Its a small plastic hose that had become very brittle and broke off while I was cleaning engine.

This is an M103 engine in a '90 300 E.

Thanks for any input!

~Paul

This is a hose that goes from the diaphragm of the fuel pressure regulator to the crankcase. The reason for it is IF the diaphragm fails, the fuel will be pushed into the crankcase instead of spilling inside the engine compartment and causing a fire.

PS...when you order parts from us, be sure to get a new oil cap. That one is ugly! The OE one is black.

__________________
Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 11 YRS

Brother of The Benz, pmizell
That is the air line to your electronic ignition's atmospheric pressure reference.
If you remove the airfilter and trace it under the fuel distributor, you will see it plugs into a rubber 90 degree fitting at the ignition system.
You can purchase this line in bulk lengths from your local M/B dealer's parts department.
Don't be too concerned if it is broken, everything will perform anyway until you replace it.
There are many lines of this material, but this seems to be the one that is short lived.
I couldn't keep from noticing you still have the hex nuts holding your airfilter top in place.
To make it easier to service the filter, I replaced mine with wingnuts. I bought them at Sears Hardware, maybe $0.15 each. I also replaced the two that hold the housing in place as well.
The small moulded hose to the rear of the large one is your possitive crankcase calibrated port. It too becomes hard and brittle, but you very rarily remove it.
You definately should replace the oil filler cap with the proper M/B cap and not that gascap. Not only does it seal properly, but it looks Super.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

Sir, you are wrong. The hose that plugs into the EZL goes to the intake manifold and carries the vacuum signal so the ignition knows when to advance and retard timing.

You should check yours. IF it is in the wrong place, it will greatly affect performance.

__________________
Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 11 YRS

Brother of The Benz, Benzmac
Thanks for the reply.
Yes I know of the vacuum to the EZL, for some reason I thought it had a clean air reference source.
Wouldn't this be a kick in the gazoo?
After 14 years the line plugged into the wrong port?
I haven't looked for quite some time, just trying my memory.
I definitely will look see, who knows?
I see we both didn't like the ugly gas cap.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

[Edited by dlswnfrd on 07-05-2001 at 08:53 PM]

Spiderman in Houston,

You said you replaced two air cleaner hold down nuts with wingnuts. Do you have a wingnut on the third air cleaner attachment near the brake master cylinder or do you leave it loose so you don't have to mess with it?

Thanks,
Sixto
91 300SE

Ugly gascap is gone (hey mr technician, how'd that gascap get on my engine oil filler?!)

Ordered a new one from FastLane, should be here tommorrow

~Paul

Brother of the Benz, sixto
I use wing-nuts, seven in all, for all the holding points of the air-cleaner housing.
The two toward the cam cover, the one on the oppositr side screwed on horizontally, and it is worth messing with to have the housing tight, I do tighten it, and the four attop the housing.
The one at the crankcase venilator hose may be difficult to tighten, depending upon it's stop position.
A flat washer or two adjusts it's position.
You must install the hose after the wing-nut is tightened.
I purchased mine from Sears Hardware and they are cad plated.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

From what I can tell by the grafics you described it's the vacuum line from the fuel pressure regulator.