230E Vacuum Reservoir

[orangebuddha]

I'm a newbie to these forums (this is my first post!!!) and i have a question about the vacuum system.
i have a 1982 230E (with the "square" lights) which we have owned for the last 23 years. On some vacuum diagrams i've noticed a part that looks like a couple of balls stacked on top of each other. It's located on the passenger side just behind the front wheel inside the front guard. I think it may be called a vacuum reservoir. If you've seen Top Gear, Episode 4 of Season 10, where they drive through Botswana, you can see it clearly after they stripped the car.

Does anybody know what this is for? Is it related to the central locking system? Or some other system? Is it possible to get at it without removing the guard?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[marsin]

Hi,

it IS a vacuum reservoir, but only for the adjustable headlights (violet hoses). I think you can reach it by removing the plastic on the inside of the fender, but I'm not absolutely sure about that. Why do you want to do so?

The container for the central locking is under the rear shelf and much bigger.

Cheers
Martin

[Chai]

My C107 has the same reservoir bottle and it doesn't have adjustable headlights. Its hose is blue and I think it's for the front seat back locking mechanism (exists for all coupe seats) as there are blue vacuum hoses under the seat.
I've never tried to confirm it's purpose though, so I'm happy to be corrected here.

[marsin]

Chai,
does your car have central locking? Maybe it's a matter of vacuum needed, if they used the big reservoir or only a small one. About the W123 I'm sure, that the fender reservoir is for the headlights only. And your car is 10 years older, maybe it was different then.

The seat locking mechanism on W123 coupes have no reservoir at all - when the engine is off, the backrests can be moved.

Cheers
Martin