Stiff bonnet

[brandwooddixon]

On all of the MBs that I've owned there bonnet opens so far and then there's a "maintenance" setting whereby you have to release two catches (one on either side) and the bonnet opens almost vertically.

Could this be a similar arrangement?

Also I'd suggest using white lithium grease rather than WD 40 for lubrication as it lasts longer.

 

[micky.]

Got my replacement strut, went to attach it this evening, and lo and behold, the bonnet automatically raised to its full height! It’s still a bit slow, but that’s fine. I’m pretty sure my car was sat idle for quite a long time before I bought it. The parking brake was very stiff but has now loosened up with a bit of grease. The wheel balance weights were all very corroded, despite the tyres being in good nick. The MOT record shows hardly any miles covered last year, and the car hadn’t been taxed since last summer. So I’ve got a feeling the struts were just another part which needed to be exercised a little bit to make them work properly. It was serviced according to MB spec when I bought it three weeks ago, so hopefully there are no other seized parts waiting to reveal themselves down the line.

 

[Headhurts]

Got my replacement strut, went to attach it this evening, and lo and behold, the bonnet automatically raised to its full height! It’s still a bit slow, but that’s fine. I’m pretty sure my car was sat idle for quite a long time before I bought it. The parking brake was very stiff but has now loosened up with a bit of grease. The wheel balance weights were all very corroded, despite the tyres being in good nick. The MOT record shows hardly any miles covered last year, and the car hadn’t been taxed since last summer. So I’ve got a feeling the struts were just another part which needed to be exercised a little bit to make them work properly. It was serviced according to MB spec when I bought it three weeks ago, so hopefully there are no other seized parts waiting to reveal themselves down the line.

That’s called Sod’s law

Robin