Sad, but true.

it's an interesting hypocrisy to find that some of the same people who believe that you shouldn't modify your w123 out of the original factory specs because the german engineers who built these cars know more than we do, also disagree with the safety features the same german engineers installed in newer model mercedes'

in other words, they use the 'german engineering' to suit their argument when they don't like a modification, but when it comes to safety features, they can do without the engineering

In my case, the argument doesn't have anything to do with 'german engineering,' there are plenty of German cars that I wouldn't be interested in owning (including any Benz later than 1985).

ah, so 83-85 w201's suit you? because that was the last chassis (along with the w124) that mercedes said they would over-engineer.

another irrationality that mercedes owners commit: they love their particular cars' chassis so much, that they couldn't fathom buying another mercedes built after their chassis' production date ended, for reason.

right craig? craig forgot that the w201 was built before '85, and is built far better than a w123 in every sense and respect.

disclaimer: i own three w201's, one w123, and one w124

My car has ABS that has been struggling lately. I think the problem might be with the computer. This was in the passenger footwell. Do you think this is the ABS "brain"?
Thanks,
Shane

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1985 Euro 300TD Turbo

Sorry, I have no interest in either a W201 or W124. I've ridden in both, too little styling and too many silly gadgets (i.e., too 1980s-ish, the decade that brought us disco). I will actually consider buying one for my daughter when she starts driving next year if I can find a decent driver that's not a complete POS (for all the same reasons that I wouldn't drive one myself). Honestly, they're both probably safer than a W123 for a new driver and I won't feel bad if a W201/124 gets abused.

My 1985 cut-off date is based on the last year of the W123, the last benz chassis I will drive. I forgot all about the W201/124 when I wrote that.

If that is the case, I swear I have seen those boxes in Volvos with ABS. Sure makes you think... alternative J/Y sources?

I always thought disco started in mid-70s or thereabouts.

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Your TACH may have a loose connection...I was wondering why your mechanic would be dead one minute then flopping around the next... PanzerSD

i am inspired. i will replace my windsheild... with an intercooler. swedishK

That looks just like the one here out of the Euro 300D, except on this one label is yellow. But it has the same part # as the one in your PM.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Maybe, but I don't remember much of the 70s.

I guess disco really became mainstream after "Saturday Night Fever" in 1977, but it was easy to ignore until about 1980. For a while after that, the only pop music on the radio was disco and country (I'm still not sure which was worse). I can't think of anything from the 80s that I miss, it was even the beginning of horrible TV shows.

Even if modern airbags are a good safety feature, I have *no* interest in having a 20 year old one exploding into my face. I'll take my chances on the seat belts doing their job unassisted.

There's a reason that laws preventing children from riding in the front seat appeared a few short years after airbags did. There's a reason that a lot of early airbag wreck stories ended in "my worst injuries were from getting beat up by the air bag" -- the early ones were just about brutal during their deployment.

Add to that the uncertainty of a twenty year old (ridiculously expensive) computer to fire the thing and 20 year old crash sensors... I feel safer without the thing in my w126. (We removed it a few years ago.) If I had a new car that was meant to have them, sure, I'd be grateful they were there and feel safer because of them. But I categorically don't want to have one of the 'early' ones going off in my face. Even if I'm over-reacting to the danger of the things, I just don't like the idea of them and the car is a tank even without them.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

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


Current:

1987 300SDL

I had them in my Escort wagon, used to hit my head on it constantly when getting out. No, I never learned.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

The Europeans got what we in the industry referred to as "face bags", airbags designed to protect a belted occupant.

Here in the regulation-happy US, Diane Steed (then head of the NHTSA) was heavily pushing mandatory "passive restraints", which included airbags designed to protect an un-belted occupant, even though we were required by law to be belted. Hmm.

Anyway, the European "face-bags" didn't meet our requirements, but in my opinion are much better for those of us who wear our seatbelts. One of the tests I watched involved a Mercedes 124 without a driver's door (for illustration) driving along while the face-bag deployed, and it didn't even knock the driver's hands from the wheel as he drove along un-daunted.

I've been hit by an American bag, they should be illegal IMO.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

It's odd to me that Americans were historically low users of seatbelts.

I don't feel comfortable in a car without a seatbelt. If I'm driving my car even a short distance I'll buckle up.

Air bags should be there to keep your face from doing a wicked whip lash, not as an alternative to using a seat belt.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

That's also why my 91 and 92 Jettas both had "automatic" seatbelts... both front seat's shoulder belts were attached to the door and if the driver's side was not buckled the car would not start. The dashboard includes a large knee bar, like airbag equipped US spec Mercedes, so that you don't have to attach to the lap belt (yah right!).

IMHO the standard belts work better because the anchors are further back, bringing them closer to your body.

The power of a pre 1998 airbag!

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

A friend of mine had these on his '75 VW Rabbit.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff