Mine didn't come with one, my mechanic recommended that I put one in as he said it will damage the paint on my hood. Is that true?

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1970 280SE Coupe W111
Chassis Number: 111 024 12
Engine Number: 130 980 12
Exterior Color: 180 - Silver Grey Metallic
Interior Color: 243 - Leather Light Red
Transmission # 004470

That's the car that you drive everyday and maintain with spit and polish, isnt it?

MB did have problems with their silver metalic on their 116 run during the mid/late 1970's. Maybe somebody can elaborate on this.

Me being the cobbler i am, I'd probably go to Home Depot for some thick dense foam insulation sheets and glue them in place using caulking gun style adhesive, using whatever materials are recommended never to suffer from heat and oil residue. Hell, the same stuff might help soundproof the entire engine bay if you add it to the firewall and side wells too..... but you will lose points if you ever show the car in competition.

At Texas a hood pad to protect metalic MB paint probably couldnt hurt but I'd be spending money on a new/used windshield first. Btw, glass technology can now clearcoat anything to make like-new any old glass you find to replace the cracked windshield.

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Last edited by 300SDog; 08-14-2004 at 10:55 PM.

I'd bet everyone has problems with the sliver semi-metallic paint, not just MB, due to the expanstion and contration of the particles in the paint.

A hood pad will keep the hood much cooler, and will muffle quite a bit of noise. I'd guess the noise insulation is most of the reason it's there.

You will need to remove ALL of the old adhesive or the new pad will fall off pretty fast from failure of the new adhesive to stick well. This is tedious, but better than a drooping hood pad.

I've heard of using building material for hood pads, seems it is very similar material, but have not tried myself. Someone posted what they used, but I don't remember, if someone does try and it works, please let the rest of us know what you used!

I suspect 1" fiberglass material will work as well as 1" high temp foam materials, although the fiberglass will require some type of hangers to stay up.

I'm not sure if the W108 originally came with hood pads or not.

Peter

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

you also have to be careful with the adhesive you use, the engine heat can and will melt some glues.

It seems to me that V8s did and sixes did not.

The w108 M117 4.5's had them in 1972... I've picked OEM style pads up on ebay for the w123 for about $40 delivered, 3M makes a great spray adhesive for hood pads. I did my daily driver 2 years and 27,000 miles ago and it still looks like new...

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Over 21 years I owned several:
w108
w110
w111
w115
w116
w123
w124
w126
w212