Looks a lot like the springs that are in the foam (?) AC condensation drain tubes that run from inside the car through the tunnel and insulation that's above the transmission on my '96.

On my W210 that insulation above the transmission was collapsing and sitting on top of the transmission so I ripped it out (dirty, dusty job). While doing that I destroyed one of those drain tubes, and there was a spring inside it that looks exactly like what you have there but was white. I replaced that tube with regular ole rubber hose from my scrap hose pile.