What gas cap should I have

[south280]

Hi,  I have a 1968 280sl, what would have been the original gas cap?  chrome nonlocking type or chrome locking type  Thanks 

[Vander]

Chrome locking with the ridged edge, and the Star logo on it.

[south280]

Thanks

[chuckywoody]

What about a 1970 280sl? Mine is currently non chrome non locking
Thanks

[Vander]

What about a 1970 280sl? Mine is currently non chrome non locking
Thanks

Same. It should look like this

[MikeSimon]

I have always wondered about that. The gas cap on my car, a later 1971, is not chrome. It is the original cap, working with the same single key as all other locks. Was the chrome an option or a country-specific item?

[Pawel66]

What I could check was that as of chassis 113044 0 10356 part number for the cap was A 000 471 47 30 regardless of market (it was with lock).

[Vander]

I have always wondered about that. The gas cap on my car, a later 1971, is not chrome. It is the original cap, working with the same single key as all other locks. Was the chrome an option or a country-specific item?

Are you sure that is the original? Someone could have it had it re-keyed. I just had a gas cap re-keyed yesterday. It looks like it is out of a W108 or W109. MB did not spend the money having those chromed as they were hidden by a door flap behind the license plate.

[114015]

Are you sure that is the original? Someone could have it had it re-keyed. I just had a gas cap re-keyed yesterday. It looks like it is out of a W108 or W109. MB did not spend the money having those chromed as they were hidden by a door flap behind the license plate.

Michael,

Yours is clearly a sedan's gas cap, not a Pagoda gas cap. 

There have always been only the two gas caps for the Pagoda, which Pawel and Pat mentioned:

A000 471 2030 - chromed, unvented, one-sided key
A000 472 4730 - chromed, unvented, two-sided key (only 280 from VIN #010356 onwards).

Since it is almost impossible to find a late one (~4730) you can instead polish yours.
Will come out very nicely, will look classic and period correct. 

Best,

Achim

[MikeSimon]

The reason I thought it was original, the car was never restored. I am only the 3rd owner and I bought the car in 1982 and the one key I have work on the cap.
Sure, a lot of things could have happened in 12 years of its life.

[Pawel66]

Stolen or lost, owner bought non expensive one, re-keyed at the corner key shop - there you go...

Back to the point raised earlier, about being able to pull out the key in unlocked position - I would risk a statement that you are less likely to lose your gas cup when the key is in, i.e. leaving it on the gas pump...

[specracer]

I really want the correct cap for my 70 (dual sided key), but I'm too cheap

[john.mancini]

Mike, my late 69 280SL had the same gas cap. I bought the car from the original owner 20 years ago with only 35,000 documented miles on it. He was adamant that the gas cap was original and was on the car when he bought it new. Shortly after I bought the car I showed some pics to Gernhold Nisius. Gernhold told me back then that yes, the gas cap was original to the car. Never gave it any thought until I read this thread.

[1000nutsnbolts]

Looking at the Vander 2/3 - where would I but that gas cap?

[MikeSimon]

Mike, my late 69 280SL had the same gas cap. I bought the car from the original owner 20 years ago with only 35,000 documented miles on it. He was adamant that the gas cap was original and was on the car when he bought it new. Shortly after I bought the car I showed some pics to Gernhold Nisius. Gernhold told me back then that yes, the gas cap was original to the car. Never gave it any thought until I read this thread.

Thanks John. Knowing that my car did not go through certain changes that were not documented, I tend to be back to "original". Maybe it is one of these things that happened at the plant where MB used whatever they had at the time. I also don't think any of the previous owners were 'cheap" and replaced the original chrome cap with an unsightly plain one, especially if they had to re-key it.
The cylinder head on my car is very unique also. Have not had anybody confirming their car has the same and it isn't even listed in the Tech Manual. Although it is definitely original "SL" and original to the car. Bottom line - I don't think we all know for sure what was 'original" and what was not.

[john.mancini]

I have to agree with you Mike. We've got a wealth of great information but we really don't know every little detail or the circumstances that were occurring back when our cars were being assembled and built.
John

[MikeSimon]

Just another example of the unknown. Here is another one in chrome, but it has the shape of the one on my car. Rechromed? Original? From another model and rekeyed?

[larryled]

I have one as pictured by Mike, with key, and it must be from a later model because the outer part of the key has molded plastic, 113s didn’t have that; I think I’m correct!  I’ve  owned two 113s, they each had the “ribbed” Chrome type w/Star, but never gave the Cap a second thought, good discussion!  But just a thought, some of us seem to get so intent on “being original” that we sometimes let more attractive things pass us by, as in the gas cap, and how can anyone deny that the Chrome one doesn’t look better on the Pagoda!  I can assure you that the Chrome Cap was available at the dealer, if not standard equipment.  No rules broken there!  Another example of of so called “original”/non-original discussion is the fender trim standard on the W112, 300SE Cpe/Cab, and a dealer installed option on the W111’s.  .  The 230SL in the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart has the same Fender Trim, gorgeous!    LLLL

[Pawel66]

Another thought: is it easy to insert your palm and unscrew the gas cap in cars where it is located behind the flap? Is there enough space? My point is: is it possible that the caps with additional tabs were for cars where access to the cap was behind the flap, somewhat more difficult than in the Pagoda?

I would guess if both types fit each others filler neck and were available at the same time, with the one with tabs being more popular - interchanging was very likely. More on the dealer side, I would say than on factory side. In the factory there was also the key set question - at certain time you could not just use another cap as they master key would not fit.

[MikeSimon]

I own one motorcycle for which "original" is an ongoing discussion for over a decade. Different brand suspension components, carbon fibre parts and other little things vary from bike to bike from the same year. That is what prompted my comment for "they used what was available".
Especially towards the end of the model run, certain parts bins were likely empty and replacements were not ordered, rather other parts that fit were used.
There is one motorcycle manufacturer who has an interesting part-number system: the first five digits identify the part (e.g. brake caliper) the next three digit identify the model where this part was first used and the last three digits call out part variations, e.g. color or part vendor. Two parts that vary in the last three digits are completely interchangeable.

[johnk]

I have always wondered about that. The gas cap on my car, a later 1971, is not chrome. It is the original cap, working with the same single key as all other locks. Was the chrome an option or a country-specific item?

Mine has the same dull finish as mikes but the shape seems correct. I am guessing it’s not original as I found pieces of the original cap in my gas tank. I was trying to take it apart to have it chromed but I see that a magnet won’t stick to it. I will try polishing it but not too certain that will help much.

[J. Huber]

Hello. So is the correct one for the earlier Pagodas still available?

"A000 471 2030 - chromed, unvented, one-sided key"... it was last time I checked about 10 years ago (just waking up from the sticker shock!!!) Cannot imagine it has gone down in price?

James

[Pawel66]

The system says NLA for A000 471 2030.

This PN was for 113044 until chassis  0 10356. It replaced A 000 471 21 30.

[TJMart]

The single sided key gas cap non original can be found at: https://www.authenticclassics.com/Chrome-Locking-Gas-Cap-late-type-REP-p/auth-007655.htm or
Original single sided key at https://www.authenticclassics.com/Chrome-Locking-Gas-Cap-late-type-p/auth-002476.htm

They also have the double sided key cap but I don't believe this cap was original to your 1968 for a bargain price of $646.25.