cup holders for MB
 

Hello Everyone
I have a common complaint.
No cup holders in my 1985 300SD.
Must have my coffee.
Our accessory store has them for $25.00 USD.
I will use one cup slot for the vacuum gauge I am adding; and the other for my coffee, the expanding pocket for my MB diesel service CD.
It fits on the center console passanger side of the shift lever
I will post pictures of what they have later.
What do you think?
Do you have alternatives, better, cheaper?

I'm a great fan of gauges (I have an EGT, boost, and voltmeter in my '84 300SD), but I'm dying to know what the vacuum gauge is for?

please post picts of your "custom" gauges....

i love knowing what people do there -

thanks
Jake

system monitor, leak detector - warning device
 

Hello Everyone
With so many systems depending upon good vacuum supply; it is common sense to have a gauge to watch when the supply drops off.
I will post pictures of the gauge when I can.
They are out of stock on the cup holder at the moment.:rolleyes:

:rolleyes:

i too, want complete instrumentation.

the vacuum gauge is an indicator of engine load (at least in gas engines, which have throttled intakes). The closer the intake manifold pressure is to atmospheric (i.e., the higher the reading on the MB vacuum gauge), the higher the load.

i monitor the vacuum gauge on cold mornings when I warmup the engine. Sometimes, a higher reading results when the computer is trying to compensate for less-than-optimal conditions, while it tries to maintain idle speed.

when idling with the airconditioner on in summer, or when power-hungry electrical devices are on (e.g. window defroster, seat heaters, which impose a load on the alternator), the computer will try to maintain idling speed, which will manifest as a higher reading on the vacuum gauge.

if the reading is unusually high when you are idling with no other loads on the engine (e.g., airconditioner, electrical/alternator), it could indicate impending engine trouble, like what happens when my O2 sensor is going bad.

if you have your cruise control on and you encounter a hill, you will see the vacuum gauge reading rise, as the computer tries to maintain the set speed.

The fuel/H2O temp/oil/econo gauge can be swapped into your 1985 300SD instrument cluster from a similar vintage gas 126 and the vacuum (econo) gauge will be right there. Just tee into the appropriate vacuum line that you want to monitor. I did it, but reset the needle on the econo gauge so that it is now a boost gauge and tapped into a boost pressure line (the bourbon style gauges swing both ways ;))

The lack of cup holders in a M-B is what makes the real distinction of a European automobile. I personally like the fact that my 300D does not have them. It keeps me from bringing anything into the car that would potentially leak or spill onto the upholstery and rugs. I think that was the idea M-B had when they purposely omitted installing this accessory.
Have you ever tried cleaning spilled coffee from an interior?:eek:

I've been told that in Germany it's considered to be in bad taste (no pun intended) to eat or drink in your car. Thusly, the Germans felt it unnecessary to have cup holders, especially in higher end cars. Only recently have the europeans reluctantly added those goodies to accomodate US demand.

Basically anything that you can eat in a car ends up tasting bad anyway.:D

Bump
 

Still looking for cup holders in my 1985 300SD.
Must have my coffee.
Our accessory is out of them.
Do you know of any that will fit?

I was told the same thing basicaly by a friend who's grandparents are German. She said to her grandfather, driving was a very serious thing, they talk about it, write about it, prepare for it, and to do anything other than DRIVE is almost like some sort of sin. It was a little comical, but I respect it.

If I never ate or drank in my cars I'd starve or dehydrate. I drive too much.

My mom's cousin and I made a custom cup-holder for my SD. IT really turned out well and can hold the 32oz fountain cups. I'll try to post a pic soon. We stained it and then poly'ed it, really looks nice. It will look even nicer after I redo all the wood this summer.
Thanks
David

How about one to fit a "Bierstein"?

cup holders
 

you may be able to find something suitable (ie. not plastic..) at a marine supply store. i recall seeing some cool looking gimballed stainless steel jobs a while back. maybe they would have 'em in teak as well.
just a thought...

Bierstein, I like that, that's funny. My helper is real big on German things like furniture and has a colection of biersteins.
David