It seems a lot of people don't know about this feature that all MB's seem to have. It is great if you are doing a project under the hood, it gets it completly out of the way and lets more light in.

Open the hood of your MB, it doesn't matter what model you have. On the W126 their is a set of tabs in the center of the hinges. But somewhere on the hinges or gas struts will be a set of tabs. Push/pull these tabs and the hinges should release and let the hood go straight up.

AFAIK all MB's W116 and newer will do this. The older ones probably will to.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I posted this same reply in the Northeast GTG thread, and yes Hattie is correct on the procedure ---> All W123's worlwide have always had 2-stage hood raises - same with the W116, W126, W107, etc... It was easier for the production assembly line back in the day... see factory photo from 1976:

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My Mercedes-Benz Homepage and W123 Owners Photo Gallery and W111/W112 Coupes & Convs Gallery
2005 Northeast GTG and 2005 Mid-Atlantic GTG and Summer '09 Central FL GTG on YouTube

Another way to have the hood go straight up is not close the hood properly, drive the car and the safety catch opens. (Don't ask).

P E H

Thanks for the information. I had seen a hood in the verticle position and wished the hood on my 240D did the same.

Now maybe I won't keep hitting my head on the center part of the hood !!

Thanks!

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1981 240D, Auto Trans, 160k miles -- CRASHED!

very handy for pulling powertrain, or just accessing monovalve, etc.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

and I would always take my hood off with those 4 10mm head bolts when ever I dropped an engine. When someone showed me that, boy was I embarassed....

Sweet feature indeed. An obstacle for me is a boat I sometimes hang above the bay where the car is.

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Rob M
Norwich, VT USA
1980 240D Euro delivery 4 speed manual silver/blue
~160K miles

in my case fully open (aka "service mode" or closed are my only options. i'm missing the passenger side spring so my hood won't stay open unless fully opened.

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- 1980 300D "citrogroen" (puke green) - +300,000 KM, homemade WVO 2-tank conversion
- 1974 Ford Econoline Club Wagon - for sale
- 1988 Honda Hawk GT - sold

I know someone who bought a W124 just because he was amused at the hood opening completely vertical. Then he learned to like the rest of the car.

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

I like this feature a lot, pretty much anytime I do anything more then an oil change I put the hood vertical. I don't like having something to smack my head on because I know I will.

Just two warnings:
If you are in a garage check to see where the garage door will go if it opens. I have seen a hood chipped because the garage door met the hood.

Also high winds will probably bend the hinges if they catch the hood.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I know, I have yet to change my hoodpad

While we're on the topic of raising the hood, is there a difference when you switch the hook to different tabs? On the hinges are 3 possible tabs where the spring can hook to. Mine are both at the 2nd one and when I pop the hood and release the latch, I pull up slightly and it springs up. Might try putting one to the first tab and retain the other on the 2nd--will this minimize its springing up?

I think my tabs are bent or something, never really worked right. I still wouldnt trust it on a windy day.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

The R107 does not have that feature. If I recall correctly, since I no longer own an R107.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

That is correct... the R107 does not have this feature.

It's nice to open my W126 hood all the way, but it's absolutely *necessary* on my wife's R107.. can't do a thing under the hood without banging your head. If there was only some way to open it further..

Someone told me to wiretie a bunch of shop rags around the bottom of the grille when working on the car. I do this every time now otherwise I'll smack my head...

Neal

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'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)

I found the SDL hood to be quite long and when i had it backed into the garage the the only way i could get the hood to open full up was to lower garage door.

but... later that day after lunch i wanted some natural light to work to and i lifted the door (manual no power opener) and found the alignment to be quite nicely with the bottom of the chrome grill.(SMACK!!! )

leson learned. only hapened once. i just glad it wasnt a remote opener. might have actualy done some damage.

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sold
1987 300 SDL 318K
126.125 (OM603.961) (722.321 trans) (head#14)
Born on date 11/07/1986
2.5" Flowmaster Exhaust
flex-a-lite dual electric cooling fan conversion

now have a 1985 toyota diesel pickup