Distributor cover ?

[Cees Klumper]

The distributor, including the wires, can be covered with some sort of hard plastic cap/boot/cover. My car does not have it, just like most W113's I've ever seen. Anyone know whether there is a real added value to fitting one of these? What sort of problems have happened without this present?

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Naj ✝︎]

Cees,
I thought it was a cover for preventing dust/moisture in the distributor but its description id ' suppressor housing'.
There's one for the coil too!
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[ja17]

Hello Cees and Naj,
I can shed some light on the subject. Mercedes published a service bulletin in June 1969.
It goes on to say "due to increased use of rock salt on highways during winter"......can cause start certain starting problems such as ignition cross-firing due to the formation of moisture and salt residue.

One measure taken to help the situation was the protective coverings added to the distributor inside and out, and the coil cover.

I do not know if these were added to all W113 cars after this time, or if they were added to the cars going to colder climates or certain countries.

My documentation goes on to explain that when the distributor boot is installed the ignition wires must be routed under the fuel injecion lines instead of on top. There are occasional glimpses of these "boots" in the BBB like on page 00-1/2 (fig.00-1/3).

In any case, these are somewhat rare these days since they are often removed and lost over the years. View the three piece set below.

Download Attachment: ignition covers 1.jpg
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Download Attachment: ignition covers 2.jpg
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The early version which is most correct for the W113 cars has the rarer metal snaps. The later version (Possibly after W113 production)had plastic snaps.

These covers are good waterproofing for owners who like to wash down their engines.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Naj ✝︎]

Thanks for that Joe.
I fitted new covers but I think the distributor cover is not as deep as the old one with metal snaps.
The internal cover is the most difficult to find (unless you have a source)!! May I have the part numbers off the items please. Couldn't read them off the pictures.
From what you say, it seems that the HT leads are normally routed above the fuel lines?? :twisted:
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[W14]

Hi Cees,

I think in your case, where you use your car a lot in "real world" driving in a wet climate, it would be worthwhile to have the distributor cover.  If you drive through a deep puddle on a wet day and get the distributor wet, it's easy to stall the engine, or cause severe missing.

Will W14
1965 230SL 4spd
Victoria,BC

[isofast]

On their website I see Millers sells distributor cover for $8.95 it is Miller part number 208-054 I have nothing to do with Millers just my .02 cents. Also I would get 1000K OHM spark wire's that come off the distributor end at a 90 degree angle so that the cap/boot fits snug! Bigbaboo (Robert) sells Beru wire sets that are very nice and come with the 90 Degree end at distributor. Again not an advertisement just have had good luck with both outfits. Miller's also sells the loom that snaps on to the fuel injection linkage framework. I will attache a picture when I have more time. For a complete stock (OEM) look you can go to NAPA and get black shrink wrap (large) that you can slip all six plug wires through so that the first three inches or so out of the distributor boot is this black heat shrink. Keeps your wires from getting grease oil and antifrezze should anything spring a leak and keeps things looking tidy like it was when it came from the factory. I have seen some low mile roadsters with this look. I am going to post a picture of a detailed engine compartment in my next post.

First Place AACA Show Winner 350SL July 2003
I love low mile Mercedes.
1969 280 4spd Papyrus White

[isofast]

Here is a picture of distributor boot installed.

Download Attachment: erniesengineweb.gif
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First Place AACA Show Winner 350SL July 2003
I love low mile Mercedes.
1969 280 4spd Papyrus White

[ja17]

Hello Naj,
Here are the part numbers you asked for; distributor cover (metal snap type) is Bosch #1 235 510 000 MB # 000 158 0685, The coil cover (plastic snap type) Manufacturer #SP 1331 MB #000 158 1485, internal point cover Bosch #1 230 500 094 (no MB #).

I appears the early injected engines without the distributor boot, had the spark plug cables routed above the metal injection lines. I can't say for certain. Later engines with the boot definately had the spark plug cables routed below the metal injection lines.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Cees Klumper]

I am guessing the reason the spark plug wires need to be routed underneath the FI lines is so that they angle out correctly from the distributor boot. If they would be routed over the FI lines, this means water could travel along them, into the boot. To prevent this, they need to exit downward from the boot and this may not happen if they are routed over the lines. If you don't have the boot (like I do but I may get one of these since I do drive in the -sometimes heavy- rain, like I did last Friday) then I don't see why the leads would have to be routed underneath the FI lines.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Naj ✝︎]

Thanks for the numbers, Joe

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL