Up at Dronsfields the other day buying a replacement bonnet for my '89 190E - corrosion had broken out to the LHS of the grille plus the vandals had been busy on the middle top surface ( awkward dents across the raised crease ).
I hadn't realised that the unequal stress caused to the front of the bonnet by the single support strut used when opening up causes a vertical crack to start in this area. It's hard to spot in its early stage but, of course, it allows water to penetrate into the seam, along which the rubber seal is attached. By the time the corrosion breaks out to the surface you've got a hole and no visible reference as to how far the rust has travelled inside the seam, which is actually a folded lip which rots out behind as well.
Apologies if this is not 'news' to Senior Members but new, or intending, owners take note.
I hadn't realised that the unequal stress caused to the front of the bonnet by the single support strut used when opening up causes a vertical crack to start in this area. It's hard to spot in its early stage but, of course, it allows water to penetrate into the seam, along which the rubber seal is attached. By the time the corrosion breaks out to the surface you've got a hole and no visible reference as to how far the rust has travelled inside the seam, which is actually a folded lip which rots out behind as well.
Apologies if this is not 'news' to Senior Members but new, or intending, owners take note.
