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  #1  
Old 09-01-2007, 10:31 AM
funola's Avatar
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What I hate most about my W123's

Don't get me wrong, I love my 300DT and 240D overall but I can't say the same about the front seats. They are comfortable but too wide and restrictive and difficult to adjust IMO. If I want to stretch my elbow or reach back to get something I can't, the seat back is so wide and the armrest gets in the way. The armrest gets in the way when it's up or down. I'm thinking of getting rid of it. Another gripe I have is the seat back adjustment which is a PITA. I want to be able to pull a lever and lean back, not turn a fat knob that is slow and cumbersome. Is it possible to convert it to a lever?

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  #2  
Old 09-01-2007, 10:43 AM
Banned
 
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.........the W-126 fixes all those problems.............and, the armrest on the door is actually in the correct place..........not too far forward as exists on the W-123.
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  #3  
Old 09-01-2007, 11:30 AM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Is that the best complaint you can come up with?

He hee.

Tom W
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..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #4  
Old 09-01-2007, 11:58 AM
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Sounds kind of a lame reason to me too. I actually like the knob. I can get a perfect adjustment with it. I actually hate levers. I find I need to adjust back and forth many times before I find a good setting. Sometimes those damn levers don't always lock. I get a surprise thunk when it finally does, usually while driving.
The seats aren't all that comfortable to me but sheep skins take care of that perfectly. I do wish the back seat had more leg room. No one likes sitting behind me since I need to push the seat nearly all the way back and that leaves little leg room. But then I seldom carry rear passengers.
I haven't driven another "modern" car that has a much visibility when driving as the 123. You can see all four corners of the car when in the drivers seat and it is easy to park.
Find a better reason to get rid of your 123 and then get back to us.
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84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012
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  #5  
Old 09-01-2007, 12:13 PM
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Arm rest is too low in the 77. 85 is fine.

It's really hard to find anything that measures up to the ACC servo.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
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  #6  
Old 09-01-2007, 12:18 PM
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I LOVE my w123...I need sheepskins...Anyone gotta good place to look?

Dakota

1981 W123 300D-190K China Blue
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  #7  
Old 09-01-2007, 12:22 PM
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Additional whining......

Yes, it is hard to get into the back seat. Bad enough for the passenger, don't try it while driving -- although I do find it easy to put the armrest down and get to the rear seat footwells, at least the center portion, and the right seatback cargo net. I keep my Thomas Guide there where I can grab it.

Although the micro-adjustable seatback knob is OK, I, too, would prefer a lever.

I like the seats, although I want more lumbar support. A NorCal forum member (Hi, Frankie!) had some extra padding put in her W123's seatback. It was very comfortable.

For being in the way of itself and not being able to see or get to anything in the back seat, my wife's '69 VW Beetle beats the M-B hands down! They didn't compare the Gemini space 'capsule' to the front seat of a Beetle for nothing!

Jeremy
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Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
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  #8  
Old 09-01-2007, 12:34 PM
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You may not be aware of this, but the center armrest is adjustable, to a degree. You can remove the seat back and from inside loosen and adjust the angle of where the arm rest ends up when it is in the down position. Makes quite a bit of difference to me in the stick 240D.

Rick
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  #9  
Old 09-01-2007, 12:45 PM
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My 230CE has a lumbar adjustment. Another member pointed this out to me at a GTG. Instead of a parcel net behind the driver's seat, there is this belt that you can cinch up. That gives some better back support.
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84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012
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  #10  
Old 09-01-2007, 02:08 PM
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Has anybody found another models seats that will bolt into a CD/CE?

I'm tired of hitting bumps and my head bumping the ceiling. I REALLY need to lower my seats about 2-3 inches. I like to sit low in my cars as I'm over 6'.
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  #11  
Old 09-01-2007, 02:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle-co94 View Post
Has anybody found another models seats that will bolt into a CD/CE?

I'm tired of hitting bumps and my head bumping the ceiling. I REALLY need to lower my seats about 2-3 inches. I like to sit low in my cars as I'm over 6'.
You know the seats have a height adjustment as well as a back/front adjustment.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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  #12  
Old 09-01-2007, 02:30 PM
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Lumbar

Quote:
Originally Posted by lietuviai View Post
My 230CE has a lumbar adjustment. Another member pointed this out to me at a GTG. Instead of a parcel net behind the driver's seat, there is this belt that you can cinch up. That gives some better back support.
I think the 123s had an optional air-operated lumbar adjustment but I don't have one and have never seen one. Probably a rare option, alas.
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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
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  #13  
Old 09-01-2007, 06:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lietuviai View Post
My 230CE has a lumbar adjustment. Another member pointed this out to me at a GTG. Instead of a parcel net behind the driver's seat, there is this belt that you can cinch up. That gives some better back support.

that would be nice to have... mine seems to be lacking in the back support area
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  #14  
Old 09-01-2007, 07:58 PM
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The servo takes the cake for this one... No heat or A/C for me. I hear the servo make noise when I push buttons but nothing happens. Except on defrost where the thing is bypassed...
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  #15  
Old 09-01-2007, 08:06 PM
xafman
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Da Hawaiian View Post
I LOVE my w123...I need sheepskins...Anyone gotta good place to look?

Dakota

1981 W123 300D-190K China Blue
Sheepskin.com
That is where I got mine for the 84TD---great.

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