R129. Rusted metal line. Which part is it?

[R129mine]

Hi

am doing a kind of rolling rust treatment at the underside of the car and am removing some surface rust from the bumper area at the moment. Saw this metal line (circled in red). It has a lot of rust right in the centre but it is fine where it loops back into the engine bay. Does anyone know what this metal line is for?


If it is easy to replace may as well do that now
thanks

 

[daveenty]

Although not familiar with the R129, that looks remarkably like an anti roll bar to me.

If it is, basically a solid bar, then don't bother replacing, a good rubbing down first, then etch primer and black gloss will have it looking as good as new.

 

[W1ghty]

Although not familiar with the R129, that looks remarkably like an anti roll bar to me.

If it is, basically a solid bar, then don't bother replacing, a good rubbing down first, then etch primer and black gloss will have it looking as good as new.

I thought that but I was so unsure and/or didn‘t want to look stupid I kept quiet just in case

 

[Doodle]

That's way too far forward for the ARB. I'm pretty sure it's a power steering line.

A1294603224, if your chassis number is >125158. The replacement price is daylight robbery for a piece of bent pipe, so save it if you can.

 

[R129mine]

it is not the ARB, that one is already out and undergoing rust treatment (here it is with a coat of deox gel about to be peeled off)

It looks more like a coolant or aircon line, it goes back into the engine bay and attaches to a rubber hose, but i cannot see where that hose leads to.

 

[daveenty]

That's way too far forward for the ARB. I'm pretty sure it's a power steering line.

This does sound more logical so I'll take back my earlier response.

I'll still stand by repair as opposed to replace if at all possible though...

It looks more like a coolant or aircon line, it goes back into the engine bay and attaches to a rubber hose, but i cannot see where that hose leads to.

Agreed, see the above.

 

[219]

It must be a cooling pipe of some sort - no other reason for it to be out front there . I never had the bumper off mine , so I don't know what it is .

Also , since you're in there - is your air con ok ? Golden opportunity to replace that condenser whilst in there ?

 

[R129mine]

the aircon condensor is fine but the evaporator not so much, it is leaking and aircon no longer works (and is empty within 30 mins after regassing) so that will be a dashboard out project which I am not looking forward to

 

[grober]

STEERING GEAR, RANGE OF LINES MERCEDES 500 SL / AMG 500 SL 6.0 SL 500 / SL 600 AMG (129067)
transverse line required in RHD cars because power steering pump is on opposite side of engine bay from steering box?

 

[R129mine]

yes that is it, number 89, thank you!

Will try cleaning it up first, don't fancy replacing that at the moment, this project is getting out of hand already

 

[Doodle]

IIRC taking the bumper off doesn't help at all with the condenser, you pop the radiator off its mountings and then the condenser slides out the gap between it and the slam panel.

 

[R129mine]

IIRC taking the bumper off doesn't help at all with the condenser, you pop the radiator off its mountings and then the condenser slides out the gap between it and the slam panel.

my indy replaced the condenser about 3 years ago I think and I don't think they took the bumper off, you could easily reach it from underneath as well I think once you remove the engine cover

That's way too far forward for the ARB. I'm pretty sure it's a power steering line.

A1294603224, if your chassis number is >125158. The replacement price is daylight robbery for a piece of bent pipe, so save it if you can.

sorry I did not see your response earlier, that is the one, (500 euro's !! LEITUNG)

ok, i am going to carefully sand down the surface rust (not with my usual axle grinder) and see if it is just surface rust and do the usual bilt hamber deox gel/hydrate80/mastic epoxy treatment I have been applying elsewhere on metal brackets and bumper fixings etc

Thank you

 

[Doodle]

sorry I did not see your response earlier, that is the one, (500 euro's !! LEITUNG)

ok, i am going to carefully sand down the surface rust (not with my usual axle grinder) and see if it is just surface rust and do the usual bilt hamber deox gel/hydrate80/mastic epoxy treatment I have been applying elsewhere on metal brackets and bumper fixings etc

Thank you

I edited it once I'd worked out what it was

To be honest, if it did fail I'd be inclined to speak to someone like Pirtek to have a new hardline made for far less. It would still be worth checking local prices with dealers though, I've just paid £40 for some brake pins and springs that German dealers/Classic parts quote €100 for.

 

[W1ghty]

my indy replaced the condenser about 3 years ago I think and I don't think they took the bumper off, you could easily reach it from underneath as well I think once you remove the engine cover

sorry I did not see your response earlier, that is the one, (500 euro's !! LEITUNG)

ok, i am going to carefully sand down the surface rust (not with my usual axle grinder) and see if it is just surface rust and do the usual bilt hamber deox gel/hydrate80/mastic epoxy treatment I have been applying elsewhere on metal brackets and bumper fixings etc

Thank you

If it’s just uncomplicated “pipe” a hydraulic pipe specialist may make one up cheaply

 

[R129mine]

had a bit of a tidy up just now and It is just surface rust. Did use the axle grinder for most part. Will use Dremmel for the unreachable bits and sand paper for the back of the pipe. Started to rain and had to abort grinding/sanding it down

Agree on having a pipe manufactured instead of paying a fortune. This pipe is also routed in a very weird way, all the way to the front of the car just behind the bumper to go all the way back, surely there is some space in the engine bay to route this pipe and keeping it away from most of the spray you get at the front

 

[Doodle]

I think the idea is that it's meant to act as some sort of cooling mechanism, as otherwise it does seem a pointlessly complicated route.

 

[grober]

In the parts listing its referred to as a "cooling pipe" its function more apparent in the LHD cars diagram

 

[R129mine]

ah that explains it, is even worse on the RHD cars, in terms of exposure to spray etc we should count ourselves lucky in the UK with just the single pipe running alongside the front

 

[219]

had a bit of a tidy up just now and It is just surface rust. Did use the axle grinder for most part. Will use Dremmel for the unreachable bits and sand paper for the back of the pipe. Started to rain and had to abort grinding/sanding it down

Agree on having a pipe manufactured instead of paying a fortune. This pipe is also routed in a very weird way, all the way to the front of the car just behind the bumper to go all the way back, surely there is some space in the engine bay to route this pipe and keeping it away from most of the spray you get at the front

You could probably have a hydraulic hose made up with the right ends on - it would be simpler to fit !

 

[219]

In the parts listing its referred to as a "cooling pipe" its function more apparent in the LHD cars diagram

It will be more needed on RHD , with the steering box so close to the exhaust ; that was an issue on my W114 , despite a heat shield , the clutch fluid could boil in the pipe which ran down by the steering box .