really esoteric correctness question.

[Shvegel]

I am getting ready to re-assemble my front suspension and I have a question I hope someone can help me with?  I am wondering if anyone knows if the bolts and bendable lock plates that attach the upper control arms to the front axle carrier are painted black when the car leaves the factory?  It appears that the front suspension was painted in sections with the rubber seals on the control  arms, the small brake lines on the steering knuckles and the attaching bolts for those lines all painted black but I can't figure out if it was painted in one piece and the springs installed at the lower control arm junction to the front carrier with only the lower control arm to carrier bolts being unpainted or is it painted in three sections with both the upper and lower control arm attaching bolts left unpainted? 

[Scottcorvette]

Not a conclusive answer I know but mine looked pretty unmessed with in that respect and they are clearly unpainted in this photo, with a yellow cad finish.

[Shvegel]

Scott,
Thanks for the response.  That picture was a lot of hours ago.

[mbzse]

.../... someone put your lower control arm bolts in [from below].  According to the Big Blue Book they drop in from the top

That "someone" was the factory. Due to matters in production assembly, the M10 bolts were mounted from below.
When loosened during garage work, M-B prescribes just as you write that these bolts should be mounted from above, with nut down.

[Shvegel]

Mbzse,
You are absolutely right. I looked at a bunch of front axles and they were all nut on the bottom but I went to the "Holy Grail" at Motoring Investments and they are installed with the nuts up.   

[Benz Dr.]

MB does everything for a reason. Sometimes it can take years to lean why they did something a certain way but there is always a  reason.