Hi.
My alcohol reserve seems to be missing.
The actual bottle / tub that screws onto top valve.
Any ideas where to get one or what its correct name is?


https://www.dropbox.com/sc/olhhvv7svgwd32o/AACWZTiUK_LB4vIEjLcjSDMDa

Hello W109Driver,

I've attached a link to our catalog that I hope will help you troubleshoot the part that you're looking for. Hope this helps!

PelicanParts.com - Mercedes-Benz 250/280/300 Sedan (1965-1973) W108 W109 - Suspension & Steering


-Dmitry

I think a better question than where to find one is how and when did you lose it? And is your car a driving car or a dead car?

Running restoration.
I spoke to Mercedes specialist who did alot of suspension work on it.
And he confirmed it was there when they used to service it.
But in the 2 owners/3000 miles since, it has vanished.
Allah knows how! Lol

Well the "good" is that it was only 3000 miles ago. The potential "bad" is how much time had passed... I think you can pressurize the system without the plastic alcohol bottle. If I'm right, you might want to drain the air tank of any collected moisture by pressurizing the system and opening the bleed valve at the bottom of the air tank. Alternatively, you could pressurize the air tank using the schrader valve on the air tank, and drain the water from the bottom. When I opened the valve on the bottom a lot of crappy water came out. That's supposed to be dry on the inside (so no rust). So you want to save your tank (and all of the components down-stream from the tank) from water = rust.

ps - I see the plastic air bottles from time to time on ebay. I have an extra but it's with a complete main valve and compressor assembly that I'm not willing to part with yet. I also have a complete 4.5 109 rear axle with air bags, etc. as spares.

I have owned several 109/112 cars but none recently. If I remember correctly the alcohol was so the system does not freeze. I believe that the alcohol is not needed in warm weather.

I know that one of my cars in the past did not have the container and I had no problem with the system.

Just want to confirm it is the canister that holds the alcohol that you are missing correct. If my memory serves there was a plastic threaded nut on top to add the fluid. I might have both but I think they are long gone. Confirm what you need and I will check

I'm 99% confident that the alcohol is to removed the condensation that naturally occurs during the compression/decompression of air. It's to dry the air in the air suspension system.

This is correct.

It is easy to think that the main victims of water in the system would be one of the valves or the inside of a air cell, but the reason for the protection is the air lines themselves.

I have seen a car that ran without the alcohol because the owner thought this was supposed to be some sort of magic fluid that was NLA. There were pinhole leaks in the air lines that finally drove them to just replace all the lines.

Now that was a big job.

This takes about ten years of driving if you live someplace like Texas, so I would not panic over this.

But I would not drive it any longer than I had to without it.

Hi.
Thanks for replies lads.
Yes it is just the bottle container under the valve that is missing.