his own patch panels.

[@bastogne315]

Love the 1970s pathe voice.

[@RestoreIt]

I didn't know such thing existed haha, thanks!

[@leskokromplitz584]

Excellent work! What brands of parts you've bought? (and details' numers please)

[@adelkheir]

May I ask where did you get the replacement sills and arches from ? And are these factory Mercedes or aftermarket ones.

[@philen]

Stucks screws like on the latch for the bonnet - try brake fluid (not brake clean) it is very penetrating and will unstuck most without torch or drilling out.

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers Philen, I'll give that a go next time

[@philen]

@@RestoreIt cheers mate! Great job on the 123! For great welding tips, check out fitzees channel. He really knows how to do stuff and i wished i’ve come across his channel before i fixed the rust on my w123 and s123. The w123 had to have the complete floor rewelded because of the rust that builds under the rubber coating. If you need to remove it use a heat gun and spatula. Best regards!

[@philen]

The 123 has most of the time the most rust on the floor pans, especially behind the front seats. It is always hidden so you need to remove the rubber coating to see it and it is really messy as you say. Of all the 20+ 123s i’ve seen everyone of them have had rust there even of they look mint.

[@jironmeister]

Dual struts on the front frame only comes on cars with AC, to hold the condenser fan.