Various MB (w124) upgrades & changes
 

Can we do any of these?

- Auto up/down on all windows
- Variable intermittent wiper speeds
- Heated rear seat
- Stop Becker 1492 radio from muting between stations/tracks
- Keep antenna down when playing CD changer
- Good drink holders in W124 chassis, front and rear
- Replace W124 rear seat arm rest with W210 version which has drink holders (right?)
- Install original type power rear sunshade by myself
- Rear door retracting sun shades


Have any other improvements you would like to make? List them and let's make our cars better!

What about Xenon Headlights (subtly installed projectors maybe - a'la R129's HID)?

Steve, MBenzNL, had talked w/ SurfBlau about doing the autoup and down on his 190D (basically same system as our W124) but it was deemed to be too much effort for so little gain.

Becker radio thing.. mmmm just get a new deck, seriously, anything is better than what's already there!

- Keep antenna down when playing CD changer >> I 'd like that, especially when I play my XM radio!

- Good drink holders in W124 chassis, front and rear >> The almighty problem :( Only thing so far, is the ghetto screwed in door flip down thingies.

- Replace W124 rear seat arm rest with W210 version which has drink holders (right?) Mmm you alreday have the armrest in the driver seat, and ...well...no, you can't.

- Install original type power rear sunshade by myself >> From what I gathered, you need to get a new rear deck. I got window tint, that does the job :)

- Rear door retracting sun shades >> I know there is something for the W202, but haven't seen any for the W124

- newer W124's (93-94) had auto up/down featuring window switches, and they're direct replacement.

- not sure about the intermittent wipers, but a rain sensor sounds good, aftermarket installation is possible.

- some upholstery shops were doing heated seats by simply adding coils and they looked and performed like original equipment.

- drink holders, well i don't drink and drive, plus mine is a 5-speed and I like heel and toeing better than sipping coffee or tea :D

- rear and side sunshades might be obtained from a junkyard i guess.

The antenna thing was easy on my 400E. Bought a switch like was on our first 300E and put it in the console. There was even a cutout for it. Must have been standard on the 1990 300E and had 3 positions,,, down, halfway up and all the way up.

My 90 300CE has that antena switch on the dash. You can keep it all the way down , or anypalce in between. Stock item. Also, if I have any window down and or sun roof open and I;m ready to lock the door from outside, I hold the key in the locked position for at least 5 seconds and everything closes. Also when I put the key in the door to open up if I leave the key in the open position for at leas 5 seconds all the windows will open to any level you want, the sunroof stays closed. Is this feature stock on most Benz's??? Any other tricks like this I don't know of???

I installed a switch in my trunk to keep the antenna down on my '97 C230. I found the antenna turn on lead, and just interupted wire with the switch so it never recieves the signal from the head unit to tell it to go up, unless it's switched on. Unfortunatly, it won't go up even when I use the radio, but I only ever listen to CDs anyway.
It was very easy to do, took about 15 min. and cost less than $5.

I have a '94 and I don't have that :(

does this mean that all i need to do is buy four switches for a 93-94 and replace my 92 switches, then i'll have up/down auto feature for my windows?
please let me know
thanks

Ditto to mushedroom's question but for the antenna up down. I too have a blank switch cover on the dash of my E420. Is the wiring there for the antenna? All that is needed is to install the switch?

Thanks

Aren't these part of the convenience feature on 94-95 (even 93?) W124s? I'll have to check my CDs tonight.

you're probably right i just want to know if i bought the newer switches if they'd allow me the feature of up/down auto push windows?

Window switches: My only "auto" function is the driver's window will auto-down. Same question, is it just the switch, or is there another device required?

Wipers: Rain sensors sound like a good idea. I've never had them before. The new MB's seem to all have them as a common option. How does it work (technically) and how well does it work (practically)? Does a retrofit need to be MB parts or will 3rd party parts work?

Headlights: Is Xenon different than HID? I don't know jack about headlight technology.

Stereo mute between songs (radio) & tracks (CD): I don't consider myself an audiophile by any means, so the stock Becker 1492 system is fine. I just need sound, I just don't need songs truncated when the track starts.

Antenna: Has anyone used the 1990 300E switch in a newer system? I think the stock radios are different models.

Rear seat arm rest: I do have a front seat arm rest, but I was referring to the rear seat arm rest here. In the 1996 - 2002 E-Class, I think the rear seat arm rest had cup holders that popped out. Is that right? Can you swap arm rests?

Rear sun shade: I would like to have "stock" if possible, so I guess used parts from a car in an accident would work (costs less). I don't want window tint because you can't change it with the push of a button.

Side door sun shades: This was never an option in a W124 to my knowledge, but you could get them in a W126. I was wondering if there was any nice after-market system for W124.


Great discussion, keep it up!

antenna down when CD inserted
 

On the antenna up/down. When I purchased my '89 300CE, the PO had a Kenwood single CD player in the car. I noticed that when a CD is inserted for play, the antenna retracts into the trunk. (Also have the switch on the console, but isn't really needed.)

it goes down because you're not using the radio where the antenna is needed...


also about the window switches i found out that it's a CCM module that does all the thinking, not the switches...drat!!!!