If you R&R a door panel on a 124 it will just break. The map pockets and arm rest on my front door panels were barely holding onto the panel by the brittle plastic welded buttons. The vinyl trim was peeling up from the top of the panels due to shrinkage. I managed to fix the vinyl by epoxying it back and replacing the buttons with screws. Those panels are by far the cheapest crap I've seen in an expensive car.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

But isn't that the point? Most cars have extra understeer dialed in at the factory to make them "safe" for the worst drivers out there. But with enough driving experience and skills, having a car that has that "push" feeling when driving around town is not very satisfying, even in a wagon loaded with kids.

In my case, I would leave my wagon's suspension stock as I'm not the only driver. In one of my prior cars where I had my suspension dialed in to be neutral, my wife looped it on a rainy day, so I don't want to repeat that in any car that she might ever drive.

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1970 280SE Cab
1983 300D Euro 4-speed
past MB's:
1971 280SE 3.5 s/r
1981 300D
1985 300TD
1987 300TD

This kid loves those uncool, smelly old cars. Because of the lastest diesel craze, 4 out of 5 cars in my row of the parking lot don't have spark plugs. Add a straight pipe, and that car gets plenty of respect, not for the reason that I like it, but Civic's are more of a "spoiled brat" car around here. And yes, I did adjust my ALDA to blow smoke, because Diesel Dust is inherently cool. Tell your kids to "Quicher*****in"

Thats because you or the previous owner was used to R&R of door panels on a w123. I broke some of the clips on my w124 the first time I removed a panel as I thought it was like on my w123 where you pulled out then lifted. On a w124, the panel just lifts up, if you try to pull out first, you break the clips.

The downside is that the clips are part of the panel and are not replaceable without replacing the panel.

I actually thought the panel on the w124 was made on a thicker hardboard and feels more solid compared to the panel on the w123.

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1970 280SE Cab
1983 300D Euro 4-speed
past MB's:
1971 280SE 3.5 s/r
1981 300D
1985 300TD
1987 300TD

I knew the panel lifted out. The clips themselves were not broken, only the plastic welded buttons that held the map pocket and armrests were broken or ready to break. I've not needed to remove any of the panels on my 123's and they still look great.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

The 124 door panels are usually fine as long as a previous owner/mechanic hasn't broken the clips. The little plastic 'welds' are annoying if they break or pull through, but the factory procedure to replace the arm rest or other items is to screw them on using wide washers. So, I just keep a bunch of the proper size (#8?) screws & washers around, and button things up any time I have the panel off. What's worse is when the armrest hooks are broken, again usually by someone who doesn't know what they're doing. In that case you have to replace the armre$t.

About the suspension, understeer, etc... this is heavily a personal preference thing, and as "luvthe111" explained, it can be dangerous if you let someone else drive that car. Me, I like minimal body roll, with just a touch of understeer.

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Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

I hate R&Ring 124 door panels. Still haven't mounted my "new" late-model leather insert panels cuz I haven't "Zen-ed" up enough to take on the project. 124 panels are thicker and inherently sturdier than 123's, with the exception of the silly plastic hooks that break off.

btw: I've successfully grafted intact hooks from an old door panel and glued them to a panel with broken hooks. It requires the patience of Job and attention to detail, but it does work.

I'm sure the hooks could be fixed using a good epoxy but I've been lucky that the hooks on mine were still intact.
I fixed the broken weld tabs by just drilling holes and using large headed screws.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

The hooks may be fixable, IF you have the other part that broke off. If you bought a set of used door panels that have broken hooks, it's a lot harder to patch those up.

On a side note, the late 124's with door speakers have felt lining between the door panel and the door, to help stop rattles and dampen sound a bit. They're about $10-$15 each and are adhesive backed. Oddly, for the pair I ordered, the left side is 1mm thick and the right side is 3mm thick. Weird. I took photos but haven't uploaded them yet.

You think that's wierd? What about the mismatched sized mirrors on the 124? I thought someone replaced the passenger side mirror with a different one on mine but then I saw others were the same. Now that's weird.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

my 89 CE leather is close to perfect.... I would like to treat it in the spring. My sons 89 e MB Tex is perfect. Both are light grey.

I have heard Leatherique put on on a warm/hot day and just let it soak in.

anyone use that method

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


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