Those little rings gave me a good laugh. I suppose if you are picnicking or some such thing they could be of use.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Or a car hop.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

before or after taking a rip?

You're supposed to help her with the groceries I think.

We've had them before and I never used them. It just irritated me how you'd close the trunk and never could really feel whether it closed or not. The latches that release like that tend to not close "solidly" like ours do. It's just sort of a slam-it-and-assume procedure. Always wondered exactly how little it would take to pop one loose going down the road and lose all your stuff.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Did someone say "simple"? What could be more simple than a lever & cable to open the trunk? Certainly not the diabolical vacuum systems in my 240Ds. I've had to disable vacuum for the locks because I got tired of -
1 Lockng the driver's door BEFORE I exit, so I could shut off the engine.
2 Having to run around the car, to manually lock some or all the doors that the vacuum unlocked, but then couldn't lock.

And irritating things that disabling the vacuum locks didn't fix -
3 Having to fight the inoperative vacuum-motors everytime I have to manually lock or unlock a door.
4 Having to use the key AND hold the button every time I open the trunk. If I try doing that with a package in the other hand, which hand do I use to pull the lid open?

Yeah, my cars are sooo much more simple without a remote trunk release, but I love them anyway!

By the way, I've added simple, center-console cup-holders to every one of my W123s!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

My vacuum systems work perfectly, easy and cheap to fix if they do leak. Now the system on the W140 is not quite as simple.

The only real problem with the button on the trunk is that anyone can open the trunk when you are standing still (for a red light).

If I have valuable stuff in my trunk I always lock it with the key to disengage the central locking system.

Rob

If you lock your doors while driving (and your door lock vac system is functional) the trunk will also be locked.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I nearly always drive with the doors unlocked, my side windows are laminated and in case of an accident I would like be rescued.
My 126 has no unlock on impact (that I know of).

All valuables (except my passengers) are stored in the trunck.

Rob

Actually, unless you're driving something like a 1958 Ford truck, your side windows should be tempered-glass. In fact many European-market cars used to have tempered-glass front windsheilds. Those were requred to have laminated-glass windsheilds if sold in the US.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I know it is not standard to have laminated side windows.

They are at least twice as thick as normal windows an very heavy.
The brand Ivasteel is etched on the windows.

Since I did not bought it new I do not know why it is fitted witch these windows maybe the first owner was not very popular.

Rob

Ahh. So it sounds like maybe your car has been improved with bullet-proof (bullet-resistant?) glass. A popular aftermarket option since the proliferation of terrorists in the 1970s.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

The Germans were thinking of your health when designing these cars, coke and soda is bad for your health. besids, after 2 hrs it would be warm anyway. also doesn`t do the switches any good when it is spilt.

I`ve had the 85 for so long, I never knew it was a problem to open the trunk with the key, and when I see my wife coming along with a load, I get out to help her. But then we are newely weds, only 23 yrs .

Before the MB we had a Mazda 626, and it had a trunk release. It was nice to have, but when we got the MB I didn`t miss it, nor did I reasize, NO CUP Holders . Then my bottle of Perrier really doesn`t need a cup holder

I did find a feature on a 85 300D at PNP a couple weeks ago. there was a trunk release under the edge of the back seat by the L/R door. Must have been a factory option, never seen one before. So I pulled it thinking I would install it as an emergency release if the key didn`t release the latch. Any of you see this on a 123?

The biggest problem I see with the w123, isn`t the vacuum not shutting off the engine or not locking the doors, or not having a little dodad that makes the lights blink and horn honk a couple times and locks or unlocks the doors, no cup holder etc.... It`s when Iam getting the car in the middle of the night in some dark parking lot, when I open the drivers door, it unlocks everything else. now how safe is that? now the Boogie Man can jump in with you before the vacuum locks work.

Charlie


whether it is a car truck or a tractor, just operate it the way it was designed. every one has some special feature.

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

That's just about my favorite feature. One step, opens everything, no nuisance looking for buttons, no having to walk around the car sticking keys in everywhere... just one motion and you're in. REALLY a lifesaver when you come out to the car with your arms full.

Then again I don't live within a hundred miles of a city big enough to attract trouble of the sort you feel unprotected from by the doors, so it's not a 100% equal comparison.

And I think the nerve damage to my health from trying to juggle drinks in traffic is probably a greater health risk than just drinking the coke in the first place. I'm sure the Germans were thinking that no cup holders would promote less wrecks from being distracted, but in fact the inverse is true for a lot of people, me included. I'm more distracted trying to retrieve stuff like that from beside the seat in that hole, or the center console, or most often the gear shift track, than I would be if I just had a place to set it and virtually forget it.

I have found that wider based cups (not plastic bottles but actual drink cups) will sit fairly stable on the gear slider platform. Put it in D and then set the drink on the flat section between P and N. I drive with one hand on the stick anyway (yes, even though it's an auto, that's just a delightfully comfortable driving position) so I can stick a few fingers up over the cup rim and hold it still. Works the best of anything I've tried so far. I just consciously realize that in an emergency I'll have to let go of it, let it spill and coat whatever it wants to, and worry about the road.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I've installed simple, reliable cupholders in all my W123s
From WalMart, for under $2, I got a package of four plain black plastic cupholders - the type with a hook that hangs on the door. You can just use them that way, or my way.
I cut off the hook flush with the rim of the cupholder. Then drilled a single hole in the bottom-center for a #10 stainless philips sheet-metal screw. Then I used an awl to make a pilot screw-hole throuugh the console's carpet & plastic skin so I could fastened the cupholder near the front of the center-console tray.
It isn't a really super-strong attachment but I'm not trying to tie down a spare tire here. It's plenty sturdy enough for cups, cans & bottles. On my nicest 240D, I decided to replace the original rectangle of tan carpet, and save it from possible stains and other damage caused by prolonged cupholder use. I used a matching piece, cut from an extra damaged tan floormat I had laying around. Or you can use any small scrap of carpet you prefer. Then if some future owner is offended by my non-factory cupholder, they can remove it and reinstall the original carpet to hide the tiny screw-hole.
It sure beats drinks fallng over on my seats, shifter or window-switches!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW