Coolant Expansion Tank

[Ed Cave]

The biggest problem with a nicely detailed engine bay is the unrestorable discolored plastic component or two that now stick out like a sore thumb.

The capsule shaped, coolant expansion tank presents that problem for me and that is where I'm looking to you all for help. My car, being a 1971, has the plastic tank which I assume was once white, rather than the rust brown color it is today. I've found a replacement from MB, a mere $556, [:0] but am not in the mood take it up the tailpipe as I obviously would if I paid that much for a simple plastic part that makes a replacement sunvisor look cheap. I've looked around at some of the parts suppliers websites but see no indication that these are available from them.

So here are my questions. Does anyone know:

 :?:   If it is possible to restore one of these to like new condition? (doubtful)
 :?:   If it is possible to purchase a new one for a reasonable price?
 :?:   If the earlier black ones are available?
 :?:   If the black (steel I assume?) ones are considered 'accepted'    substitutes on a '71 model and is that a good, logical solution?

OR

[:0]  Is this the color it is supposed to be?


All other thoughts and ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks very much.
 


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Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0

[erickmarciano]

my late 71 is metal not plastic

[Douglas]

You can definitely find an older black one out there used and easily restore it.

Personally, I know the plastic ones are rare and "correct" and all on a late-model car, but like so many things, it's just one of the ways these cars were cheapened over time. I prefer the old brass "football." Besides, when it starts to leak, you can have its seams repaired, unlike a plastic reservoir.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[erickmarciano]

i guess i got the wrong one???

[A Dalton]

Plastic should be production after Aug of 1970.
 The metal football was started with start of 250sl production.
 They were painted black, but  are brass.

[TR]

Interesting points here.

My '71 280SL also has the black painted brass football expansion tank...not plastic.

But this raises a question.  My 280SL has always been registered as a '71.  However, the tab in the driver's door area, and the VIN, indicate the car was produced in July 1970.  My MB people here tell me that anything MB makes after June is always listed as the following year model.  I've always been told, and all the documents indicate, the car is a '71 model.  But is it really if it was produced in July 1970?

Tom in Boise

[A Dalton]

There are production numbers and delivery numbers .. USA cars usually use delivery , as do some Euro. This can be seen on Data card dates.
 As far as part changes and production changes/mods , they use production date and/or serial #.
 Thats why you have a brass tank.
 I have seen threads on this go forever...some use the date the car actually gets registered , even if its actual production date was a year off....
 I have a friend who swears he has a '70 250sl...

[gwuisman]

My car is built in october 1970 and has a black tank. It is nicely restored.

Gerard Wuisman
1970 280sl

[hauser]

Ed, so sorry but you have to get rid of that plastic tank.  With a freshly detailed engine this thing going to stick out like a sore thumb.  Go with brass and save some cash!

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Ben]

Isnt there a product specifically for cleaning up white plastic containers ?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Ed Cave]

Thanks to all for good response and information to my questions. I suspect I will replace the plastic one with a brass one, painted black and use the money I save for something truly worthwhile, like maybe leather interior  

And, for what its worth, my '71 with the plastic tank was built in September of 1970. The original window sticker confirms it is a 1971 model.

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0

[Kenneth Gear]

My 71 280Sl was also built in sept of 1970 and has the plastic tank which looks exactly like yours?


Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red

[Klaus]

Tom wrote:
<<But this raises a question. My 280SL has always been registered as a '71. However, the tab in the driver's door area, and the VIN, indicate the car was produced in July 1970. My MB people here tell me that anything MB makes after June is always listed as the following year model. I've always been told, and all the documents indicate, the car is a '71 model. But is it really if it was produced in July 1970?>>
Tom, if your car is a US version, was originally retailed on or after October 1, 1970 and has a serial number of ...018506 or higher, it is a US model year 1971.

Klaus
1969 280 SL

[norton]

My 71 built in early Nov. 1970(xxx22425) has the brass tank? Dont know if it's OG or not.    could there have been a problem with the plastic tank, and Mercedes went back to the brass, or maybe they where just using up old stock.

[TR]

Klaus -- Yes, it's a US version and my serial number is 019298, so I guess the car really is a '71.

I've wondered about this for the longest time.  Thanks.

