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The myth of the aluminum trunk lid

Started by Casey, 12 March 2012, 09:46 PM

Casey

So I've always heard that 300SD's have aluminum trunk lids.  The other day I got a magnet and found that this is not true of either of my 300SD's.  Yesterday I was at a junk yard and found out that 280SE's also have aluminum hoods, so I bought it up.  It also had a steel trunk lid.  Don't know if that's true of all 280's but thought that might be a useful tidbit for someone.  And if somebody's got proof of a W116 aluminum trunk lid, I'd love to see it.

Mforcer

This is very interesting and the argument for non-aluminum trunk lids was that the panel was replaced at some point but I doubt that would be the case for so many cars, especially when they shouldn't rust. But a damaged aluminum panel may be too difficult (hard?) to repair and so be replaced with the regular steel panel.

Perhaps they were just aluminum hoods and not trunk lids. Perhaps the trunk lid isn't large enough that the weight different would be worth the effort of more unique panels.

I also suspect that the 280 had its hood replaced for an aluminum panel as I don't believe it would be original.
Michael
1977 450SE [Brilliant Red]
2006 B200

arman

W116's are too light in the back-end but could be somewhat lighter in front. It doesn't seem logical for MB engineers to decide to make the trunk of less weight. IMO that is.
1974 W116 450 SEL 340.000km
Black exterior (040), olive green velours interior (966)
[url="http://gallery.w116.org/v/show_room/Armans450sel/"]http://gallery.w116.org/v/show_room/Armans450sel/[/url]

Squiggle Dog

My 1980 300SD has an aluminum trunk lid. It's not magnetic and felt very light when closing until I added the reflective triangle. It also has an aluminum hood.

However, the last three 300SDs I have owned (2 1979s and an early 1980) all had steel trunk lids and aluminum hoods. I've heard it said that all 300SDs were made with aluminum trunk lids, however, I have seen many in person and so far only my current 300SD has one made of aluminum.
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+

Casey

Quote from: Squiggle Dog on 13 March 2012, 02:53 AM
My 1980 300SD has an aluminum trunk lid. It's not magnetic and felt very light when closing until I added the reflective triangle.
Hmm...  I've got four triangles in two different versions that fit.  The difference is in the base of the triangle, the "feet".  The metal on one type is sturdy but not overly thick/heavy, whereas the other type has feet bars at least a quarter inch thick and I figured they must be designed to retain the triangle's position in very windy situations.  I've used the lighter one in some significant wind on the side of a busy interstate though, and it worked fine.  Not sure that makes much difference but maybe the weight is the reason behind the two different versions?

I guess I'll keep keeping an eye out for aluminum trunk lids...

1980sdga


Big_Richard

#6
.

1980sdga

#7
I believe the last 116 off the line was a 300SD  8)  Not sure if it means anything but neither of mine have sunroofs (Rooves  ???) and both have  aluminum boots.

Squiggle Dog

I have a theory that only mid to late production 1980 300SDs have aluminum trunk lids, which happened at about the time they halted production of sunroofs unless specially ordered. It is rare to find a 1980 model with a sunroof.
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+

Casey

Quote from: Squiggle Dog on 13 March 2012, 08:25 PM
I have a theory that only mid to late production 1980 300SDs have aluminum trunk lids, which happened at about the time they halted production of sunroofs unless specially ordered. It is rare to find a 1980 model with a sunroof.

Why did they stop the sunroofs? My 1980 has sunroof, steel trunk lid, and no EGR. But also no manual idle adjustment like the '79. It's #18181.

bgiovan

My '79 has an aluminum hood and steel trunk.  Squigg, my '80 SD had a sunroof.  I have all the panels off that one in storage and pretty sure both deck lids were aluminum.

Tonight's query is to find out what parts/work I will need to do to put euro bumpers on my '79.  Why I came to the 'org in the first place tonight.  Still trying to decide on what color to paint my car.  Got a complete black leather interior.  Getting tired of the parchment, especially here in winter.  It shows everything! 

Thinking triple black with period correct BBS rims.

Squiggle Dog

If the car has no EGR, then it would most likely be pre-sunroof delete era. I think all 1980 model year 300SDs were supposed to have EGRs, but some early non-EGR ones slipped through. Sunroofs add weight to the car, so that's one reason so many 1980 model year 300SDs didn't have a sunroof plus an aluminum trunk lid.

It seems that every time I talk to an ex-Mercedes employee about my car they tell me that my 1980 shouldn't have a sunroof because they stopped production of them for that year because of the added weight, unless you insisted on one.
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 in a predicament because I wanted a Walnut Brown 300SD with a sunroof. Unfortunately, that color was not available in 1978 or 1979, but a sunroof on a 1980 is rare. Finding a Walnut Brown one with a sunroof was going to be next to impossible. Every time I found one in the rare Walnut Brown color it was a 1980 model year with no sunroof. I finally settled on a 1980 with a sunroof that was originally Walnut Brown, but had been repainted black. Eventually it will painted Walnut Brown again. I thought I would never find a Walnut Brown 300SD with a sunroof! Sadly, I got stuck with an EGR system.
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

Supposedly early in 1980 the standards for fuel and emissions were once again raised, so they made the trunk lid aluminum, had to make as many without sunroofs as possible, and added an EGR system.
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+

Casey

EGR is easy to remove - you just need new manifolds from a non-EGR version. I've got those for my 200D and will be removing it's EGR really soon...