pre 74' & post 74' w115 Bumper and seatpad swap

[bgk202]

Does anyone know if the pre-1974 w115 bumpers will fit the post-1974 w115s . the later euro bumpers are skinnier (thinner from top to bottom) than the earlier bumpers wondering if there are clearance problems with lights, etc . . .

Also . . . My seats are basically mbtex on springs with little crunchy bits of horsehair that crumble as i drive. The post 1974 w115 pads suck. I am going to try and use w123 seat pads for the bottoms, but need new back pads and I doubt the w123 backpads will fit- anybody know if the back parts of the seatpads are interchangeable between the pre and post 1974 w115s ?

[JMURiz]

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm wondering the same thing....

[280EZRider]

The W123 seats use the horse hair as well. From what I've observed, the seats are different. Their framing are probably close enough that a W123 seat would fit in a W114/115. It would be easier to find a complete set of 123 seats at a JR, measurements permitting.

The 114 & 115 are the same chassis, so a bumper swap should be no problem. The rear Euro bumper brackets may have to be augmented due to the shock holes. I replaced my 123 DOT bumpers with Euros and it was the same situation.

[bgk202]

From past experience, the w123 front seats will fit, but you have to modify them so they are an inch or so higher - otherwise it feels like you are sitting on the floor.

The w123 rear seat bottom pads may work, but the back portion seems completely different.

Supposedly the bottom seat pads (the pad you sit on) can be swapped between the w115 and w123

The back seats seem swappable between all w115 / w114 cars. However, The pre 1974 front seats won't fit in the post 1974 w115s (they have external frame pieces which prevent them from clearing the seat belt retractor. However, I am wondering if the back parts of the seat pads (the part your back rests against) are the same for all w115 and w114 cars or if the pre and post 1974 cars use different pads?

[Zeppo2K2]

I have a few of both cars, pre and post '74. The seats interchange, but the bumpers, no. I wanted the '71 bumpers on a '76, the mounts are quite different. Regardless, the grille is different, and the small bumpers do not cover as much. The result is not pleasing unless you change the grilles, and for that you must change the front fenders too. Then the radiator opening is not same, so I gave up.

Ron

[wolf_walker]

I thought I remembered a foam pad in the w123 seat? My drivers on the w114 is pretty thin now as well, I've thought about pulling it apart and repalcing it with something in there on top of the springs.

[JMURiz]

Originally Posted by Zeppo2K2

I have a few of both cars, pre and post '74. The seats interchange, but the bumpers, no. I wanted the '71 bumpers on a '76, the mounts are quite different. Regardless, the grille is different, and the small bumpers do not cover as much. The result is not pleasing unless you change the grilles, and for that you must change the front fenders too. Then the radiator opening is not same, so I gave up.

Ron

Dang,
Guess there goes my idea.

Maybe with some work I can pull the newer impact bumpers in tighter...that might look better.

How about the rear bumper, is that a straight swap? I'd settle for just one of the better looking bumpers. I suppose I'd have to find one off of a coupe to make sure it looked correct.

[Zeppo2K2]

Hi Nathan, back in 1974 I ordered a '74 diesel for European delivery. I had seen the '73's, but not a '74. How disappointing those new bumpers where. When I got the car back into the States, I took off the bumpers and removed the 4 "shocks" that hold them. You can remove the cover from the shock, and then have a mounting plate with 4 holes welded onto it. Remount the bumpers with just the shock cover/plate. Now there's no more shock and the bumper is closer to the car. The car edges of the bumpers will be very close to the car, so that looks good. You have to trim off the ends of the rubber caps on the front bumper, as they will hang out into the front wheel opening.

Overall, it looked better, but not as nice as a Euro edition or a pre '74.

Ron

PS I sold that car in '77, was Mercedesless for years, and 2 years ago started playing with the M-B's that are topics here. They are fun!

[JMURiz]

Cool idea, that's kinda what I was thinking about doing. I guess I'll just have to free-hand trim the rubber extensions of the bumper ends to fit/look right. I knew there was a cheaper alternative ;-)

I've got a friend that is a wiz with a welder, he can probably fab, or show me how to make a bumper-shock replacement mounting plate.

Question: How many inches did you move the bumper back...just so I can get an idea of where to start?

Thanks again for all the great ideas everyone has posted on this thread.

[Mike D]

Go to a leaf spring manufacturing shop. One which installs and builds trailer hitches. They'll fix you up with some good spring steel mounts.

[bgk202]

So the bumper mount holes are different for the pre and post 1974 w115s - good to know.

How bout the post 1974 w115 euro spec bumpers? Will they fit? Those are even skinnier than the pre-1974 bumpers, but they are designed to work with the same grill and fenders I suppose. Anybody have euro spec bumpers off a 1974-1976 w115 they want to sell?

[MAKDUFF3]

The bumpers you are looking for have multiple issues with that solution.

pre 74 are 1 serie and the grill and bumpers are slightly different to fit the shape I believe
74-76 are 2 serie (facelift) and I bleive the grill is lower and slightly wider.

I could be wrong

[joshhol]

Did you check Gahh or World upholstery for the seat pads?

[gmog220d]

Originally Posted by MAKDUFF3

pre 74 are 1 serie and the grill and bumpers are slightly different to fit the shape I believe
74-76 are 2 serie (facelift) and I bleive the grill is lower and slightly wider.

Bottom edge of the grill is in more or less the same spot.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes/378173-w115-fitting-early-blade-bumpers-74-up-us-spec-chassis.html

[bgk202]

Sweet front Bumper - let me know when you get the back one on.

And as for the seats I kept the original frames and just got new pads. Back seat pads /frames seem same between early and late w115s. Never tried the pre 74' front seats/pads to see if they fit.

for the front lower pads I used w123 pads from a junkyard for the seat bottoms (fronts worked perfect, the lower back pad from a w123 will also fit - the side edges needed to be trimmed, and it seems a little higher). For front uppers, Gahh sold me some a few years ago, they were marked with a w116 part #. They fit, but took a little trimming and wrk - maybe they have better w115 pads now.