A friend just pulled his '85 280SL (107 body) out of winter storage. On its first trip out on the road, he stopped and filled the gas tank. When he resumed driving, he noticed a strong gas odor in the car (the hardtop is still on it) and a stronger odor in the trunk when he stopped to investigate. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but he said there is no liquid anywhere in the trunk and no apparent drips under the car. The car never had this problem before, and was in daily use until last fall. My guess is that there is some kind of rubber hose or bellows connecting the filler pipe to the tank, and that it has cracked or deteriorated in some way. Is this likely the problem? What else could it be? Is this common on 107 body MBs? Thanks in advance for any help.
Colin

I doubt if its any rubber hose leaking or you'd have noticed the fuel puddle whenever the car stops.

I suspect with a high probability that it could be due to the rubber ventilators located at the rear boot needing some attention (read "replacement"). The exhaust fumes from the rich fuel mixture (most noticeable when at stationary) would somehow sneak through this rubber ventilators and thus leave its petrol smell in the trunk, and seeping through to the cabin.

Do check out this little theory ... :)