How rare are the aluminum air lids or bases in Aluminum?

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RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

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FACEBOOK: PANZER450

ARE they even aluminum? or do people just chrome them?

__________________
RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

____________________________
FACEBOOK: PANZER450

Not that rare at all. . . they were a product of the 80's M117s. . the '70s ones were steel ( I believe until 1980 or so). . . They really are aluminum, pick one up at the junkyard, they are light as can be. . .

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". . .back before accountants designed cars"

-Current Stable-
'78 MB 450SL-C 107.024.12.020783 #3840 <Kayleen>
'85 FORD F250 6.9L Diesel <Allison>
'98 Lexus ES300 <Rachel>
Long Gone...
'74 Chevy G10...........................'99 GMC Yukon 4X4
'83 Chevy Suburban 6.2 diesel .....'99 SAAB 9-5
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS............. '01 Chevy Tahoe
'98 Nissan Altima .......................'02 MB ML320
'88 Chevy Suburban V2500 4X4 6.2 diesel

The diameter of the base is markedly different between the early cars(D-jet) and the newer models with CIS.One would have to fabricate some kind of adapter(probably not too difficult)without raising the overall "height" of the assembly causing interference with closing the hood(not so easy)
Weight savings(several pounds??)might make this worth it.Polishing the aluminium would give the appearance of chrome if that's the look you wanted.

I see in your signature you have a 78 which is CIS.
Should be a bolt on affair then.
I had it in my head youu had an earlier model!

yeah, I didn't have a clue what model they were on.

I think I'd rather just paint mine. I was thinking of using that cool rextured wrinkle finish that you'd find on a dodge air cleaner from the muscle cars.

__________________
RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

____________________________
FACEBOOK: PANZER450

I also have a colored centercap that I found a couple years ago that I'd like to affix to the front of the air cleaner lid.

__________________
RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

____________________________
FACEBOOK: PANZER450

and if I were even able to FIND one locally, I'd simply graft the needed base to the new cleaner...I'd make it fit

__________________
RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

____________________________
FACEBOOK: PANZER450