W123 Mercedes year-specific parts!
 

Hello everyone,
In the line of providing a solid body where enthusiasts can obtain references and clear compatibility doubts, I would like to start a thread on parts that are specific to certain model years to avoid confusion –and hopefully, save some unnecessary surprises to the DIY'er.

I would like the moderator(s) to fill in the blank spaces with the additional information that our fellow members will be compiling on this thread!

Here's a few I know of...

1977
-First year of the "evil servo" (300D) all the way to 1981.
-First year of the vacuum cruise control modulator.

1978


1979
-First year of the solid 2nd row seat in wagon models.
-Last year of the "batwing", W116-style headrests.
-Last year of the W116-style ribbed steering wheel.
-Last year of the old-style instrument cluster:

• Temperature gauge in °F, replaced with °C.
• Oil pressure gauge in PSI, replaced with BAR.
• Fuel light is yellow, turns orange in the newer models.
• Turn signals are triangular, become arrows in newer models.

1980
-Last year of the blue, double-pod vacuum door lock actuators.
-First year of the pencil-style glowplugs, with new relay design.
-Last year of the rubber buffer + metal retainer shock mounts, replaced by single-piece units.

1981
-First year of the turbo engine, the OM617.952; the OM617.951 in 1981 wagons had...

• Different oil pan design.
• Different oil filter housing.
• Different oil cooler lines.
• Different oil pressure sender.

-Only year with electric speedometer in wagon models.
-Last year of the chunky hazard switch, replaced with small design.
-First year of the "standard" W123 climate control module.
-First year of the split second row seat in wagon models.
-First year of the electronic cruise control (not vacuum).
-Introduction of the monovalve.

1982
-First year of the tachometer in the instrument cluster (300D/TD/CD only).
-Last year of the flat metal roofs in wagon models.
-Last year of the loop-style carpet (replaced with velour).
-Last year of the single-stitch upholstery (replaced with double stitch).

1983
-Last year of the manual climate control in the US (240D only).
-Last year of the big analog clock on the 240D (only).
-First year of the roof rubber strips for luggage in wagon models.
-Last year the W123 (240D) was available with manual transmission.
-Last year for the crank-window mechanism (electric system was an option in the 240D).
-New, updated sun visor design with lights and flip mirror.

1984
-First year of the tach pickup between engine and transmission.
-First year of the ARV valve in the turbo + Different air filter housing design.

1985
-Only year with a 2.88 diesel differential as opposed to the 3.07.
-722.416 Transmission (California models only).
-Only year for California emissions models (different engine bay layout):

• Air cleaner design + hoses + brackets
• Trap oxidizer and computerized EGR
• Fender tach amp to control EGR

-Unque climate control relay
-Higher stall speed torque converter
-Seatbelt pretensioners and control unit
-"Blue saucer" transmission modulator

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Help me complete this list!

Thanks
 

I copied this thread to general information.

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Thanks, whunter! :) Everybody else, start pitching in! I know that there are two kinds of 2nd generation vacuum actuators for the door locks... I just do not know the cutting year. Any other parts like this?

The 1985 also had a unique transmission in the sedans as well as a higher stall speed torque converter.

Also 1979 was the last year of the "batwing" style headrests

In either 79 or 80 the transmission switched over to vacuum control from the old style control rod. Not 100% sure on the year since I have seen conflicting reports on that.

I am not exactly sure what years this started and stopped. The carpet went from loop to cut pile in about 1983, and the seat upholstery went from single stitch to double stitch. As far as coups are concerned, I believe that certain years (not sure if early or late) had a different front side window. There is about 1" difference in the length. The fenders in earlier models were glued on at the top and had no inner fender liner. The later models were not glued and had a full liner.

84 and 85 300D have the tach Pick up off the adaptor plate between the eng and transmission.
84 and 85 have the Rack Position Sensor on the back of the IP.
These feed into the Black box behind the pass side kick panel the 84 and 85 have, this send a sig to the EGR.

84 and 85 have the ARV valve on the turbo.

I believe the 84 and 84 SD is the same.

80 240D is the last yr for the older style door check.

83 last year W123 available with a Manual Transmission.

82 240D last year for manual window winders. noticed electric windows in some 82`s.

79 last year for the older style steering wheel with ribs on horn cap

79 last yr for the oil gauge in PSI and the Temp in "F".

80 first yr the low fuel light went from red to orange.
Charlie

My 1979 300D had the oil gauge in BAR and temp in *C

For what it's worth, mine was nearly a 1980 judging by the build date and it still has the control rod. 1980 was probably a transition year just like was for a few other things.

Another 1980 transition - the glow plugs, which transitioned in 1980 to pencil style, with a new relay, from the former loop style.

It's probably also right around that time a new main vacuum line from the pump to the booster was designed to include a second nipple to feed the transmission. My 1979 has the old style with a single nipple.

And also around when they ditched the idle control cable and knob.

I think 1981 was the last year for the engine shocks to be mounted with simple rubber buffers and metal retainers. After that the one-piece metal and rubber/plastic mounts were used, which are now so notoriously expensive.

No mono-valve before 1981

When did they move from a large clock in the gauge cluster to a tach with smaller clock inset?

the electric sunroof motor changed at one point.
the alternator bracket changed from the star bolt (ugh) to the long bolt at some point in the late 70s??

I believe that the inclusion of the tach in the instrument cluster came with the turbo in 1982. Possible exception might have been the 1981 TD, but don't own any 1981's. This means that the right portion of the later 123's instrument cluster is different from the early non-turbo models.

The front seats have 6 narrow pleats in the center between the bolsters in '84 and '85, but only five in the earlier years.

Somewhere in the '80 - '81 era, the button controlling the emergency flashers changed from a large almost square one to a smaller more rectangular one. Location of the relay also changed about that time. The grilles in front of the windshield were a 'chrome' plated style in 1982, black in '83 and later, and were possibly black earlier on.

The black plastic knob used to lock and unlock the doors is the same item for the '61 190Db, the '68 220D/8, and right thru 1985 W123 production !!!

My '81 300TD does not have the tach, and it has the large hazard button. It also has a black plastic shift surround trim versus zebreno, and has the old style window switches.

I think the flasher button changed too in 82 or so. My old 240's have the giant button the newer one has a smaller switch.

Anybody know when Mercedes changed the texture of the dashboard?

Anybody know the transmission number of the 1985 model and the previous models? I know that the California model did have a different one, not sure about the Federal model.

Thanks for the info so far, but I need specific years! On the flip side, if you see something that makes no sense and can prove it, let me know right away!