Tom in Boise

[bpossel]

Ed,

My car is registered as a 1971, production of June 1970, in service date of October 1970.  It has the brass tank.  When I bought the car in June, the black paint was still partly on the tank.  I cleaned off the black that remained, and it is now displayed in all brass.

Bob

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bpossel
Memphis, TN.
1971 280SL
1997 E320

[erickmarciano]

my car # 023654 was built in jan 71 and the metal tank looks original

[A Dalton]

This is a perfect example of what we always see when there is a crono on a change after a certain date or ser. #.  The explanation always seem to be that no one is really sure if they have the original part or not [ in most cases], but I see this so much that I would think that the production change is made at the specified date, but anything on the line gets what parts are left in stock on the line from the  previous order..so, if the factory gets an order to change the coolant tanks to plastic, they may get that order on a certain date , but more than likely , the cars coming down the line still get the previous part til they run out and then go to the new change.
 I doubt they throw out the brass tanks and start using the new plastic ones, but rather keep running the line til the old ones are gone/used up and then replacement starts..
 This may not be the case where there is a faulty part/design change,
as they would definately want to correct this immediately and discard the previous part.
This may/would explain why documents tell us after such and such a date , we are supposed to see plastic tanks, yet  10 guys after date post they have the earlier brass ones.
Always been a mystery to me...

?

[Mike Hughes]

I'd like to hijack this thread to ask about what seems to be a common stress crack that occurs in the same place on just about every 230SL round, flat style tank that I have seen.  It appears on the top edge of the tank body adjacent to but below the raised square section where a label was placed and is usually about 1/4 inch long, parallel to the raised edge of the square section.  Looking at the tank from the front this would be at about six o'clock.  I have had both of the tanks that I own repaired (soldered - they're afraid to braize there to avoid warping the tank!) at least twice and the repair only lasts for a few hundred miles.  Any ideas?

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Ed Cave]

Based on the responses to this posting, it almost seems like they switched from brass to plastic and then either decided it was a bad idea or found another box of brass ones sitting around. [:0]

Gerard's car (built 10/70) and Norton's car (built 11/70) both have brass tanks but mine and kgear's (both 09/70) have plastic. If everyone has their dates and numbers correct, they went from being brass to plastic and back to brass again.

As Dalton suggested, this is just the kind of stuff that keeps us Pagoda Detectives on our toes.

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0

[Bob G ✝︎]

Ed.
My friend has a 1971 280SL and also has the plastic expansion tank. I read all the post here about the switch from brass to plastic and then back again. There was a nice brass tank orginal on Ebay that I missed. I donot know if you can get a new brass expansion tank from Mercedes-Benz any more. But considering the restoration work you put into you car ,If it were mine I would buy a new expansion tank and call it part of the cost of restoring the car.
I consider the fact that you can still get this part a amazing!

Sincerely
Bob Geco

[A Dalton]

quote:Originally posted by Mike Hughes

I'd like to hijack this thread to ask about what seems to be a common stress crack that occurs in the same place on just about every 230SL round, flat style tank that I have seen.  It appears on the top edge of the tank body adjacent to but below the raised square section where a label was placed and is usually about 1/4 inch long, parallel to the raised edge of the square section.  Looking at the tank from the front this would be at about six o'clock.  I have had both of the tanks that I own repaired (soldered - they're afraid to braize there to avoid warping the tank!) at least twice and the repair only lasts for a few hundred miles.  Any ideas?

 Use 95/5 solder .. Very strong for stress joints were low temps
have to be used.

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Tom]

Ed,

My car was built 9/70 and came with a plastic tank-at least at the date I purchased the car.  It now has a metal tank, which I installed due to my preference for the black metal tank.  

I would not rely on findings that suggest metal tanks were used by the factory after the factory switched to plastic.  It was likely converted ("molested"?) based on owner preference or due to failure of the plastic tank, requiring a replacement with the more abundant metal tank.

Best,

Tom


1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)

[A Dalton]

<<I would not rely on findings that suggest metal tanks were used by the factory after the factory switched to plastic. It was likely converted ("molested"?) based on owner preference or due to failure of the plastic tank, requiring a replacement with the more abundant metal tank.>>
 One would assume that until you get a couple of post ,as we always do, that come from Original owners that dis-prove that. That was the whole point of my post.
And so, the mystery........

[Tom]

Sorry...missed the point.

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
1970 280sl Deep Red (Project Car)