Unlike most wagons, the struts on the rear tailgate of Mercedes wagons (or least on S123s and S124s) are well hidden from view within the rear ceiling.

They usually fail after a few years and is a good idea to replace both struts (on each side of the gate). When new, the struts can hold the door open without any problem.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]