Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: Douglas on April 05, 2004, 19:12:40
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There is a tiny gasket that's almost always missing on restored Pagodas. It's on either side of the trunk lock and rests behind the chrome trim. Think of it as a continuation of the gasket that runs behind each tailight.
Make sure not to lose this gasket when your car is being painted. I believe the part is NLA from MB.
Here's an example of what is clearly a very nice Pagoda that is missing this gasket:
http://ciddennis.com/photo/gallery/280sl/Mercedes_1969_139
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260
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Doug:
Agree...that piece is missing from a lot of cars. My otherwise "perfect car" (ha) is also missing this gasket. Since it is NLA, how we can get them? maybe a junk yard or a midnight raid on a car that has them? :o)
When this Group grows large enough, we can ask MB or another to make some repros of the part so we can all sleep better at night.
Richard M
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I think the weatherstripping in your example's trunk is incorrectly installed, as well.
Bill Greffin
Chicago
#22375
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I've seen restored cars with a black sealent applied to fill the gap that's invariably left by the missing gasket. Not a perfect solution.
In most cases though, I think people just don't know anything is supposed to be there & overlook the part.
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260
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Van Dijk here in The Netherlands does list this gasket ("gasket behind trunk lock") for $4 in their parts catalog. So you can try sending them an email - if they do have it, this is one of those things that are cheap to send anywhere.
Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Cees,
Is this the small part directly associated with the lock? I think Doug was pointing out the part between the chrome and body on the chrome part that extends between the lock and the tail light assembly.
Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420
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I wasn't sure about that Rodd, wondered about that myself. I finally thought Doug meant the one underneath the lock since the other two would not really be all that 'tiny'! I can't find a listing in Van Dijk's catalog for the wide pieces underneath the long chrome strips - my car for sure does not have gaskets underneath there.
Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Rodd is correct. I'm talking about the gasket behind the long horizontal chrome pieces on either side of the trunk lock.
(I'd say only about 1 out of 10 Pagodas still has these rubber pieces.)
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260
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Is the original part# 001 987 21 25 ?
Tnx
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I checked the 250SL/280SL part book, and it shows
Number 001 997 44 51 as the part number for the strip that should run from the trunk lock to each taillight. I called Miller's to see what they had, and Kevin told me that he does not ever remember the part being available. Anyone have any sources or alternatives??
Note, there is also a listing for the gasketing around the tailights at 001 987 59 51 for the top of the light, and 001 987 44 51 for the bottom (although it is kind of hard to tell from the exploded view in the parts book).
Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto
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The rubber gaskets you refer to have not been available for some time. They were not installed on 230, 250 snd early 280SL's. I believe only 1970 and 1971 280SL's to match up with the newer style tailights with the amber lenses. It is not listed in any of the dealer parts books I have which go to 1969. A picture of it is given in the MB Museum parts book, but no part number which makes it obsolete.
Pete Lesler
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just was on ebay germany site under pagode you will find the part being offered item number is 2472113885
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Leo, great find! That's the part. Peter's observation also raises some flags. I recently saw a very ratty '69 280 SL with this part in place, so I must ask a question: Who out there has this part installed on his car and what year is your Pagoda?
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260
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I don't have this on my 230SL and I don't see it in the 230SL Spare Parts List book.
Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420
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I don't have them on my 1966 230SL, either.
- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
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They're not on my '64 either....despite having the later rear lenses fitted ! :evil:
Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor
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I have the gasket on my 1970 280 SL & I saw the same part on a red tail light '69 two weekends ago.
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260
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I have the gasket on my 1970 280 SL.
Gerard Wuisman
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Just spoke to Gernold over at SL Tech. He says he believes the gasket was installed on all W 113s. He stocks the part.
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260
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Douglas:
Is right on! I have seen many Pagoda SL missing this very thin gasket that goes on the three peices on the back of the rear end and later cars missing the same thin gasket on the taillight assembly. My question is I tried to fine a source for this gasket as it was pointed out that Mercedes-Benz no longer supplies this gasket. Does any one now of a replacement?
