R107 – So The Hood Is Aluminum?

[Michael K]

I had heard that some 107’s had aluminum hoods. In the back of my mind I’d been thinking that would be pretty cool but that Mercedes wouldn’t employ such an exotic material on the lowly 300. I checked it today, and dang it sure is aluminum. It’s only the hood and not the hard top or trunk lid. I wonder how much weight it saves and if there’re any other benefits.

[MTUpower]

I could be wrong but I believe all M117's have this feature regardless of chassis.

[Strife]

Early ones didn't but I don't know when the switch took place.

[Michael K]

Ours is the M103 300 SL from 1988. I'm happy and surprised with her aluminum hood. Does it do anything other than save weight?

[t walgamuth]

it might dissepate heat better but i think weight is the main reason.

tom w

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by Michael Kerley

I had heard that some 107’s had aluminum hoods. In the back of my mind I’d been thinking that would be pretty cool but that Mercedes wouldn’t employ such an exotic material on the lowly 300. I checked it today, and dang it sure is aluminum. It’s only the hood and not the hard top or trunk lid. I wonder how much weight it saves and if there’re any other benefits.

On the 107's I believe the aluminum hoods/decks were only offered on the rally cars like the 107026 chassis's.

[t walgamuth]

i would think they all had aluminum hoods and decks.

my sec had aluminum hood.

tom w

[Michael K]

Originally Posted by 450slcguy

On the 107's I believe the aluminum hoods/decks were only offered on the rally cars like the 107026 chassis's.

That's what I had been thinking, too, that only the race-bred versions would have aluminum. I swear, though, the magnet is not even close to sticking. On all the other panels, it sticks like glue. I'm pleasantly surprised.

[Strife]

My 85 380SL and 560SL have aluminum hoods. I'm in the middle of getting ready to paint the 380 hood now and aluminum is trickier than steel to paint - I'm using an epoxy-type primer.

[coleyjf]

Hi

Great, my UK version 88 300SL has an alluminium "hood" ( bonnet!) but I wish it was the hardtop - now that would be a real benefit.

Cheers

jim

[page62]

The later 380SL and 560SL (and respective euro models) had the aluminum hood. The earlier SL models had to make do with steel (except for the 5.0 SLC).

My 450SL was in a minor accident several years back, and the hood was replaced with a new 560SL hood. This is one time a repair made the car better than new!

[Furndog]

My '77 450sl has a steel hood (darn it), I know because a ding in the hood that was there when I got it rusted and made the ding get much bigger. Bummer!

[Greg in Oz]

My understanding is that the early 107s (such as my '73 350SLC) used steel but with the introduction of the 107026 (5.0) they switched to aluminium. Where I believe the confusion comes from is the fact that on the 107026 in addition to using aluminium for the bonnet (hood), they also used it for the boot (trunk) lid, lower bumper sections and bumper mounting brackets. I have been able to confirm that all these items are aluminium on my 107026 ('81 500SLC). An interesting bit of information I have heard that the rear spoiler on the 107026 was a "delete" option and in the instances where it was not fitted the boot (trunk) lid was steel rather than aluminium. I have seen some other 107s (eg. 500SL) fitted with the rear spoiler but I do not know whether these used aluminium or steel for the boot lid. What I do know is that according to the owner's manual for my 500SLC, it is lighter than every other 107 model which presumably can only result from greater use of aluminium in the body (since all post '80 models with V8 engines used alloy engine blocks).

Greg

[coleyjf]

Hi Greg

Though my '88 UK 300SL has an Alluminium bonnet it has a steel boot ( trunk) lid with a factory fitted spoiler (though it was an "add" option I believe on the 300) interesting!

cheers

Jim

[Michael K]

Y'all are the best. Very interesting discussion.