Three Questions about 560 SEL ('89)

[hbofinger]

Hi,

I have three mysteries I can't figure out for the life of me. Please see the pictures below.

1. Note the silver hose the arrow is pointing towards (dirver's side, center console). It's made of foam, spring loaded, somewhat damaged, now enjoying a Tom Ridge Special temporary fix (Duct Tape, not pictured). What is this hose?




2. In the trunk, on the left side, the is a little opening in the paneling covered by a plastic slide-off somethingoranother. When you remove this, you see this:



The white knob reads (<-Heben Senken ->), German for "raise" and "lower". What is this know supposed to do? And the red thing next to it - what is that?



3. Related: Is she sitting too low in the rear (engine off):



The trunk is empty (except spare), nobody in the vehicle, the accumulators have about 15-20k on them (i.e. new).

I guess my hope is that the "Heben and Senken" knob has something to do with the suspension adjustment, and I don't have to start another project AGAIN. But I know I might be dreaming...

(total mileage 109k)

Thanks for any help.