How to remove W123 A/C system
 

I want to entirely remove the A/C from a 1983 200D. There's significant damage to it and a lot of cheap aftermarket parts. I'm not sure what was original because even the back of the control switch is jerry-rigged. The compressor and tubes routed to underneath the battery tray do appear original however. I took off the panel under the dash on the passenger side and can see a blower motor inside of some encasing with a bunch of tubes coming out for the vents, but am not really sure what to do here. Also the "small radiator" in front of the main radiator - is that just for the A/C and can be removed? Can somebody please give me some guidance? I'd like the car to end up being as though it shipped from the factory without A/C.

Non ac W123s are very common over here. They have a different blower fan heater box set up. How far do you want to go? Do you want to rip out the whole thing inside the car? I reckon you could probably remove it without removing the dash but I think with the dash out it goes a lot easier...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...eater-gone.jpg

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...pping-out2.jpg

(Pictures in this thread http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/body-repair-restoration/303669-my-w123-saloon-sedan-old-accident-repair-bit-rust-repair-thread.html)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...er-blower1.jpg

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...er-blower2.jpg

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...er-blower3.jpg

(These pictures are from this thread http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305936-everybody-better-take-care-their-123-blowers.html)

I was planning on replacing the dash at some point, so I could do both at the same time. I want the car to be as identical as possible to one that shipped without A/C in it. Will I need to source one of these different heater boxes and/or anything else I haven't got already?

The goal for this car is simplicity - it's got the smallest engine, no cruise control, manual transmission, manual windows, manual sunroof, manual climate controls. It had vacuum-adjust headlights originally but those were removed years ago - I got new euro manual-adjust ones and removed the vacuum tube for the headlights...still need to follow the other one (just capped off for now), and I plan on removing all the vacuum locking mechanisms and having fully manual door locks.

Ummm to be honest I'm not 100% sure about the heater box itself - I've only ever seen the version in the pictures shown above. If I had EPC I could probably get further on that answer for you - but I don't.

There's always the Russian EPC but it is a bit of a stripped down version - try

EverythingBenz - Mercedes-Benz Forum and Web Search Using Google



Perhaps someone else can help with an A/C heater box picture?



As for stripping out vacuum stuff and going basic - take a look at the vacuum diagrams in the FSM. Some of the more basic uropean models should do. My 123.130 doesn't have much on it. No AC, no cruise control, no electric windows, manual sunroof - hey sunroof - now there's a thought you could always remove that and block up the hole couldn't you?