The false bulkhead - trough area is a danger zone.

#1. Clean under the fuse box and master cylinder.

There is a resistor in the trough under the brake master cylinder.
This resistor gets hot enough to set fire to leaf and mulch that gathers around it, ask "mplafleur" how serious this is!!!

#2. Clean under the battery tray.

The following picture is typical for what I find when the battery tray is removed.
The picture is a W126 1987 California 300SDL with optional Rodent nest.
This owner was lucky; the mice chewed the sheath but not any wires.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

I have cleaned the leaves out many times from this area.

Is there was some weatherstripping missing or in need of replacement? How do they seem to always get into this area?

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Thanks for the reminder. A great spring cleaning project.

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1983 300SD -- 220k
1983 240D euro -- 225k - sold
2002 VW Passat W8 - Fast
1985 BMW 528e -- 356k - sold
1996 BMW 328Ic - crumpled into bits

Yep I saw a 420 that was on fire a few months back, probably for that reason.

Mine is perfectly clean, I made an attachment for the vacuum that lets me get most of the stuff down their. An air compressor takes care of the rest.

In the fall you should clean this area out once a week, if you don't let the stuff build up it only takes a minute.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Not quite as bad but the W123 have an issue with leave build-up in the hood hinge area that can clog the drains and cause rust.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

I opened the hood and took my shop vac and got what I could out after tray removal. I then took my Stihl blower and blew the rest out. Worked pretty good. Darn pin oak tree in my yard! I hate that tree. Those small leaves go everywhere!

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1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

At present the local eucalypts are in full blossom. the blossoms are falling every where. I need to clean my pool strainer and pump filter almost daily.
the leaves and blossoms are EVERYWHERE. in the sunroof, under the wipers, in behind the trunk seal, in the hood hinges, EVERYWHERE!
My wife's 300D is in the carport and does not have this issue.

Time for my Autumn cleanout. I'll give it one more week, then Blow & suck until they are clean.

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Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

apparently my wiper check valve cracked...leaked wiper fluid all over the battery area...my tray is rusted...the only thing on my car that is really rusted is that stupid tray....any idea where to get a new one from?

Have you looked underneath the battery tray? I have a w123 in the shop now that you can see the ground if you look between the fender and the battery tray. Should be a pretty simple fix.

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Jim

whunter, are you going to the next meetup the 13th? I ask because I wonder if since you had that SDL in if you could drive mine and tell me if it feels adequate power wise.


Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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During the 17 year ciccada return I made the mistake of frequently hosing them off my car. Unfortunately that washed them all down with the wipers and to the same area. They would also climb up into the engine compartment. They were everywhere! I should have taken pictures .

When I finally got around to cleaning out the engine compartment and the middle area I had filled the shop vac (5 gallons) half way. It was about the sickest thing I had to do. Thousands of the little red eyes pests everywhere. My yard had about the most that I'd seen anywhere and they loved my car. Each time I drove off I could hear the crunching of the one that were on top of each tire - usually about 30 to 50 for each one.

I'd have traded it all for a single mouse nest in a heart beat.

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Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

Try to clean up your old one if it is not rusted through. I ground mine down and painted it. Then I sprayed a thick layer of rubber undercoating over the entire tray and that seems to be doing the trick. If it rusts more I will replace it but I'll see how long this repair lasts.

As for a new one the usual sources Phil/dealer.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Like most of them. I'm just going to purchase new, I've given up looking for a quality used one...

When I pickup a new one, I'll be treated prior to install.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I've been parking under a pine tree this summer while at work, to protect my car from the hell on earth that Palm Desert is this time of year. I can't believe the amount of dried needles that get into the firewall from between the hood and the windshield. The corners fill up with 30 pine needles on each side every couple of days. A design flaw? with Baden-Baden forest being located in Germany, they should have known better. I'm just kidding MB 126 engineers; I love you guys. Everyday I drive my 300sd I appreciate what you created.

This is definately something I need to do ... I try to get the vacuum extensions into all the nooks and crannies, but there is a lot of junk floating around in there. What is the best way to clean underneath those areas? Is removal of the battery tray easy?

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)