W210 rust: spring perches, rockers, and water-based paint

Rust is the defining W210 weak point buyers police. Commenters flag the 1997-2001 front spring perches rusting and separating from the frame, rockers/doors/fenders on non-Sun-Belt cars, and a factory paint-bonding failure caused by early water-based paint and rust under the E-coat, typically starting around the sunroof. …