A commonly missed detail on restorations

[Douglas]

For what it's worth, here's what the gaskets look like in place:

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I think it's fair to say that most chrome trim on the car originally sat on rubber and not paint. Certainly it was a barrier to moisture accummulating under the trim.

I've also noticed some cars missing the trim have an actual gap between the chrome and the body.

As they say, the gods are in the details.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[n/a]

Just as a note the site with the example is mine. I hope you liked the photos. They are of my friends 69 280sl. He as since sold it to another person.  Also this car was rated at 90 points in an appraisal he got just before selling it.  


Cid Dennis
ciddennis.com

[gugel]

Now I'm really confused!  People I regard as the leading experts on 113's -- Bob Geco, Pete Lesler, and Gernold Nisius -- differ as to whether the thin gaskets were on the 230SL.  

My 1965 230SL, which was quite original when I got it, has the thin gasket only behind the trunk lock chrome.  However, that doesn't really prove anything, as it had been painted once.  As another data point, the Mercedes Classic Center in Stuttgart currently has a beautifully restored 230SL which has them behind the taillights but not behind the long chrome strips.

It does seem like a good idea to have the gaskets behind the taillights, to keep the chrome from touching the body -- even if Mercedes didn't think of that originally (which seems unlikely).  However, I don't see any need for them behind the long chrome strips, except possibly cosmetic.

Chris Earnest

[hauser]

Doug, I believe you are absolutely right about it being no longer available from M.B.

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[W113SL]

Here we go again!  I have owned my 250SL since 1971, Vin number 113043-010-000579. It was entirely original then and I have carefully replaced or renewed any component since then. When I purchased it and never had the small gasket material you refer to.  As you see from most of the replies no 230 and 250SL's had this gasket material.  I have a parts book for 250/280SL's dated January 1968 and they are not listed anywhere.  I will check to see if the microfice states when they were first incorporated.  We just completed Starfest 2004 judging process, and no judge deducted for a 230 or 250 not having them.  We judged over thirteen 113's there.  Bob Platz was the highest scoring show car with a score of 455 points out of 470.  Jon Bernardi a was the highest scoring street driven car with a score of 410 out of 430 points.

Pete Lesler

[gugel]

Pete Lesler's note is consistent with one I got from Gernold, in which he says the strips weren't on early cars, and were introduced with the later style tail lights beginning with VIN 010650.  

Chris

[Benz Dr.]

Well.......... there's a reason for everything and there's one for this one too. The early cars don't have a seal behind the chrome like the later cars but they do have seals. These early cars have a different type of seal which is behind the chrome. Since the later ones come apart for lense only replacement they used an extra seal to keep any moisture from leaking into the back and damaging the reflectors. The early system being all one piece doesn't have the same problems with water leaking in.

Daniel G Caron