I remember seeing that dial switch on a couple early euro W123's , around 1979 or maybe earlier? I think it was a fader for the radio......(kinda foggy on that)?

__________________
83 300TD "Nassau Jitney"

That would make sense. Here is the pic. It's also set in plastic insert behind the normal center console with the switches.
Just noticed the clock/tach gauge is different than any I've seen before.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________

^^that switch is to switch the radio waves. I don't know much more than that. You don't see that option very often at all in the states.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

What does it mean to switch radio waves? Like am to fm.

__________________

im really not sure, i cant read german, haha look here

http://mercedes-benz.chez-alice.fr/historique/modeles%20sous%20menu/W123/optionsW123.htm

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

That site is in French, and it calls it the radio guidance sensor. At least that is what google translates it to be. What the heck is that.

__________________

hahaha see I cant read french either. Anyways, it might have something to do with long or shortwave radio signals... Maybe someone will chime in who has one of these switches in their car...

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

This dial in the glove box, is for the webasto engine heater, it is the timer. I have seen 3 webasto`s, and all were Euro 2 W123 and one W126.


Some of the Analog becker radios have several bands to chose besides AM & FM. think they were Short Wave.

Charlie

__________________
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

Band switches (AN-FM-Shortwave) are usually part of the radio. Never seen anything like that switch. Might it have something to do with the antenna, a form of antenna tuner?

__________________

"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

Oh, I thought maybe it was for the guided missile system that was an option in some countries!

I thought this was kind of cool too. Obviously for a gasser though.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________

All in German of course!


Mercedes Benz E-class W123 Development
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARoDjKw5pyo


Mercedes Benz C123 Coupé Development
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1lFwhcZxY4&feature=related


Mercedes Benz E-class Estate S123 Development
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxt4YNetuKA&feature=related





.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

If that switch is not a fader, it is possible it is an switch to change the impedance of the antenna, to allow it to work on Longwave, Shortwave, AM, and FM, all off the same antenna.

AM and FM can be made to work on the same antenna, with no major issues, because the signals are so strong, being local. The antennas are not real critical, nor do they need to be resonant.

Longwave and Shortwave require antennas that are much longer to be resonant. Since Longwave and Shortwave are much longer distance transmissions, the antenna must be much more "tuned" to the frequency to pick anything up. On many radios, they use a combination of inductors and capacitors to "fool" a short antenna into resonating a very short (frequeny wise) antenna. This switch could be a selector selecting various tuning ranges.

Most of the Blaupunkt and Reims Shortwave converters have the tuning elements built in, which can be "peaked up" to the antenna on the vehicle,
but this car looks to have a stereo with the other bands built in.

(As you might have guessed, I was a Electronics Designer/Tech in a past business, so I am pretty familiar with this technology).......

__________________
83 300TD "Nassau Jitney"

Here you go: http://cgi.ebay.com/Hazet-166-N-Assistent-tool-trolley-new-/200566189300?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb2ad2cf4#ht_1497wt_698

For that kind of money I'd rather get a parts car or some type of beater.

__________________
'81 300SD

That guy collects lots of factory brochure photos and possibly scans them and posts them on Flickr.

Those photos (as well as the ones in the sales brochures and 1983 model line up catalogue I have) inspired me to take my photos the same way, or very similar, to those.

This 280TE is very desirable!



Wonder if any of us have one of the actual cars in the photos posted.

Here's another rare photo from the era of our beloved cars:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benzbar/4269244992/

(owner of the link doesn't allow hotlinking)

__________________
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Fairly certain that's a Euro model as well, no? Wasn't that euro-spec upholstery?

About 1977, when I was first working in downtown Seattle my boss had a fairly new 74/75 240D (the old body style). It was a noisy stinky thing and no one could quite figure out why he bought it. They were pretty expensive too. But I was always enamored by the brand and thought they were a premium car.

I got my first benzo in about 1987, was a 1970 200 sedan for the wife. It had a straight 6 with auto and I learned later they were famous for the cams wearing down. This one did that, was never quite sure what was wrong with it. About that time the new 300D came out, I wanted a black on black one in the wost way, but oh my they were expensive. That was about '88 I think. They were soooo quiet!

My next one was a 83 240D I owned in 1994, had about 75K miles on it and was pretty much showroom perfect, paid about $4500 for it. Sold it in 1997 for $3800 after putting about 40K on it.

The next one was a 2004 C240, bought new. Grew to dislike it after about 3 years and traded it for a Volvo V50 sport wagon with the turbo T5. What a rocket. The C240 would rattle when you started the motor, 'till the oil pressure came up. I was sure that thing would never last.

Last year I flew to South Dakota to get my '79 240D, have posted pics of it here, it's one of the nicest in the country. It's now in the garage with a cover on it, preserved like fine wine.

Just leased a new GLK350 base with a roof and aluminum trim. What a great driving car, just love it.

There's just something about those old W123's, eh?

__________________
Chris Brown
"OC", So-Cal
1979 240D, 122K, 4spd, Colorado Biege w/Tobacco, Pwr Roof, AC, Cruise, Becker Corona - SOLD
Past Benzos: 71 250 • 83 240D • 84 190E • 04 C240 • 11 GLK350 • 13 c250 Coupe
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...ine=1276896801