coloured paint markings to various parts - is there a guide ?

[pmo956f]

Hi , have tried to search this , is there a guide , or list  to which items (and colours ) should have the coloured paint dabs (factory checked ??) as would like to put them back on my Resto  (67 250sl)

Thanks ! 

[ja17]

Hello,

I don't believe this has been documented by our group yet.  It would be a nice group project. Maybe we should start a new thread and have every one join in and help.   

I do know one thing the colors often changed a bit from time to time during the production.  I think that the size, color and character of the paint marks also reflected the mood of the inspector that day!

The colors I have seen are white, red, blue and drab green. 

[Garry]

Search under torque paint and you get this
Quote"
Mark,

The late Frank Mallory gave this response in a forum when someone raised this exact question:

"Actually, there is a field of study know as "dotology" that is devoted
to analysis, recognition, and cataloging of the paint spots on Mercedes
(no joke).

Most of the paint spots were applied by the special torque wrenches used
by Factory inspectors; when the wrench reached the specified valoe for
that fitting, it squirted out some paint.

Other spots were put on springs, motor mounts, and other components, to
designate their value in shore hardness, etc.

The reason these marks are being studied is that when a car is restored
to 100 point condition, it is considered essential that it have the same
paint spots it left the Factory with.

Frank M."Unquote

Garry

[Bernd]

Hi Joe

Garry is right. In fact I also started a thread before our website crash which seems to have been lost? Didn't get much response but I have started a folder on my own personal computer with some of the markings that I notice when good pictures are posted. There are a couple of threads going back to 2009 that addresses this as well. I for one I do agree with you that it would be a good addition to the TM. A lot of the dots on my car were still present when I started the restoration. While some may be applied with torque wrenches squirting out pain, there are plenty that are clearly brushed. My car had everything from red, white, the drab gren you implied to a canary yellow. Interestingly, the biggest variance I noted seems to be on the springs,  which ?might  relate to the different springs and rubber pads on our various versions.

I vote for a group project!!!!!

[280SE Guy]

Taken from a European Mercedes Brochure is this picture:



Regards,

280SE Guy

[ja17]

Thanks Guys,

This is great! I would like to start a spread sheet with all the imformation. I will have to go back and look through all those old posts.

[69280sl]

For the database

I had pale yellow dabs on the mountings of my original brake booster (both ends), early 68, # 1084.

Gus

[parry]

The above photo shows that the paint dabs were done with a large paint brush hence why the paint dabs were not neat. When I detailed my 190sl I probably made the dabs too neat (although when I stripped my 190sl the paint markings were neater than those on my 280sl).

The yellow factory torque dabs in the attached photo of my booster mounting confirms the above. I will be stripping my 280sl in the next few months and will try to document as much as possible.

The 190sl Group (Thanks to Bruce Adams) has this 'Dotology' well documented and as W113 production succeeded 190sl production the same procedures may have been adopted.

[Bernd]

Joe

we need an area to upload to. What do you think is the best way to do it? Should we set up a TM section with the different categories that folks can upload to when they are sure they are looking at original markings? That way over time we get a complete picture. Since I have never set up an area in the TM i am not sure how to do it.

[49er]

 I am the original owner of a 1969 280 SL and many of the inspector paint "dabs" are still pretty visible. I will get out my camera and see if I can get some photos to post here.


john

[Bernd]

Driveshaft before restoration

[Bernd]

Driveshaft part 2

[ja17]

Hello Bernd, Gus, Perry and John,

Yes, good idea Bernd, I am not sure how to set it up either.  Maybe someone else can help? In the mean time we can keep collecting information on this thread.

John, thanks, any photos will be appreciated.

[wwheeler]

Are the markings on a '68 111 the same as a 113? If so, I have some that I can contribute.

[ja17]

Hello Wallace,

Most likely they are the same, same era.   

Thanks,

Joe

[wwheeler]

On my '68 111 coupe, a lot of my paint markings are in tact on the suspension fasteners. The interesting thing is that many have more than one color on them.

3060 is the front grease cap made out copper and has the static tab on the inside that rubs on the spindle. Both sides have this red mark. When I cleaned the cap w/ mineral spirits, the red mark remained.

3178 is the tie rod clamp and both green and red can clearly be seen. This is typical for all of the clamp bolts.

3181 and 3182 are pictures of the upper arm fastening nut. Here, there are THREE colors, red and yellow on the nut itself and then green on the bolt shaft end.

More pictures to come. Medium green bright yellow and red seem to be the only colors found.

[49er]

I finally got around to taking a few photos of some my 69 280SL inspector markings. Undercarriage needs a good cleaning so come summer, I will take a few more. A little cold on the garage floor today:-)

john

picture no 1 front left wheel well
picture no 2 front left wheel well
picture no 3 brake booster

[49er]

4 more

picture no 1 intake plenum
picture no 2 rear axle
picture no 3 rear suspension
picture no 4 rear axle

[49er]

four more pictures (wish we could post more then 4 at a time)

Picture no 1 Rear suspension
picture no 2 front left suspension
picture no 3 Sway bar front left
picture no 3 front right suspension


all for now

john

[wwheeler]

Here are more 111 paint markings:

- 3184 is the lower arm attachment to the king pin. Red is on the center with yellow remnants on the nut. Just like the ones before, multiple colors.
- 3186 is I believe the upper arm attachment to the frame. The bent lock washer can be see with yellow markings.
- 3193 is the same as 3184 but the other side. Same red w/ yellow.
- 3198 is the lower arm attachment to the subframe. Can only see yellow on these.  

More to come.

[wwheeler]

Here are the last of the markings that I have for now:

- 3200 is the air screw. I have repainted this, but it was originally yellow
- 3196 is the mounting bolt for the front ATE calipers. Only red can be seen. The other side has the same markings.
- 3192 is an interesting one. This red mark is on the auto trans bellhousing and is just above the top starter bolt. I don't recall seeing other red marks on the other bellhousing bolts, so this must be for the starter.
- 3188 is the well documented nut securing the brake booster. It is yellow like all of the others.

This is all I have for now. I'll keep looking and post if I see more.
  

[wwheeler]

I have been doing some work on a brake caliper and found some more paint dots. This is about it for my front suspension.

- #3209 is the bolt head on the front side of the upper king pin connection. The nut on the backside of this connection (#3181 and #3182 from earlier post) had green, yellow and red whereas this bolt head only has green.

- #3208 is the nut that attaches the sway bar/ front leaf spring to the frame. It has a very slight amount of yellow still left.

- #3205 is another picture of the bolt holding the front brake caliper on. The interesting thing about this is that when I went to bend the locking tab, there was red paint UNDER the tab. This means that they painted the bolt first, and then bent the locking tab. There was not any red paint on top of the locking tab itself.

Because many of these fasteners have multicolors and some just have one, there must be a definite procedure as to when to use the yellow, red and green.

[pmo956f]

Just checked the forum re my original qs re the paint markings ,  great to see so many have an interest in this unusual topic!

Thought id post a pic of PMO 956f  ,  a work in progress (3 years!)

have just finished paint , (bare shell rebuild) complete with db180 colour drift over beige underside texture to floors !

Any clues to the best spray wax treatment to apply underside clear brown /gold colour as original ?  waxoyl /dinatrol??

Cheers

PMO

[66andBlue]

Here are few photos with dots on my 230SL.

[Jonny B]

Any comment on the type of paint that would be good to use?