Oh those are cowl covers. My 82 has 'em and they're sweet. I thought all of em were like that until a few months ago when I saw a w123 with black covers.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)