1972 to 1989 R107 Mercedes SL Convertible Hood Design Flaw: How to Avoid Injury

If you have ever worked on an R107 350SL, 450SL, 450SLC, 380SL, 380SLC, 500SL, 280SL, or 560SL you already know where I am going with this. Just watch the video to see the solution I came up with

[@gary1705]

You are a genius Kent always thinking outside the box 👏👍from a Mercedes enthusiast from Melbourne Australia 🇳🇿

[@4WHEELBIKER]

Genius Ken ! ...I wished you'd solved this problem before I did my injectors. lol !

[@The_R_Vid]

This was my thought exactly! I did mine last year, and just pulled the hood off and wrapped it in a blanket.

[@Peter-gi3re]

I would definitely want to use that if I had that car. I am 6’- 2” and would comb my hair on that grille constantly 😅

[@guyyehuda]

great idea! I wish I had it when working on my 1987 560sl. Maybe I'll fabricate something like that for future work on the R107

[@elirenigar9357]

This is why we love ya uncle Kent, God bless you

[@jimschaefer8798]

I bough one of Kent's head saver braces. It makes living with a R107 much more enjoyable. I installed it by myself and highly recommend buying one of these beauties!!

[@Mercedessource]

Thanks much for the feedback.

[@cryptobirdie9576]

Kent, Love you’re work, you alway manage to keep finding better ways JC

[@Mercedessource]

Thanks!

[@Andrew-zv4fm]

Well that is a first for me. I never knew that R107 hood didn't go all the way up.

[@habsom1406]

Amazing that Mercedes never re-engineered the hinge as normally they have great attention to detail and already had a solution in other cars like the 190e etc. Maybe you could sell your extender to Mercedes, hey Kent?

[@thomasconnolly7452]

Looks like a head AND back saver.

[@rustyrobinson8027]

Kent you're awesome thanks 👍

[@roryeilers2451]

literally working on the identical twin car,, I'll do this for sure

[@invaderzimismyfav]

What would we do without you

[@inovahightechltd]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@saleh3805]

You are legend 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@adelkheir]

I have a sneaking suspicion that this idea can also be applied to the w116

[@aousdannan8820]

116 is already high enough that you won't hurt ur head

[@aousdannan8820]

Amazing

[@CPCookieMan]

Anyone who's worked with the R170 can tell you the same thing about the trunk latch. I've hit my head on it so many times, and that trunk latch does NOT move!

[@chaz2wells]

I work on sls quite regularly and i wish i was paid for every time ive bashed my head on the dam grille

[@P.Galore]

What could be better?....design a new hinge that has a higher stop built in.

[@matthewvasquez9278]

That's Happened to me, very painfull bump

[@philagethechef]

My fiat 124 spider still smacks me in the head if there's a stiff enough breeze and it has a front hinged hood

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

👍

[@lionking2950]

Cool Hack 😁👍🏻😀

[@rocketsock4297]

Can't You just install hood-lifter shocks? Works on a lot of German cars that came from the factory with simple rods. Sorry for my bad english - greetings from Germany.

[@Mercedessource]

You probably could, but you would have to change the geometry and all the attach points. Too much work.

[@rocketsock4297]

@@Mercedessource Okay, thanks for your answer Kent. Haven't thought of that. Love Your videos. 👍

[@ianatkinson8464]

😎👍

[@perrydear]

Bungee cord to the ceiling....

[@Mercedessource]

A tree works good if you are outside

[@racediagnostics]

I took my engine out that way.