Suitable Replacement For NLA Right Side Heater Hose Through Firewall Grommet?

Started by Squiggle Dog, 16 May 2018, 02:34 PM

Squiggle Dog

I'm finding many parts for the W116 are no longer available. Is there a suitable replacement for the firewall grommet part number 1169970481 at the right side heater hose coming from heater core outlet to the servo/return pipe?


The firewall hole is 42mm, the heater hose is about 23mm, and the inner grommet hole needs to point downward. This grommet looks identical to the one on each side where the heater core pipes come through the inner firewall (1169970081), except those fit a 38mm hole and have an 18mm opening in the center. Perhaps a new one would expand enough to fit, but I am skeptical, plus it may be more prone to cracking due to the tension.

I found part number 1079971581. Mbclassics.de says it fits a 42mm hole and has an 11mm hole in the center. Its intended purpose is with a fuel injection wire loom. But, it appears that it will work if I cut off some of the sections. https://www.mbclassics.de/Gummituelle-42-11-45-107-116


To make things complicated, Theslshop.com says that it fits a 25mm hole and has an 18mm center hole. I highly suspect that this is an error as the proportions don't add up. The center hole would not look so tiny as 18mm is 3/4 as large as 25mm. https://www.theslshop.com/mercedes-benz-107-sl-slc-fuel-injection-loom-angled-grommet-18-25mm-pre-09-85-1079971581.html

Ckamila has a heater case thread and I think he mentioned using a 113 part number and making the inner hole larger to fit? https://forum.w116.org/mechanicals/acc-overhaul-heater-box-evaporator-removal/
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

ptashek

Quote from: Squiggle Dog on 16 May 2018, 02:34 PM
I'm finding many parts for the W116 are no longer available. Is there a suitable replacement for the firewall grommet part number 1169970481 at the right side heater hose coming from heater core outlet to the servo/return pipe?

Tough luck SD, I'm afraid. These were NLA at MB for at least 3-4 years now. I haven't found a suitable replacement, but that 107 part you've posted looks promising!

Also NLA is A1169970081, which sits nearby. I have an unverified/unprinted 3D model made for it.  If anyone's stuck you can grab it from my Fusion 360 account: https://a360.co/2Kx9rTs.
I'm replicating rubber stuff from my parts stash in 3D, but it takes countless hours to get right, so progress is rather glacial.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

Squiggle Dog

I think I found a suitable replacement! Part number 1169971381 is a wire harness grommet going through the fuse box. It fits a 42mm hole, has a somewhat downward angle, has about 16mm opening (which can be cut back to better fit the 23mm hose), and doesn't have seams like the 107 part number I had considered.

Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

nathan

Squiggle, im pretty sure these are still available. I learnt this after I bought the new parts from the SL shop in the UK a few months ago.
I posted about it before'
https://forum.w116.org/interiors-and-exteriors/passenger-side-firewall-rust-source-identifying/
regards
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

Squiggle Dog

I wonder what The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center does when it's restoring cars for clients and can't come up with the grommets? I guess they just reuse the old grommets even if they're cracked.

Here's another NLA part; 1169961681. It's the firewall grommet with the vacuum lines running through it. Mine's in fairly good condition, but a bit dry and has some small splits at the lines.


The closest match I could find was from a W107 (part number 0089971781), but I have a feeling it would be much too small and doesn't have as large of a lip on it.


But, Palm Beach Classics states it was used on the W116... maybe it's worth trying. Worst case scenario, I guess I'll add sealant to my old grommet.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

Squiggle Dog

Ptashek, I wish you luck in your quest to reproduce these grommets. So many of these are odd shapes that you can't just buy from a restoration supplier.

Nathan, were you able to obtain part number 1169970481?
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

ptashek

Quote from: Squiggle Dog on 16 May 2018, 05:31 PM
I wonder what The Mercedes-Benz Classic Center does when it's restoring cars for clients and can't come up with the grommets? I guess they just reuse the old grommets even if they're cracked.

They have their own exclusive parts stash, or make small re-manufacturing runs if the car justifies the expense. This is why some NLA parts re-appear and disappear just as quick from the catalogue.

Quote
Here's another NLA part; 1169961681. It's the firewall grommet with the vacuum lines running through it. Mine's in fairly good condition, but a bit dry and has some small splits at the lines.

I've a 3D model for that one too. I'll post a link later.

