My 1991 124 does not seem to blow any heat from the center two vents, only the side vents. Any suggestions? Is it only for A/C?

CJ,

I don't think the center vents are intended to blow air from the heater, only the A/C.

After doing some research, on this site, it appears that the "vacuum pods" might be bad. How do I get to them, what do they lookmlike, how do you test them,etc...??

To get at the vacuum pods, unscrew and take out the rugged cover on the lower right hand side of the passenger footwell, then unscrew the rug covered dash below the glove compartment, watching out to unplug a small electric blower motor that is attached on the inside when you pull it out, then unscrew the rug that sits on the side of the transmission. Then pull the rug back and you will clearly see the vacuum pods.

CJ,
Look in your owners manual (if you have one). It will tell you how the air blows. As far as the "vacuum pods", in the 124's, the whole dash has to come out to see all of them. There is 7 of them, if I remember correctly.

same as my w123
 

CJ, I would find out for sure if the center is supposed to blow first, as the manual clearly states that my '85 300D(w123) only uses the center ducts for cool air. In fact, as soon as I switch from cool to warm air the center ducts audibly close. If the center ducts work when the temp switch is set to cool then you should be fine. BTW, I too wish that heat would come out the center ducts, especially when it is cold. Good luck.

As European models are not that luxurious that often, I know there are some differences in heater systems (even in the current E-class and W202 C-class).
If mercedes builds a car with a heater only (no airco or climate control) the center vents are only used for bringing in fresh air and are not able to bring in heated air at any time(as in zachv's W123/with airco?).

However if the car has got an optional (probably standard in the US) airco or climate control, the center vents can bring in heated air if the heater is in use (in combination with fresh air from outside) and the heated temperature floating from these center vents IS not as high as the temperature coming from all the other vents.
Probably a bad vacuum pod; and I think this specific pod is situated somewhere on top of the heater housing (as with my C-class) and not easy to reach (removing the complete dash).

greetingz,

MBenz,

About six months ago, I was sitting in a meeting in Eindhoven and, looking out the window, saw a huge badge on the rear of a Benz that said something like 300-24. In the US, you would not see that badge. They, of course, send us the M104, 24 valve engine, just no badge as such. The letters were the largest I had ever seen on the back of a Benz.

I spent about 7 weeks of last year in Europe and I don't remember seeing such a badge in Germany or elsewhere. Is this a Holland thing? Maybe these are just rare in Europe.

Have a great day,

Larry,

In Europe (not only in the Netherlands) Mercedes provided, during a couple of years (I think "89 till "94) some of their models (like the W124 and the R129) with two different types of 3 liter engines.
The customer could choose for a 300-12 valve engine (like in the W107, early W124, and W126...)
or a 300-24 valve engine (which obvious was standard in the US).
Some of the MB owners (especially Dutch ones) think it is necessary to let the world know that they spend more money on their car by getting the 24 valve engine instead of the 12 valve engine. Just to show those extra costs, they have the (original MB) badge 300CE-24 stuck on their car...

Germans do not brag that much about their car and drive non-badged cars (mostly).

greetingz,

CJ:
In re-reading my owners manual, I learned the followingabout the climate control pushbuttons and how they change air flow from the center vent:
The button "black arrow up/white arrow down" is the recommended normal setting for cooling and humidity control. Warm air is given priority flow to the feet area, but also comes out the side and center dash vents, and a small amount to the windshield dash vents to keep it clear.

The button "white arrow up/white arrow down" is multi level for "clearing a fogged windshield-As soon as the windshield is cleared, reset to normal or EC mode". Warm air may only periodically come from center vents in this mode, depending on interior temperature. Also, "prolonged use of this mode may cause condensation on outside windshield in warm, humid climates". (It does!)

So it looks like the black up/white down button is the place to leave it. Try this button and see if that changes the air flow from the center vent.