rust prevention ...

[Cees Klumper]

Now that winter is slowly approaching, what, if anything, do you do to help your Pagoda resist the cold and damp (that is, if you drive it in the winter)?

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[George Davis]

Look inside the front wheel arches.  The lower, sloped part of the rear wall is a closing panel which keeps water out of the rocker box/door sill structure.  The closing panels seal to the fenders with rubber seals.  If the car is undercoated, it may be hard to make out the details.  If there are any openings in this area, water can get into the rocker boxes and make them to rust from the inside out.  If you find large, jagged holes, it's time to worry.  The closing panels and seals on my car are new, but they did not seal to the fender completely.  I used some caulk to fill the gaps.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[France]

Cees,
You would be best off to put your hands on a product called Waxoil, a UK product.  I've never found it here in central Europe; you may have to order it.  It's often advertised in the back pages of Classic and Sports Car mag.  

It's a do-it-yourself thing, assuming you have a friend with a hoist.  We are about to tackle four of the five undersides here (obviously not the Vette) in Alsace, and we're thinking of dragging some to Florida for the E-Type and the Little Red Truck 280SL.  It's great stuff...



Trice
1968 280SL US, signal/bl leather, auto

[Ben]

As I use my car all year 'round I got under it and scrubbed the underside, and wheel houses clean. Then let it dry in the garage for a few days and undersealed the entire area, 3 coats.

After that I bought the Waxoyl home kit, which is 2.5 litres and the application spray gun. Literally pumped it into every crevice I could find.....it's still dripping out !

After that I just wash the dirt off it daily then chamois it dry and wax it every few weeks !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks for the tips. I did manage to locate the Waxoyl starter kit here in the Netherlands. I will apply it for the first time this winter, when I have the engine out. Good to know this is the product most used in Europe. With all the concerns about rust, I was curious how to prevent it rather than cure it afterwards.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic