Use of w116-style steering wheel on late w108's - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PaulC · #1 07-01-2011, 11:04 PM

Did MB ever equip the late w108's with the w116 steering wheel?

Tomguy · #2 07-01-2011, 11:12 PM

Paul: To my knowledge both the steering wheel and the shift gate in that vehicle are 116 and not correct for the 108. I've seen a few like it around me though - there used to be a big MB place we took ours years ago that had a few nicer ones with that. Pretty sure they were replaced due to cracks in the wheel & the broken plastic insert in the shift gate.

ScooterABC · #3 07-05-2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomguy

Paul: To my knowledge both the steering wheel and the shift gate in that vehicle are 116 and not correct for the 108. I've seen a few like it around me though - there used to be a big MB place we took ours years ago that had a few nicer ones with that. Pretty sure they were replaced due to cracks in the wheel & the broken plastic insert in the shift gate.

Interesting. Are you suggesting that the 116 shift gate and steering wheel could possibly be considered an "upgrade" to the 108? I find that to be preposterous, particularly with the shift gate.

I have "un-retrofitted" my 1971 250 C (W114) from the plastic shift gate to a chrome shift gate which looks much nicer.

The plastic insert in the chrome shiftgate is replacable. The cracks in the steering wheel can only be fixed by restoration (filling and painting), but minor cranks in my opinion provide character and a vintage feel.

My 2 cents...

ScooterABC · #4 07-05-2011, 05:34 PM

And while I'm on my soapbox, could we lose the aftermarket AM/FM/Cassette deck in favor of a Becker pinstripe with a iPod/MP3 input jack....???

Tomguy · #5 07-05-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScooterABC

Interesting. Are you suggesting that the 116 shift gate and steering wheel could possibly be considered an "upgrade" to the 108? I find that to be preposterous, particularly with the shift gate.

Hell no. "Nicer ones" as in nicer than MY 108, relatively rust-free. I would take the chrome gate & larger bakelite wheel any day.

JimFreeh · #6 07-06-2011, 10:30 AM

Late W108/W109 had the "normal" shift pattern, with the black gate as shown on the OP pic.

The early cars had the backwards chrome shifter, with park to the rear.
Which, if you think about it, made sense. Neutral in the middle, reverse to the rear, and drive toward the front.

My 69 6.3 had the chrome backwards shifter, my 71 250C has the later style (as shown) with the normal pattern.

Jim

Tomguy · #7 07-06-2011, 10:21 PM

There were multiple shift styles in the 108/109/111/112 vehicles, and all of them that had console shifters came with chrome from the factory to my knowledge. My 108 - like all console-shift 4.5's - is PRNDSL, with P towards the front (opposite layout of the 6.3) and chrome.

ScooterABC · #8 07-06-2011, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomguy

There were multiple shift styles in the 108/109/111/112 vehicles, and all of them that had console shifters came with chrome from the factory to my knowledge. My 108 - like all console-shift 4.5's - is PRNDSL, with P towards the front (opposite layout of the 6.3) and chrome.

My understanding is that when MB went to a different type of automatic transmission, the pattern switched to have P on top. I was not aware of any 108s that had P on bottom - only 111 and 110 cars... This is why I'm surprised that the 6.3 had P on the bottom.

All 114/115 cars have P on top, and early 114/115 cars have chrome surrounds, later have plastic shift surrounds. I switched mine from plastic to chrome.

alabbasi · #9 07-07-2011, 02:37 PM

The shifter looks correct on the W108 pictured, the steering wheel is from a later car. I think that MB moved away from the chrome shifter in 71 (give or take). Early 6.3's and W113 pagoda SL's had the reverse shifter.

79Mercy · #10 07-07-2011, 02:42 PM

W108's got the soft vinyl steering wheel in very 1973. That would also explain the black shift gate, The car in the picture is a very late 1973 car.

ScooterABC · #11 07-08-2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Mercy

W108's got the soft vinyl steering wheel in very 1973. That would also explain the black shift gate, The car in the picture is a very late 1973 car.

I thought "very late 1973" would mean that it wasn't a 108 anymore since 116s were in production then.... or is my calendar broken....?

D&W · #12 07-09-2011, 05:05 AM

there is a lot of w108's in australia with those plastic wheels pictured. i think they may have come like that

79Mercy · #13 07-09-2011, 12:18 PM

108 and 116 were made along side each other sometime during the year 1973. Some of the last W108's to be built got the newer padded steering wheel and the illuminated shifter gate.

Tomguy · #14 07-09-2011, 09:50 PM

My 108's is chrome and the chrome is illuminated. I didn't know any 108/109 vehicles were made in 1973, I thought the ones sold as 1973 in the US were built in 1972 and it just took that long for them to "Cross the pond".
http://mercedesw108w109.com/108and109.html

Unless my source data is wrong, 11/72 is the last time they were made in Stuttgart.