Hood pad fits very poorly?
Look how the clips locations don't match the holes on the pad. And how towards the bottom it doesn't tuck into the channels in the plastic cowl.
but yours look worse than usual - someone probably took it off and fitted it worse then the std
no trim on any car was designed to come off... fit at the factory then scrap it
Agreed on build quality. Just spent half a day dismantling the whole hood and fixing the broken plastic trim pieces, which were all of them. Now it's solid and quiet, but something is most definitely wrong with the pad.
Last edited by BOTUS; Apr 6, 2025 at 01:30 PM.




there are also two sets of associated clips you will want. Very hot environment over an engine along with age as BOTUS cites has substantial impact.
Thanks for the tip. Mine has them and they are in a good condition, miraculously. Always wondered how benz customers like to be fleeced on such things. Ah, I've been there too probably.
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As I said, the material does not stretch. If stretched it will tear, so sagging is not a concern. The more I think about this, the more I believe the issue is actually the pad shrinking with heat cycles. If I assume that all w221 I looked at could not have possibly been delivered with misnatched/defective pads, so at least some of them would have displayed proper fitment. Then what I have left as a theory is that the fibrous material shrinks, puts pressure on the fastenings, and finally tears. My next move is to order a new pad with the option to return it.
Looking at more videos around youtube, all w221s have the same issue, including MercedesSource's w221, pictured below. Kent Bergsma is **** about his hood pads. This sort of kind of confirms my unified theory of Hood Pad Shrinkage.





