w126 NooB questions..(?) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rbardolv · #1 05-08-2007, 04:36 PM

Hey there Gurus!

Well as I delve deeper into my w126 I am coming up with more questions.. Imagine that.. It looks to me, corect me if I am wrong, that the w126 is an "S class"? If this is true, then w126 s class parts are interchangable throughout a bunch of years? (ie: 1981-1989) That is my question, what year ranges can I look for parts within??

I need door wood trims, turn signal stalk on steering column, extra relays, dash wood trims, possibly nicer rims, and definately the driver door step cover in Blue. (These are things needing replacement currently as other things may have not been discovered as of yet.)

Cheers, and thanks for the help!

Jim B. · #2 05-08-2007, 04:54 PM

You have an example of what is considered the "first generation" S class, the 1981-1985 cars. Yours has the Zebrano wood trim. The 560 cars you will find in the junkyard have Burlwood.

The parts you have spoken of are interchangeable for all W126 years.

Since your diesel is a California car, it would be wise to see if the "Trap Oxider" campaign has been performed on it by a Mercedes dealer. It was never an official campaign, but if you are lucky it will have been done, if not, the dealer should perform it at no cost to you.

Those '81-'85 SD sedans are perhaps the toughest and most durable of any of the W126ers, and if rust is kept at bay, they will last you just about forever, if you take care of them.

Centra and BBS wheels were popular wheel upgrades at the time, AMG monoblocks and AMG Penta wheels always looked nice if you could afford them, and the 2nd generation (16 hole) W126 1986-1991 stock wheels (chromed or aluminum) make a nice, affordable,(look for in the junkyards) over the
bundtcake rims your car probably has. 16" wheels are the biggest I would put on them, 17" ones "maybe with the monoblocks".

As for practical changes and upgrades:
Euro headlights would be the best modification I would start with, as they look good and perform (60% brighter and a GREAT beam pattern) well, along with a factory skid plate (about $130 from the dealer) would be a good investment, along with a pair of Macneil Weathertech floor mats for the front
(About $50 on the net)

rbardolv · #3 05-08-2007, 05:00 PM

Thank you Jim B! Perfect information for what I was looking for. I guess my suspicions were correct.

If you are talking about a trap oxidizer as those funny looking collector things going out side ways on my exhaust then back in to the back muffler, then yeah those heavy ugly arse things are still on there. Do these things come with cast iron exhaust pipes too??? Sheesh those things are ugly!

Will the dealer really just chop them off for me if I hold the title?

Anyhow, one last question...(for now)

This relates to the interchangable year / model thing.. Can I use motor mounts that have an ebay description such as "This part will fit model W123 240D 1977-1983. The original part number is 123-241-1213" ? THey sure do look the same..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=8047113840

Cheers!

TX76513 · #4 05-08-2007, 05:01 PM

Be careful with trim especially the console and dash corners around the vents. They look very similar but there are some small differences.

Jim B. · #5 05-08-2007, 05:18 PM

I think you might have to "educate" the dealer about the trap oxider, as most dealers work on the newest cars, and the dealership personnel might not be aware of the campaign so search the term on the website, to learn the experience of forum members with respect to this issue, and approach the dealer, (Fletcher Jones or whover they are?) well armed with information.
They might expect you to pay, or go 50/50, I don't know

The auction you referred to on ebay concerned W123 240D motor mounts, I frankly am not sure they would fit on your car.

The sponsor of this website, Phil at Fastlane, is highly regarded as a great source for well priced Mercedes parts, also Rusty Cullens at BuyMBParts in Atlanta is good, I have used him, also Randy Steele of EPS (European Parts Specialists) in Santa Barbara, is very, very good.

We have one member here, SirNik, a student who I have met at a forum gtg in Sacramento who has fabricated an INCREDIBLE dual exhaust system for his W126 1984 300SD. He made it from cyclone fence posts and it looks like it would last FOREVER and nothing could kill it

tjohn · #6 05-08-2007, 05:22 PM

Your S class is generally considered a third generation. The 108/109 chassis are considered the first, then the 116s are considered to be the second. I think what he meant is that the diesel 126s had an older style engine between 81 -85, and then received a newer engine in 86-87, and again in 90-91. There were some modest styling upgrades at the same time.

Major chassis parts generally are interchangable throughout the model run, allowing for the fact that some cars (like yours) were short wheel base, while others are about 5 inches longer.

I don't know if your motor mounts exchange, although IIRC the motor mounts for the 300SD do indeed have a 123 part number. The engine in the 81 -85 300 SD, the OM617, is essentially the same one that was in the 82-85 300D, so if your parts will work in one of those, you should be OK. The 240 had a similiar, but smaller engine known as the OM 616.

You may want to look at PicknPull, or place like it, to look for parts.

The trap oxider will be under the hood, near the firewall, in the general area of the monovalve. Its often described as looking like a metal football. Use the search button, and enjoy. Lots of people here to help.

rbardolv · #7 05-08-2007, 07:41 PM

Thanks a bunch guys! You Rock!

I just got Schooled!!!

Cheers!

SD Blue · #8 05-08-2007, 10:53 PM

[QUOTE=rbardolv;1501518]............ collector things going out side ways on my exhaust then back in to the back muffler,

Anyhow, one last question...(for now)

This relates to the interchangable year / model thing.. Can I use motor mounts that have an ebay description such as "This part will fit model W123...............QUOTE]

The part of the exhaust you mentioned are the resonators. They are designed, along with the muffler, to quieten the exhaust.

Be careful on interchangability.....since the engine compartment is different between a W123 and W126, the mounts are likely different.......some things, such as engine parts may crossover but engine-chassis and chassis parts may not. You would be safer purchasing them here at Mercedes Shop.

JimFreeh · #9 05-09-2007, 07:14 AM

A simple way to tell if the motor mounts are interchangable is to search the online catalogs and note the part number (MB or other) for each application.

If the part numbers match, Viola!

Jim