R129 Bonnet

[C270 CDI]

Morning all,

Got this R129 (96 320SL) that I'm beginning to wish I'd walked away from. But I'm not the kind of person that gives up on these things and I want to get it sorted but so far I can't even get the bonnet open. Pull the catch in the footwell and the bonnet pops, but no plastic handle comes out of the grille. I've had a really good look behind it with my lamp but it seems there's simply nothing there.
So how do I get it open, and more importantly how did the guy open the bonnet when I went to view the car and he showed me the engine?!

Very confused, very cold, and starting to get very pee'd off with this motor!!

 

[Dec]

Are you able to see any part of the tab in the grill AFTER you pop the bonnet with the Red handle?

Picture source… W210 Secondary Hood Release Adjustment - Mercedes-Benz Forum

Dec

 

[C270 CDI]

None at all mate. I've looked all behind the grille with my light and it seems it's simply not there. I'm thinking of getting it up on the ramps and taking the bumper off and seeing if it's dropped out somewhere.

 

[Dec]

Make a little hook out of a wire cloths hanger as illustrated below, the hook hast to go in about 4 inched behind grill.
The wire hook should be about 8 inches long so as to have a handle on it.
There is a hook behind in the centre of the grill, it is this hook that you are trying to catch with the wire hook tool.
Keep trying and you should be able to catch it and pull it forward.

Dec

 

[BTB 500]

Pull the catch in the footwell and the bonnet pops, but no plastic handle comes out of the grille.

You are looking in the right place ... underneath the centre of the M-B star on the grille?

 

[C270 CDI]

I thought I was!!
I've been looking either side of it - my W203 had it come out on passenger side. That changes things, I'll get out again in a minute and look behind the star and go from there.
Cheers guys!

 

[BTB 500]

It's right underneath the centre of the star. As shown in the handbook

 

[millo777]

On my w140 the release catch isn't visibile until you lift the bonnet slighty, then it slides out into view. Maybe the r129 is the same?

 

[jonthetourist]

On my w140 the release catch isn't visibile until you lift the bonnet slighty, then it slides out into view. Maybe the r129 is the same?

I remember this bafflement. You pop the catch and the bonnet comes up an inch. You then reach into the bottom triangle of the star - nothing visible - and bend you finger up towards the centre. Pull, and Voila!

Jon

 

[C270 CDI]

Job done. I have to confess to being a complete idiot on this one. Now I know how it works I see what Jon was talking about. I was looking for a tab to show through the grille like it did on the W203 I had - and after I opened the bonnet using a pulling tool through the grille it became obvious!!
If you didn't know that little tab in the bottom of the star was there you'd never see it.
But all good now, thanks for all the advice.

 

[jonthetourist]

Glad you found it and if you are an idiot then so am I. And I also came from a C270cdi to my R129.

Two thoughts occurs reading your various threads. Is the battery healthy? If so is there any damp around the box under the driver's seat? Either could cause strange electric symptoms. The seat squab is a doddle to remove - two bolts under the front lip.

I hope you persevere with it. Mine has been remarkably economical and cheap to run over four years to date. (Touch wood)

jon

 

[C270 CDI]

Hi Jon, thanks for admitting it - don't feel quite such a clown now!
Battery and alternator both absolutely fine, what I'm trying to do is track down a decent code reader that won't cost a fortune - I'm one of those people that when they buy a new car want to know what's wrong with it and if there's stuff I can sort out myself.
I've found the 38 pin socket, and I've got (albeit an OBD-II) a code reader, so can I get one of those 38-pin to OBD socket adapter leads and see what's going on, or do I need to buy a dedicated 38-pin reader? This seems to be a bit of a grey area and any help on the subject would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[BTB 500]

If you didn't know that little tab in the bottom of the star was there you'd never see it.

As I mentioned, it's covered in the handbook though. If you don't have one you ought to try and get hold of a copy. For example the procedure for putting the hood up manually is something you should have with you ... just in case.

 

[C270 CDI]

Yeah I'm waiting for a handbook. Could be a good idea to read through it, and like you say keep it close for manual roof operation etc.

 

[Doodle]

There's copies online in the meantime - usually for the US models but the basics are the same.