Which firewall or inner-fender grommets get painted?

[johnk]

I’m a few days away from painting my engine compartment and can’t figure out which holes get painted grommets. My car doesn’t seem to have th holes that I typically see painted grommets in.  Can someone steer me in the right direction please after reviewing the pics of my car below please?

Thanks
John

[doitwright]

Have you checked the photos of restored cars on the motoring investments website. I remember the blue car notes that the body plugs get painted body color. Any grommets that have cables, wires or lines going through them do not get painted. If you need a tip to get the main wire loom through the firewall without removing connectors let me know.

[mbzse]

.../....which holes get painted grommets. My car doesn’t seem to have th holes that I typically see painted grommets in.../...

Read about the holes in the W113 body structure, and the grommets in them, here
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=20934.msg148619#msg148619

[johnk]

Thats very helpfull Hans thanks! So it is correct that ny early 1968 280sl does not have the holes in it. Also good to know ffrom Doitwright that the grommets that have cables or wires going through them stay in straight rubber. Im not going to worry about painting grommets now but can add later if I find any.

[Pawel66]

Have you checked the photos of restored cars on the motoring investments website. I remember the blue car notes that the body plugs get painted body color. Any grommets that have cables, wires or lines going through them do not get painted. If you need a tip to get the main wire loom through the firewall without removing connectors let me know.

With all due respect I would be careful taking the pictures from Motoring Investments at face value. I have seen pictures that were completely contrary to this forum's conclusions and to pictures of original cars in this forum - in terms of painted grommets and also in other aspects.

The only one I took literally from MI was that "Holy Grail" 280SL. It indeed seemed to be an original in their hands. Once the restored car are shown - I would not be 100% sure.

It is always good to cross-reference findings.

[johnk]

I agree as I have seen some restoration issues as well on their site that seemed contrary to this clubs conclusions.

[merrill]

Motoring investments has several photos,  link below

http://historic.motoringinvestments.com/MainPage.htm

click on the view our restorations and then the 280 sl restoration log

[Shvegel]

We all make mistakes and Motoring Investments is no exception.  If we try and stick to pictures of unrestored cars we will be better off in the long run.  Even the "Holy Grail" has pictures from before and after touching up that have obscured some details.  If you look at the undersides of the car the rear axle has a big swipe of blue on it before and a little dab after.  The oil pan before touch up shows the oil pan screws painted black where they are yellow cad before.  Brain from Motoring Investments was kind enough to post these pictures and continue to host them on his old site when he went to a new site so please don't think this is a criticism of him in any way.  I simply wanted to make the point that we need to be careful of where our "Knowns" come from.

Another example would be a red 1970 280SL that the Classic Center had a while back.  It was a circa 5000 mile car and very clean so in essence a perfect reference yet even on that a slight refurbishment led to a couple incorrect details like the oil fill cap being yellow cad instead of strainght Zinc (type 1) plating.  The interesting part is that more and more I see highly restored and very correct cars sporting yellow cad fill caps.  That one difference on the Classic Center can has seeped into the data stream.

I point these things out not to put myself out as an expert but only to keep reminding us to keep questioning and keep digging until we can begin to assemble a true base of knowledge.
 

[Pawel66]

Good remarks, thank you.