Mercedes-Benz Hood Badge...

[mdsalemi]

Here's one to think about...

At PUB, someone pointed out/asked me why some cars had the 3-point star MB Hood (bonnet) badge, and others did not.  I have no idea.

Did all cars come with them and some chose to leave them off?  Did they get forgotten/neglected in restorations or repaints?  There were plenty of cars with them and without them as well.

[hauser]

I always thought if the star was on the grill a badge would be on the hood.

[Jonny B]

Not exactly sure what you mean Mike. The sport models (loosely interpreted I think) would have only the badge on the hood and not the stand up star. As Hauser says, I also think they would have the big star in the middle of the grill. Or do you mean some that had no star ornament at all?

[Dash808]

Sounds like he is only referring to the flat 3 pt. badge on the hood.   And that some have it and some don't.

Seems strange that so many wouldn't have it.  Do I see a poll in the future?

[bogeyman]

Mike - I have owned/collected these cars for 30+ years.  To my knowledge, the hood (bonnet) badge came on all SL models since the first 300SL in 1954.  I don't know why there were so many missing at PUB.  I checked ebay and out of 30 cars listed, only 1 had the badge missing.  It does look a little sleeker without, so maybe that is why they were removed.

[66andBlue]

No badge? That is a pity - if not a travesty!  

[mdsalemi]

Not exactly sure what you mean Mike. The sport models (loosely interpreted I think) would have only the badge on the hood and not the stand up star. As Hauser says, I also think they would have the big star in the middle of the grill. Or do you mean some that had no star ornament at all?

Jonny,

I'm only referring to W113's of course, not any other model.  I'm referring to the badge on the hood only, as well.  Alfred posted a great picture of the badge as viewed through the grill star.

I never noticed but there were enough cars at PUB missing the hood badge that someone asked me about it at PUB, and I was at a loss: I had not even noticed.  But when I started looking...

[114015]

Michael, Jonny & Fellows,

I am with Rick;
all 113s had the badge on the hood factory mounted.
If not something is wrong here. In that case check carefully the underside of the hood, most likely there is some filler in the holes but perhaps those are barely visible.
Even the new hoods have already the two holes for the badge, so that can't be an excuse.
Thus, if its missing, someone removed it (while painting, restoring).

Personally I guess it's the same as with the horizontal brass chrome strips behind the rear fenders' wheel arches; if they are missing someone took them actively off and was too lazy to put them back after the very common rust repair in that area.

There is only one solution to this problem: get it.
Part number 113 817 00 16 "Firmenzeichen" or "Emblem"

http://teile.mercedes-benz-classic.com/parts-cc/en/result.jsp?locale=en&a=search&partno=A113817&x=27&y=12


Good luck,

Achim
(parts & knowledge collector)

[hauser]

Is the badge NLA?

[66andBlue]

No, SLS sells it and several eBay vendors, someone in Hongkong (I believe) sells replicas.
Quality compared to the old ones may be an issue.

[mdsalemi]

Well, I agree with Achim!  Only one solution, if you don't have it, get it.

When my car got its new hood and new paint job in the restoration, a NEW badge is the only thing that worked.  Besides, the junkyard hood I had, had it missing. I have one and am probably glad I don't need another knowing how prices are these days... :'(

Of course it would be someone piping up "well during the production run from April through June of 1965, the badges were not mounted on cars destined for the European market" or something like that..." to put us all to shame.

[114015]

Michael (and others),

As to my knowledge the hood star (emblem) is still available.
The website listed above (daimlerwithoutchrysler.com) clearly says it's still available.

Designation     EMBLEM
Part number    A1138170016
Price excl. VAT    28,89 Euro
Price incl. 19% VAT    34,38 Euro
Status    available

Might be around $$ 40.00 or so in the States. Not cheap but still affordable.

As to my humble knowledge all W113s had this badge - at least all 230ies. Maybe some foreign special versions (police version for Tahiti or so) came without but generally the four (of a total of six) original period Mercedes 113 spare part lists don't mention that - this would be part of any (weird) "special equipment" five-digit-code.
 

Best,
Achim

[Shvegel]

I am sure someone knows more about this than I but I am pretty  sure the original metal enameled badge is NLA(no longer available). The replacement is plastic with painted blue recesses. When my car headed off to be restored 3 years ago I bought one of the originals on ebay.

[Cees Klumper]

I bought a new one a couple of years ago, from Van Dijk in Holland. SLS also lists it as available on their website, at a price of EUR 35. So getting a good quality one should not be a problem.

The only plausible answer to the question why so many 113's visiting Blacklick this year had no badge on the hood seems to be that there just happened to be a lot of ex-Tahiti police cars in attendance ....