Bob Geco
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To clarify this conversation let me add so clarification. The early pagoda SL from 230SL to 1969 280SL all share the three peice thin gasket set that goes arounbd the trunk lock chrome and the adjacent long stright chrome peices along the right & left side if the rear below the trunk. In later 1969 when the new taillights came out included with theem was another thin gasket to match the three that where there already. You can not buy this gasket for the taillight or the other three gaskets from Mercedes as they are no longer made. You might get a new taillight thin gasket if you buy a new taillight assembly. That is the way it was explained to me.
Bob Geco
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My '63 230sl has the gasket only under the chrome trunk lock-none under the left & right chrome strip. Suppose prior owner(s) removed them or as Pete Lesler says did have them untill later 280SL's . Has anyone ordered the gaskets from Geronld at SL Tech?
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I guess this post has made us popular at SL Tech, when I talked with Gernold, he indicated that he only had a limited amount remaining. I ordered a meter of the gasket for $15 plus $5 shipping.
Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto
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Here's a devil's advocate question...
Why is this gasket important, aside from being an apparently original feature?
I can see why tail-light and trunk lock seals are important -- but not sure of the value for these sections of chrome...
James
63 230SL
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Good point, James.
And also, if the chrome strips fit fine beneath the edges of the trunk lock chrome and the tail light surround chrome, wouldn't inserting a rubber gasket make them too "tall" to fit with the other pieces?
Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420
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For what it's worth, here's what the gaskets look like in place:
Download Attachment: (http://images/icon_paperclip.gif) P1010018B.JPG (http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/douglas/20044200945_P1010018B.JPG)
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Download Attachment: (http://images/icon_paperclip.gif) P1010019B.JPG (http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/douglas/200442001127_P1010019B.JPG)
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I think it's fair to say that most chrome trim on the car originally sat on rubber and not paint. Certainly it was a barrier to moisture accummulating under the trim.
I've also noticed some cars missing the trim have an actual gap between the chrome and the body.
As they say, the gods are in the details.
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260
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Just as a note the site with the example is mine. I hope you liked the photos. They are of my friends 69 280sl. He as since sold it to another person. Also this car was rated at 90 points in an appraisal he got just before selling it.
Cid Dennis
ciddennis.com
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Now I'm really confused! People I regard as the leading experts on 113's -- Bob Geco, Pete Lesler, and Gernold Nisius -- differ as to whether the thin gaskets were on the 230SL.
My 1965 230SL, which was quite original when I got it, has the thin gasket only behind the trunk lock chrome. However, that doesn't really prove anything, as it had been painted once. As another data point, the Mercedes Classic Center in Stuttgart currently has a beautifully restored 230SL which has them behind the taillights but not behind the long chrome strips.
It does seem like a good idea to have the gaskets behind the taillights, to keep the chrome from touching the body -- even if Mercedes didn't think of that originally (which seems unlikely). However, I don't see any need for them behind the long chrome strips, except possibly cosmetic.
Chris Earnest
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Doug, I believe you are absolutely right about it being no longer available from M.B.
1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.
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Here we go again! I have owned my 250SL since 1971, Vin number 113043-010-000579. It was entirely original then and I have carefully replaced or renewed any component since then. When I purchased it and never had the small gasket material you refer to. As you see from most of the replies no 230 and 250SL's had this gasket material. I have a parts book for 250/280SL's dated January 1968 and they are not listed anywhere. I will check to see if the microfice states when they were first incorporated. We just completed Starfest 2004 judging process, and no judge deducted for a 230 or 250 not having them. We judged over thirteen 113's there. Bob Platz was the highest scoring show car with a score of 455 points out of 470. Jon Bernardi a was the highest scoring street driven car with a score of 410 out of 430 points.
Pete Lesler
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Pete Lesler's note is consistent with one I got from Gernold, in which he says the strips weren't on early cars, and were introduced with the later style tail lights beginning with VIN 010650.
Chris
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Well.......... there's a reason for everything and there's one for this one too. The early cars don't have a seal behind the chrome like the later cars but they do have seals. These early cars have a different type of seal which is behind the chrome. Since the later ones come apart for lense only replacement they used an extra seal to keep any moisture from leaking into the back and damaging the reflectors. The early system being all one piece doesn't have the same problems with water leaking in.
Daniel G Caron