EDIT: Here's the link - https://a360.co/2k736Ty
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

Squiggle Dog

Ugh... I placed an order with Mercedes and nine items are no longer available, which include:

1. 1169970081 Seals around the cowl drains at firewall
2. 1165013682 Lower radiator hose (seriously?)
3. 1169971481 Grommet for auxiliary fuse box wiring at main fuse box
4. 1169971081 Grommet for wiper motor wire harness
5. 1078210097 Vacuum line ducting at front doors
6. 1169972281 Grommet for control into heater case
7. 1168350098 Foam at top lip of blower motor case
8. 1169971381 Grommet for main wire harness at fuse box, could double as heater core exit hose firewall grommet
9. 1165001275 Hose between bottom of coolant expansion tank and bottom of radiator

I guess I'll have to go aftermarket on the lower radiator hose and use the hose at the bottom of the expansion tank a little longer. It seems these grommets aren't happening, so I suppose the course of action left is to smear sealant all over them. It's too bad the W116 didn't use simpler, generic hose and grommet shapes with greater interchangeability between chassis types.

I've spent all day trying to find suitable alternatives for the parts that aren't available, but at this point in history it seems we must resort to wire and duct tape to keep our cars on the road as parts availability is failing. Even aftermarket parts availability is scarce. It makes me worry for the future of having this car as my only transportation.

Quote from: ptashek on 17 May 2018, 03:23 AM
They have their own exclusive parts stash, or make small re-manufacturing runs if the car justifies the expense. This is why some NLA parts re-appear and disappear just as quick from the catalogue.

That doesn't surprise me. I say we grab our torches and pitchforks and plunder their booty!
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

Squiggle Dog

Quote from: Squiggle Dog on 16 May 2018, 03:33 PM
I think I found a suitable replacement! Part number 1169971381 is a wire harness grommet going through the fuse box. It fits a 42mm hole, has a somewhat downward angle, has about 16mm opening (which can be cut back to better fit the 23mm hose), and doesn't have seams like the 107 part number I had considered.



Disregard the above--they are no longer available.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

ptashek

Quote3. 1169971481 Grommet for auxiliary fuse box wiring at main fuse box -
8. 1169971381 Grommet for main wire harness at fuse box, could double as heater core exit hose firewall grommet

These two cost a whopping total of $2.35 three years ago, and I've only bought one of each!
Who'd thought something this cheap to manufacture would go NLA...
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

Squiggle Dog

Quote from: Squiggle Dog on 16 May 2018, 02:34 PM
I found part number 1079971581. Mbclassics.de says it fits a 42mm hole and has an 11mm hole in the center. Its intended purpose is with a fuel injection wire loom. But, it appears that it will work if I cut off some of the sections. https://www.mbclassics.de/Gummituelle-42-11-45-107-116


This part is also no longer available, but it seems it can be purchased aftermarket through various parts sites.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

Squiggle Dog

I was curious as to whether the W123 and W126 diesels use a lower radiator hose compatible with the W116 diesel; if so, I was going to order a genuine Mercedes W123 lower radiator hose. The W116 is a different part number and seems to be longer. I picked up a Gates 20700 hose from O'Reilly, which they say fits my cars and many others, including W123 and W126, Ford Pinto, Mercury, Fiat, etc.. It seems close enough to work (and no need to cut it--though W123 owners have reported needing to cut theirs to fit).



The hose is going to have to conform a bit, but hopefully it works, because the options are either it or URO. Actually, AutoZone has a Dayco brand C70705 which interchanges with the Gates hose, so that's another option, though the shape and dimensions are likely no closer to the shape of the W116 hose than the Gates version.

The hose's inner diameter looks smaller than the original, but hopefully it stretches.


I haven't fit the hose on the car yet because I haven't drained the cooling system. The hose I used for reference is a spare. Even though you can't really tell from the pictures, the rubber on the old spare hose is hard and cracking.

I think Gates hoses are supposed to be made in the USA, correct? This one says "MADE IN" and then the country of origin is rubbed off. Hopefully they aren't making them in China or something. If so, I probably would have been better off just buying the URO hose that actually fits.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

Type17

When I was involved in restoring Mercedes a few years ago, we used to source alternatives to any NLA W113 (Pagoda) grommets from these guys:


They're not bad quality, and they're mostly cheap enough to order speculatively, to see if they might be a fit for a W116 application. The chart at the top of [size=78%]the webpage allows you to search for grommets with specific internal & external diameters.[/size]


https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/mercedes-w111-w108-w114-/98-rubbergrommets-sorted-by-design


'76 350SE in Silver-Green

Squiggle Dog

Quote from: Type17 on 18 May 2018, 02:11 PM
When I was involved in restoring Mercedes a few years ago, we used to source alternatives to any NLA W113 (Pagoda) grommets from these guys:


They're not bad quality, and they're mostly cheap enough to order speculatively, to see if they might be a fit for a W116 application. The chart at the top of [size=78%]the webpage allows you to search for grommets with specific internal & external diameters.[/size]


https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/mercedes-w111-w108-w114-/98-rubbergrommets-sorted-by-design

Thanks for that! Any leads help.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

ptashek

I think one of the former MB of Poole (UK) classic guys has good contacts with SLS.
If you find something of interest SD, I can try reaching out to him directly via the MB Club UK with possible questions.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE