W123 Test How Well do you KNOW your parts?
 

I am currently involved in Pis.......g contest with a guy on ebay that I bought an arm rest "from a 1984 300D". I have: 1978 300SD (W116 Chassis), 1979 300D (W123 Chassis), 1980 300SD (W116 Chassis), 1984 300SD (W126 Chassis), 1982 240D (W123 Chassis), 1985 300TD (W123 Chassis). I know these cars pretty well as far as the interchangeability of the parts since I' ve had to revive some, and canabalized some to do it. Anyway, I need an arm rest for my 300TD, what he sent me was clearly from a W116 chassis, I know because I'm sitting here looking at the one I have from MY W116 that I can't use....

The guy has told me that the W123 came with different kinds of seats & armrests, but every W123 I've seen came with the arm rest with the pushbutton on the side, is thinner than the W116 armrest, etc. The palomino is from my wagon, the dark brown is the one he sent to me.

I suggested I post the pics & let other owners tell me I'm completely wrong - I'm willing to be completely wrong, but he isn't.... Can the dark brown one possibly be from a 1984 300D W123 Chassis Mercedes? Just hoping to take a poll.....

http://personalpages.tds.net/~garrott/ebay/arm1.JPG
http://personalpages.tds.net/~garrott/ebay/arm2.JPG
http://personalpages.tds.net/~garrott/ebay/arm3.JPG


I'm willing & anxious to learn!

Doug

I'm not real sure what this post if about, but in that first picture you posted, the one with the big round button is the one that is in 1983 300TD if that helps you.

Pete

My 77 300d does not have the pushbutton on the armrest. Was purchased in Europe on the 'Buy in Europe' program.

123 Armrest
 

Sorry if I was not clear - but I'm asking this:

On a W123 chassis are there more than 1 kind of arm rests?

I say, no - there is only 1 kind of arm rest that will fit a W123 chassis seat.

The other guy says there are more than 1 kind of arm rest for a W123 chassis.

The photos are of MY armrest (Palomino - needs replacing), and the arm rest the guy sold me as a W123 (brown, to replace my armrest).

I say the brown one is a W116 chassis arm rest.

Who is right?

I was hoping for some arbritation here! As they say - it isn't the money, it is the point!

Doug

More than one kind.

There were a lot of changes to the W123 for 1980. The texture of the dashboard, the steering wheel pad, the seats, the headliner, instruments went from english to metric, etc. 77-79 was more "W116-like" and 80-85 was more "W124-like". I know these things because there are two pre-80 240Ds in the local scrap yard with lots of good parts I can't use. I don't know specifically about the armrest, but wouldn't be surprised if there are two versions.

There were different shaped armrests.

First noting that MB-Tex vs Leather armrests. When i was recovering my 1981 armrest, seems like there were 3-4 different ones and it made buy the cover difficult.


Darker brown one looks closer to my 1981. I thought 1981 was the dividing year. Seat backs got thinner, cargo netting frame changed etc etc...


Michael

The armrest in my '82 240D (W123) does not have the push button lock release.

I have a pair of '82 300Ds. The one with MBTex seats has an armrest without a pushbutton lock. The one with leather seats has an armrest with the pushbutton. As far as I know they are both original.

Cheers,
Wes

Thanks for the input on this, and yes, I spent the day finding a friend who has the thicker non pushbutton armrest on his 300D (non turbo). So, with a little asking and casting about I find there are at least two different armrests (and a lot of other minor differences as well) amoung the 123 chassis cars. In case it would ever come up, the two armrests are interchangeable. The thinner button armrest has a steel plate which supports it inside the seat back. When this plate is removed the thicker 116 style bolts right in. Looks good in the car since I have dark brown seatcovers.

I think I may generally learn more when I am wrong than when I am right about most things.

Thanks for your time and information
Doug