know how to remove hood hinges on 126?

[85drtysthbenz]

as some of you know, i had an incident with my hood flying up on me...well, now im trying to get it off so i can replace it....i got the hood itself off, no problems there....but the hinges are proving to be a pain....there are 4 nuts holding the hinges to the fender...i had to remove the black plastic piece from inside the fenderwell to access them....i managed to remove the front 2 nuts, but i dont see how i can get to the two in the rear, theres some kind of apparatus blocking me and i dont see how i could get it back on if i were to remove it...its a big black cylinder that looks like its got something to do with the vacuum system, like 5 black balls stacked on top of one another....anyhow, thats where i am now...thats just the passenger side, i havent even pulled the fenderwell piece off on the drivers side....does anyone have any experience with hood hinges? i need some tips, thanks guys...

[RayG]

I had to do this job recently on my 85 300SD. The black thing that looks like a big egg crate is a vacuum reservoir. It sits on metal brackets, which attach to the vehicle with several small nuts. Look closely and you will see them. Take them off and the thing comes out really easily. You can then get to the remaining two nuts holding the hinge in.

I only had to remove the driver's side hinge. I do not know what surprised await you on the other side.

[85drtysthbenz]

i could probably get the reservoir off fairly easily, but i dont know how in the world i would be able to get it back on....i dont think i could get my hands in there to put the screws back in...i guess its just one of those " dive in and hope you get it all back together" type things

[RayG]

Did you take the front wheel off? That makes this job much easier. You should be able to reach those nuts without much trouble.

[85drtysthbenz]

yeah, its much easier with the wheel off....i just got the passenger side replaced...ill tackle the drivers side tomorrow afternoon...


maybe i should take some pics while im doing this, we could put it up in the DIY section...i know theres a lot of people out there just like me, who'd almost rather take it to someone than try it themselves...it doesnt seem to be that tough of a job so far....although we'll have to see how it lines up when i get the hood in....seems the adjustment process could be a little tedious...but so far, so good....thanks for the help, Ray

[Fisherman]

I have a friend with a 123 and he had the drivers fender off a few weeks back doing some work. Well he got it all back together and low and behold he either forgot to put the vacuum tubing back into the reservoir or the rubber connector went bad on him. He now has to pull it again to fix this problem.

Replace the rubber tubing on the reservoir before you put it back on and make sure the tubing is secure. Cheap insurance to make sure the job is finished.