Help in identifying this short pipe and purpose

[Sept]

I'm looking for some help in identifying the purpose of this metal and rubber tube as I want to replace it, well the clamps and the rubber portion at least. There is a photo attached with the posting. It's located above and to the aft of the alternator and seems to take flow from the radiator system into the bottom of the air intake. I sent a photo and question to the MB Classics center in California but they didn't identify it saying the engine compartment of the 280 SL's was rather busy.

The car is a '71 280 SL

[ja17]

Looks like the location where the "y" pipe was.  Need some more photos of the engine compartment to completely solve the mystery.

[Sept]

Here's another photo from a little further away showing the engine compartment.  This hose in question is about the "bb" in rubber.  If you are facing the car from the front it's on the left side of the engine above the alternator and it's connected to the air intake system.  The metal tube is corroded but could probably be cleaned up, the lower rubber portion (hard to see) is not in great shape someone has replaced the upper rubber that's connected into the air intake system.

[Naj ✝︎]

Sept,

I think the hose you are looking for is # 359 in the picture.
I believe it is the feed to the heater matrix.

Part # depends on engine #.

114 203 0082 for engine # 130 983 12 <008387
114 203 0182 for engine # > 008388

[Sept]

Thank you Naj.  The metal tube associated with this section does have the off-shoot section (not 90 deg) so I believe we have narrowed it down.  My car has an SE engine (block) designation..I've read this was most likely a factory replacement.  Thus I don't have an engine number where it should be on the left side of the motor.  The space where a number tag would be is blank on this car. Luckily I should be able to replace the rubber tube section and clean up the metal.

[Jonny B]

The parts diagram shows the water pipe around the air intake, and that is the earlier configuration. The later car air intake fitting as shown in the picture in question is a later car. I have posted a picture of my car (later 280 SL) with the same configuration as you indicate for the mystery piece. The "y pipe" two fittings orient to head to the air intake pipe, to the right of the car. The hose from the single pipe on the y pipe is a goofy thing that is different sized on each end, the larger going to the thermostat fitting and the smaller to the single end of the y pipe.

The diagram is a little disorienting. Part 151 is on the left side of the engine and is the later style configuration for the water hose to the heater. The ypipe, although shown adjacent to 151 in the drawing is really on the other side by the air filter housing.
(Part 145 is the earlier style pod that houses the thermo time switch on the earlier engines.)

Hose 359 (with the part numbers as Naj has listed) connects to the water pipe on the air intake housing.

[Sept]

Yes mine looks like yours with the split pipe coming from the thermostat leading to the smaller one I asked about.