another cadmium question

[John Betsch - "SADIE"]

I have seen many engines, specifically mid-run 230sl's that have cadmium or equivalent plated various parts of their engine bay.  Other than the three bolts on the manifold and the injection lines, can anyone of the experts out there "definitely" list what should or should not be plated once and for all.

There are numerous opinions and restorers that have plated what they feel  is "correct" I want to pin it down once and for everyone's benefit

jb

[mdsalemi]

Pete Lesler posted this photo many years back of an engine bay, original.

[Jonny B]

Just be a little cautious about the posted photo. That is from the first 280 SL sales brochure. There are some details missing (sticker on the coolant tank for example) and there were other changes during the run of the 280 SLs. There are changes listed in Pagoda World 25.

It is still a great reference.

[FGN59]

I am struck by the color (and maybe material) of the pipe running between the brake booster and the air intake. Seems to be black rubber or rubber-like as opposed to the whitish hard plastic I have seen in all other cars or pictures of cars. Does anyone know more about it?

[cfm65@me.com]

François,
I have a steel wire, reinforced, black rubber pipe, as seen in your picture, on my 67 250SL. However, I seem to recall that I have also seen the white/transparent plastic pipe you mention. If I remember correctly, it could have been on a very late 280SL, which I owned many years ago.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

[mrfatboy]

The white tubing was used on later 280sl’s.  You can check pagoda notes for changes by date and vin. I believe it was around July 69.

[FGN59]

Thank you both for your input.

My car (late 1968 280 SL VIN 6581) is equipped with the white plastic tubing, which I find (this is very personal and subjective) ugly. A black tube would be less noticeable. I’ll look into Pagoda Notes and see what I can do to switch to black tubing.

[114015]

Hello Francois,

Well, I think (without checking the numbers now),
your car should still have the early type brake booster vaccum hose, the black fabric-coated one.
Depends mainly on the question which intake manifold you have, early or late.
Early ones like shown on the factory picture of the 1267 sales brochure (that's the pic which Michael has attached) have got the early black fabric-coated vaccuum hose.


Best,
Achim

[mdsalemi]

The white tubing was used on later 280sl’s.  You can check pagoda notes for changes by date and vin. I believe it was around July 69.

This is just one of many changes made by MB, making "improved" (or less costly) but functionally identical parts. They were not only done through the production run, but also long after as well. Some involve suppliers, some MB itself.

For example: formerly plated parts supplied painted; metal relay cans now with plastic shrouds/covers, changes in various hoses and more.

[Benz Dr.]

This is just one of many changes made by MB, making "improved" (or less costly) but functionally identical parts. They were not only done through the production run, but also long after as well. Some involve suppliers, some MB itself.

For example: formerly plated parts supplied painted; metal relay cans now with plastic shrouds/covers, changes in various hoses and more.

Try sending it back by calling it the wrong part and see what happens. I guess a changed part isn't a wrong one, eh?

[mdsalemi]

Try sending it back by calling it the wrong part and see what happens. I guess a changed part isn't a wrong one, eh?

I have a little experience in this.

The first I remember was when ordering a new door pull for my passenger door. The original door pull was in bamboo, and I had changed the interior from MB-Tex bamboo color to black leather. The original for a 280SL has chrome plated end caps that are fully symmetrical and cover the mounting hardware.  The REPLACEMENT from MB had asymmetrical chrome caps, clearly one was contoured to wrap around a door handle, so it was probably for a sedan.

The second was an official data tag. Let's just say it had issues.

Both were returned without question. I think for anyone who has dealt with the Classic Center knows they are very accommodating and friendly. For the former, instead of new we found a very, very good used one on eBay or something. For the latter, let's just say I went with a reproduction from a clandestine source.

I also did buy the automatic transmission filler tube, and that was painted black instead of cadmium plated. So, we had that stripped and plated. Had we been able to find a good used one it would have needed plating anyway.

Most of the time there is a way out and you just have to be resourceful.