[benzie66]

Hi folks,

I have a fiberglass trunklid on my 88' 500SL. Does anyone know if this was standard on a 1988?

thanks

Blair

 

[rowdie]

I doubt it. Parts catalog says steel. The only other material I know of is aluminum but not on yours.

 

[Currumbin SL]

Hey benzie,a couple of photos of your glass boot lid will make your enquiry a bit more interesting.
Welcome to the forum and 500SL AMG you say, more photos as people love photos round here.




John :wink

 

[benzie66]

Here's a picture of the trunklid.

thanks!

Blair

 

[benzie66]

I just discovered that the hood is fiberglass too....

Blair

 

[Ken S]

Based on the picture... what is the evidence that the trunk lid and hood are fiberglass?

 

[rowdie]

Stock hood is aluminum on the 500SL. (And all '81? up models as are the replacements from MB)

 

[Fonzi]

Yeah. Why would you say the trunk lid is fiberglass? It looks like a stock 500sl r107 trunk lid to me.

I have always questioned why the 500slc would get an aluminum trunk lid but no r107s would get one despite the 500sl being setup to replace the c107 as a rally racing car. It just seems strange to me. I would almost expect the 500sl cars to have an aluminum trunk lid.

Could there be a lot of body filler on top with the extra paint coats?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[benzie66]

I was wrong. the trunk lid is metal but the hood is definitely fiberglass.. gave it the rap test on top and on the edges and there's no reverberation like you would get off of metal....

 

[Fonzi]

I was wrong. the trunk lid is metal but the hood is definitely fiberglass.. gave it the rap test on top and on the edges and there's no reverberation like you would get off of metal....

The hood should be aluminum. Aluminum is likely lighter than fiberglass. So I would not see any reason for anyone to ever bother to make a fiberglass hood.

Since the car is for sale, It's probably worth your further investigation.

The TV in the dash is neat since so few cars got that odd modification. Does the car have any documentation?

 

[benzie66]

Unfortunately no documentation. Wouldn't aluminum "ring" like metal when rapped? I'm bringing it into a local Mercedes mechanic on Thursday so I'll see what they have to say....

 

[isthisdave]

.



Don't even ask, they'll just shake their heads and give each other 'that look' when you're not looking. Seriously. You have aluminium front, steel rear, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Period.

 

[benzie66]

So if I break off a small chunk of plastic on the underside inside edge of my hood you owe me a 1000 bucks?

 

[rowdie]

So if I break off a small chunk of plastic on the underside inside edge of my hood you owe me a 1000 bucks?

If you want to break off a piece I will donate a dollar.

 

[nobby]

If you want to break off a piece I will donate a dollar.

I'm in for a dollar.

 

[isthisdave]

.



Sure, and when you can't, I'll take my 1k via PayPal





And oh yeah, breaking off a piece of someone's crap assed fiberglass/bondo damage repair to the original aluminum bonnet won't cut it...

 

[nobby]

I'm in for a dollar either way.

 

[benzie66]

not a spot of rust on this car...sorry....

 

[nobby]

I have a fiberglass trunklid on my 88' 500SL.

I was wrong. the trunk lid is metal

not a spot of rust on this car...sorry....

Well.....not to be a dick....but your opinion is suspect.
Bring it to a shop for the truth.

 

[okyoureabeast]

Why not find a magnet and conclusively end this debate once and for all?