Is this OEM?

[StevenF]

I found  Gas cap and need your help determining if it is OEM--it has no box
All the reproductions I have seen have no star--that is why I am asking
BTW there are no numbers on the bottom of the piece
Please advise
Steven

[Pawel66]

Please show the key, both sides.

Most of the reproductions do not have logo. But the key and key profile will tell you the truth.

[StevenF]

what should the key show?

[alpina]

Both the gas cap and key look identical to mine, bought from MB in 2016.

[StevenF]

alpina, are there any words on the bottom of your gas cap?
Some units have words /numbers
https://www.authenticclassics.com/Chrome-Locking-Gas-Cap-late-type-p/auth-002476.htm
https://www.ebay.com/itm/195219956526

[StevenF]

Also, is the 71 supposed to be vented or unvented?

[BobH]

I've started to see some "cheaper" caps with the star logo for sale recently, i wonder if someone has started to reproduce them.  The originals normally sell for anything over £1K

If you haven't already, have a look on here

https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Fuel/LockingGasCap

Looks like there should be writing stamped on the underneath, with or without a key number

But, if the quality and price is ok, it could be a way of getting a decent cap without mortgaging the house

[Pawel66]

what should the key show?

The key will show brand and profile. Aftermarket caps keys do not have original profiles.

This cap, if authentic (and it looks authentic) is for non-one-key car, that you can tell now.

[StevenF]

These are the keys

is this OEM?
Also of note, there is no writing on the metal bottom of the cap....the OEM's I have seen always say something in German..
Please advise

[49er]

Here's my cap and key that came with my SL. Serial number on key was blurred

John

[Pawel66]

Ymos. You are showing only one side, but looks like HF7, meaning code SR, KSR or TSR. Original cap IMHO, at least cylinder and chromed crown. I am basing this on never spotting aftermarket caps with old key profiles. I can be wrong, of course, but I once spent quite some time on that.

However: the shape of the hexagonal part at the bottom is different than those on the pictures - looks like you have a round element there, missing on others. It does, however, look like aftermarket one: https://www.niemoeller.de/en/w113/w113/B043/470/d47051b-filler-cap-without-star-logo

Seems to me that the outer chrome cap and cylinder are original, the rest may be taken from aftermarket cap. Or someone made nice logo and just replaced cylinder.

I will call Steven later 

[StevenF]

based on the keys in my post, is this cap OEM?
also...I have also seen caps with the MERCEDES emblem with one ring around and this one has 2

[StevenF]

What's does my key code tell me?
do I ask the seller what the key code is?

[Pawel66]

Here's my cap and key that came with my SL. Serial number on key was blurred

John

I think your key code may start with N, KN or TN.

[Pawel66]

What's does my key code tell me?
do I ask the seller what the key code is?

Key code is important if you want to have the keys matching those your car left factory with. Then you use the codes to cut the new keys to be the same.

You can ask the seller for the key code if you care about the key matching your data card. If the key profile matches the one from data card, you may try to make the cylinder fit the key code. But I have not tried it with fuel cap, I remember reading it is difficult to dismatle the cap to extract the lock cylinder.

[BobH]

If you have a single key that fits all locks, than i don't believe you'll be able to get the cap lock reconfigured to accept a double sided key, as the actual barrel is different on the later caps, it's in the centre of the barrel, have a look on here

https://www.authenticclassics.com/Late-280SL-Chrome-Gas-Cap-Plastic-Key-Head-p/auth-002470.htm

[mnahon]

There are OEM gas caps with no markings on the bottom. See for example:
https://www.authenticclassics.com/190SL-Chrome-Locking-Gas-Cap-Vented-1955-61-p/auth-002475.htm

[StevenF]

our capa should be unvented--correct?

[49er]

I think your key code may start with N, KN or TN.

TN


John

[Pawel66]

If you have a single key that fits all locks, than i don't believe you'll be able to get the cap lock reconfigured to accept a double sided key, as the actual barrel is different on the later caps, it's in the centre of the barrel, have a look on here

https://www.authenticclassics.com/Late-280SL-Chrome-Gas-Cap-Plastic-Key-Head-p/auth-002470.htm

You would have to replace the barrel with the one with proper key profile.

[Pawel66]

There are OEM gas caps with no markings on the bottom. See for example:
https://www.authenticclassics.com/190SL-Chrome-Locking-Gas-Cap-Vented-1955-61-p/auth-002475.htm

Yes, but the construction of the parts is like on original caps - different than on the one discussed.

[Pawel66]

our capa should be unvented--correct?

Correct.

[Pawel66]

 

[StevenF]

spoke to the seller--this cap is vented

[mnahon]

Yes, but the construction of the parts is like on original caps - different than on the one discussed.

Pawel, are you referring to that round feature at the bottom of the cap? That also seems to exist on some OEM caps, for example, the one pictured below. (I'm assuming it's original, just from its weathered appearance)

My present theory about markings on the bottom is that it's marked 'Ohne Entluftung' if unvented, and unmarked if vented. And there is a key code if the cap originally came with the car, but not if the cap was sold as a replacement cap.

As far as rumours of installing a double-sided key barrel into a cap intended for a single-sided key barrel, it would be great to hear from someone who's actually done this. Generally, double-sided barrels (for doors etc) are larger diameter than single-sided ones. So for example, there's no way you can install a double-sided barrel in a door handle originally intended for single-sided key because of the differing diameters. The two-sided barrel is bigger to accommodate wafers on both sides of the key.