You good M-B people, I come forth to share the tale of a little disaster that recently befell me and in doing so, perhaps you too, can avoid a completely preventable shower of brake fluid.

History:
Back in the year 2009, pre-most-everything as we now know it, I purchased a Motive Products Black Label Aluminum European Power Bleeder. As called for by the Factory Service Manual, each spring, from 2009 through 2019, I happily and successfully used said bleeder to flush the brake system on my 1985 300D. Life was good. Mostly. Everything is relative.

2020:
Ah 2020, THAT year.
One summer afternoon as I was carefully proceeding to do the yearly brake system flush, I was in the process of pressurizing the tank containing 1 quart of fresh brake fluid and, well...there came a moment when around 4-8 (hard to know) spots of the hose unexpectedly gave way. What mean? Well, I took an unplanned shower in fresh DOT 3 brake fluid. Nice that the fluid was fresh but otherwise, not my idea of a good time plus I had already taken my daily shower using water.

Later that day:
I proceeded to the Motive Products web site and...well, well, well. There is this: "We highly recommend replacing the hose every 3-4 years..." REALLY? There I was, spending almost 11 anything-but-blissful years, distracted with trying to survive life and ignorant that the hose would eventually go kaput on me with such fanfare. This should come as no surprise though, given that among other things, brake fluid is nasty stuff and that which it touches pays the price.

What now?
Well, the good folks at Motive Products have all of the replacement parts (i.e., hosing and clamps). I sincerely appreciate that. Replacing the hose and clamps looks rather straightforward and in the coming week or so, that will be my little project.

So, there you have it. May this information spare someone from preventable trouble.

Peace out.