Quiz time

[stickandrudderman]

I know some of you are obsessed with detail.....
Who knows what this small hole in the inner rear panel is for.

[mbzse]

Note: (before you rush out to look in the trunk of your own SL) This was only present on early 230 SL's

[mrfatboy]

I will take a wild guess and say it has to do with the strap that ties down luggage. 🤔

[Aaron h]

Was it for the plastic holder that holds the wheel alignment tool? 

[Charles 230SL]

hmmm, clip for lug-wrench? I don't think it was for the strap tie as it's further to the center

[Charles 230SL]

well, looks like I flunked the quiz (0%) and Aaron got a 100%; its where the clip for the alignment tool used to be mounted (I've got my lug wrench in the wrong clip)

[stickandrudderman]

Aaron is the winner! This hole is absent from the rear panels that Mercedes supply now.

[PeterW113]

I assume that’s because the wrench and alignment tool on later cars are stored in the Tyre cover?

Peter

[Pawel66]

I would have thought that movement of spare wheel made this location odd for tools. Also: it is much cheaper, I think, to sew a slot for lug wrench in the spare wheel cover and just drop the alignment tool inside the tool bag then have brackets for them - and this is where it went eventually. As far as I could see on the pictures the amount of brackets in the new spare wheel location was reduced over time and lug wrench went from the floor to the spare wheel cover. Just my theory...

[Aaron h]

Yay!  haha.  I got something right.   

[Jonny B]

The wheel alignment tool was discontinued after 280 SL VIN 5912. Per Engelen book, list published in PW 25

[Pawel66]

Extra savings...