Trunk floor carpeting ... ?

[LXIX SL Rookie]

I've read through most -- OK, not ALL -- of the entries concerning trunk floors, but I still have a question: were they ever factory carpeted?

Regards, Pete N., '69 280SL Rookie, eastern Maryland, USA

[thelews]

no

[JOS]

No.

[Witt]

I may be preaching to the converted here,but as you may have read in a privious post, I strongly advise against using the factory rubber mat. It traps moisture under it and promotes rusting.
That may explain the many rusted Pagoda trunk floors in a otherwise well protected space, not exposed to the elemennts.
Why not take that mat to a upholstery shop to use as a pattern and have a carpet made matching your interiour, as the PO of my Pagoda did. But stay away from rubber backed carped for the above mentioned reason.
Hope this helps !

CHEERS !
WITT !

[hkollan]

There are lots of pagodas with good original rustfree trunk floors, and
if there's an issue/leak with the trunk rubber seal, I'd rather fix that problem and leave the original rubber mats in where they belong.
As previously stated there never was and (as I see it) never should be carpets in the trunk.

[Kayvan]

No.

Though GAHH makes a square-weave 113 trunk mat; as does Coco Mats

[LXIX SL Rookie]

Thanks to you all for your helpful -- and fast -- replies!  Watch for more ingenuous queries from this Rookie ... ! ... the next of which I'm about to post as a new entry ... Regards, ...

[abe280SL]

I bought cocomats for my 73 bmw 3.0csi trunk and they look great.  I thought about doing the same for the sl but the rubber mat is holding up well.  I used rubber backing for the interiior cocomats on my three old cars because it keeps it from moving around...though they are so heavy not sure if you need the rubber backing.  On the trunk of the bmw I did not use rubber backing.  Since I live in a dry environment and my cars don't get wet  is not an issue.  That said, I have noticed that when I wash the sl it gets a little wet between the rubber mat and the trunk floor...so its a point well taken.
abe

[thelews]

www.cocomats.com

[114015]

I may be preaching to the converted here,but as you may have read in a privious post, I strongly advise against using the factory rubber mat. It traps moisture under it and promotes rusting.

Don't agree with this statement, Witt.

There is no general "need" to be moisture below the trunk mat per se. Hans ans John are right.
If you take proper care of the seals there shouldn't be moisture underneath.

However, for a daily user used heavily during rain etc. seasons you will be surprised where the water (moisture) will come from even if the seals are all correct.

But nowadays for our well-cared cars there shouldn't be a problem with that anymore. If you have/had rust issues there, remove this thoroughly, get the trunk floor correctly primed and painted. After a while wax the floor with body wax and that's it. It will keep like that if you don't use your car during rain too often or just flood it while washing.

John is fully correct about the trunk cocomat.
Use it on top of the rubber mat - to protect the original mat.

Best,
Achim

[abe280SL]

John,
You see what you did....now I have to get one for the sl.  The problem is going to be all black vs black with red like yours.
abe

[thelews]

John,
You see what you did....now I have to get one for the sl.  The problem is going to be all black vs black with red like yours.
abe

The trunk matches the car mats...

[abe280SL]

Since my interior is beige and  trunk is black I have rethink this.  I think I will go with all black in the trunk.
abe

[Mike Hughes]

The whole point of Coco Mats is to have a matched set.  Choose the color that looks best with your interior and order the trunk mat to match.  Since the trunk is black any color will look just great in there!

[Witt]

......I may have expressed myself poorly. My trunk is not leaking and I never drive the car in the rain and it is parked in a non heated garage between drives. The moisture I was revering to is caused by condensation, I belief. Changes in temperature will change the moisture in the air inside anything to water droplets. Anyone not having that problem, good on you.
I frequently have to air out my other non leaking cars during the winter for the same reason.

CHEERS !
WITT !

Don't agree with this statement, Witt.

There is no general "need" to be moisture below the trunk mat per se. Hans ans John are right.
If you take proper care of the seals there shouldn't be moisture underneath.

However, for a daily user used heavily during rain etc. seasons you will be surprised where the water (moisture) will come from even if the seals are all correct.

But nowadays for our well-cared cars there shouldn't be a problem with that anymore. If you have/had rust issues there, remove this thoroughly, get the trunk floor correctly primed and painted. After a while wax the floor with body wax and that's it. It will keep like that if you don't use your car during rain too often or just flood it while washing.

John is fully correct about the trunk cocomat.
Use it on top of the rubber mat - to protect the original mat.

Best,
Achim

[Raymond]

5 or so years ago I bought an all black trunk carpet from Bud's Benz.  It fits perfectly, and still looks like new.  It's not original, but I like it.

[gnj588d]

I say always check under floor coverings. it makes no differance what its made of once its wet it stays wet.My boot {trunk} floor is original with the rubber mat fitted from new but I check it on a regular basis

[Mike Hughes]

Earlier in this thread when I was talking about matching trunk and interior mats I couldn't locate any photos.  Problem solved, here they are:

[114015]

Mike,

I always appreciate looking at your totally original unmolested car (in the same way like John's).

By the way, I also like a lot this little softtop compartment mouse hole protection grommet in your car ... which is not factory as far as I know ... but I like it.

Do you perhaps happen to have the parts number for that one on hand?
Would like to have that one too.

Thanks a lot

Achim
(formerly with mouse nibbling remainders in trunk)

[Mike Hughes]

I can't tell you the part #, but it is the current version from M-B of the plug that covers the heater valve on the firewall - the holes are the same diameter!

[thelews]

Mike, is your carpet original?

[Mike Hughes]

No.  Everything in the interior is original except the carpeting, which was replaced in 1989.  I was there when it was replaced, even helped a little with the installation!  It is the same square weave in the same color as the original.  Funny to think about it, it is almost as old now as the original carpeting was when it was replaced!  The original M-B gray rubber trunk mat is under the coco trunk mat.

[Mike Hughes]

After a little digging in my records, the part number for the heater valve grommet that I used to plug the soft top compartment access hole was:  100 9897 0044

[thelews]

No.  Everything in the interior is original except the carpeting, which was replaced in 1989.  

I could tell from the picture.  Your seats look like they've worn like mine.  I'm thinking about possibly rebuilding the seats, but using the original covers.  I probably won't though, the seats are comfortable.

[Naj ✝︎]

After a little digging in my records, the part number for the heater valve grommet that I used to plug the soft top compartment access hole was:  100 9897 0044

Try 113 987 0044

naj