um, the 7 pleats and the wide panels are both available in 1st and 2nd gen vehicles... it's the difference between Tex and Leather...
I've got an 82 SD (several actually...) and a set of leather seats from a 91SEL and they are identical (aside from condition...)

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Nope, almost all W126's have it. Both of our '82's do, and the '87 and '89, as does our '83 parts car. Maybe it was an option, either way they all have it.


The interior (seats) from later cars will fit in the early ones with some minor wiring changes and loss of the memory function. (unless you are crazy and re-do ALL the wiring). I have '91 350SDL seats and visors in my '82SD.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Ahh im bummed out now. Stupid 1st year 126

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

so, the 81 does not have it? that means you have a less complicated monovalve! cool!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Updated! Someone please take on this list, as I will be heading to Panama at the end of this week!

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

... or it is maybe like w123 240/300D's over here,most of them doesn't have any
just a "pipe" and on/off cable?



.

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w126 500SEC gen II euro, powered by OM617 turbo stolen from 84 300SD 2.88 diff,EGR blinded
next wish/project: w114 coupe OM603 powered

I have a set of 7 pleat & wide panel 126 seat skins and both are leather.
I have seen the 7 pleat in both leather & tex. Don't know if wide panel
came in both materials.

Jeff

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1984 300SD 300,000 miles--two tank WVO setup
2.88 diff & 500SEL anti-squat rear end

pics?
I'll take some of the different seat patterns I have on my 126 seats both Tex, and leather...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

That is exactly how I recall them too. My '83 300SD had the wide panels (as you described them) in leather. I was very pleased with what I had as seating surfaces in the car I owned/drove a lot of miles in the 8 years I had the car.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

2nd gen door pulls are a single molded piece versus, on the gen 1, the center support bracket being screw-on. Gen 2 front door pulls are interchangeable with gen 1. Short wheelbase gen 2 rear door pulls are interchangeable with short wheelbase gen 1 cars.

It's worth the upgrade, at least in the front, because those center support pieces always seem to break.

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1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

Here's a shot of the 7 pleat leather.

Jeff

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1984 300SD 300,000 miles--two tank WVO setup
2.88 diff & 500SEL anti-squat rear end

How about the rear differential? When did the 3.07:1 get used, vs. the 2.88:1, 2.47:1, etc.?

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

also only on 1981 cars the clima control thermostat grille is located at the bottom of the dashboard,from 82 and up is located next to the dome light..

Along these lines, nobody mentioned the availability of ASD (=automatic locking differential) and ASR (= anti-slip regulation) on the W126.

ASD was available after 1987 for the 300SE/L
ASR I was available after 1987 for the V8 models,
ASR II was available after 1989 for all engines.

Another difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2 is the star emblem anchor on the trunk lid.
Gen 1 has a central screw, Gen 2 has three pins that are simply pushed in.

There was also an improved transmission after 87, an updated interior in 86, and 10 speaker becker available after 6/89, uprated seat heaters.
After 87 anti dive suspension was ditched in favour of more conventional set up.
Somewhen between 89-91 you lose the antenna switch.
Rear blind was available 90-91.
Gear lever lock was added in 91 so you couldn't shift without your foot firmly on the brake.

Does anybody know by chance whether the front Gen 1 window regulator can be used on a 2. Gen car??