Interior swap: 1988-1990SE into 1983SD.........???? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jpchleapas · #1 12-06-2006, 02:25 AM

I found a parts car with a really nice interior in a 1990 300SE. I know the MB leather seats alone are worth the price I am paying for the running parts car. I have a 1983 Florida 300sd with a severely sun baked interior. The door panels are spider cracked at the very tops. The MB Tex seats are still relatively intact except the padding is totally shot in the rear seat and the passenger seat. The headliner/door panel trim around the passenger door is coming off. So the plan is to have the whole 1990 300SE interior swapped into my car. I am predicting it will be pretty expensive. The 1990 300SE really has a sweet interior. I owned a 1990 300se gasser myself that I sold a while back. I would like the dash, door panels, and basically everything I can swap over save the carpets put in my car. The car will then be painted in the spring to the original ivory or eggshell MB factory color. So here are my questions;

1) I am figuring/guestimating around $1500+ or so for skilled labor for the swap. I have read that it has been done in 16 hours by someone who is good and knew what they were doing. I can save a few dollars by removing my back and front seats, headliner, door panels etc from my 1983 300SD. But I want a skilled person to do the removal and installation of the 1990 interior into my car to avoid damaging it. I can also swap over the newer rear tail lights and some other parts like some of the SE exterior trim to replace some of my sun baked trim pieces.

2) Since the dashboard is coming out is a preemptive A/C control rebuild a good idea at this time since the dash will be out? The A/C in my 1983 300sd is ice cold and it is working well with the exception of one of the two fan speeds is not currently working.

3) Transmission? Is the transmission in the 1990 300se compatible with my 1983 transmission meaning will it bolt right in? It might not be a bad idea to have a spare transmission core in my garage for a future replacement.

4) The rear window seal replacement now seems like a good idea since the rear hat deck will be coming out for the 1990 one. I might also have the 1990SE rear bumper put on my car. Call my 1983 300sd a "restomod" after this.

I had basically bought this car for my Dad. He is now fading a bit after brain surgery for a ventricular shunt and he is still unable to drive. So for now it has become my car. It sat for 4 months and started right up a few weeks ago. The body is almost rust free. I have a really sweet MB wood steering wheel for it that will fit nicely on the tilt column from the 300SE swap into my car. The 300sd front end was just rebuilt and the car is mechanically sound. Even the cruise control works on my car. The motor was rebuilt and it still shifts pretty good. I want to keep it for a good second car. It is a blast to drive around in. I have new Bilstein shocks for it to be installed with the replacement stereo. It has new shocks on it now but they were cheap and leave me cold. Still this car for a 4,000 pound monster with the rebuilt front end corners on winding roads fairly impressively. Any thoughts on this interior swap plan of mine would be appreciated? I will then sell the remaining carcass and the good gasser motor for a few hundred dollars local to me. Thanks! John

SD Blue · #2 12-06-2006, 11:20 AM

I would think that as long as you are going 126 to 126, you should be in pretty good shape. I know that many interior parts, I have salvaged, may have some differences but usually mount the same. (The only exception on the 126 that I have heard about is with the reclining rear seat for the SDL and 560SEL.)

Transmission, even takes the same modulator valve and filter kit. So your spare idea might be good.

Air conditioning rebuild? I was trying to think if there is anything inside other than the evaporator. And if it is ice cold, why would you break into the system?

Maybe someone here, that has done a little more parts swapping than I have, will chime in.

Johnhef · #3 12-06-2006, 11:30 AM

I have a 500SEL with a newer interior in it- It can be done but somethings will have to be rewired such as the front seats, for them to work.

jpchleapas · #4 12-06-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Blue

I would think that as long as you are going 126 to 126, you should be in pretty good shape. I know that many interior parts, I have salvaged, may have some differences but usually mount the same. (The only exception on the 126 that I have heard about is with the reclining rear seat for the SDL and 560SEL.)

Transmission, even takes the same modulator valve and filter kit. So your spare idea might be good.

Air conditioning rebuild? I was trying to think if there is anything inside other than the evaporator. And if it is ice cold, why would you break into the system?

Maybe someone here, that has done a little more parts swapping than I have, will chime in.

The 300SE and the 300SD are both the "short" W126 versions with nearly the same length. The difference is prolly the bumper length on these cars. The interiors and the seats look the same. There is no reclining rear seats on the 300SE. Thanks for your reply. Anyone else care to jump in who has done it, or paid for it to be done? I know there must be other's here with aging interiors like mine more fit to carry live stock than people still driving around who might be lurking with info I can use to make my final decision. Thanks again folks for any help.. Taking care of my Dad as his primary care giver 24/7/365 over the last two years has been trying at times. I am in need a project to help take my mind off my current situation like this. The 300SD drives too nicely to let it slowly turn into a yard ornament. A very good car cover is on the way to help avoid future sun damage issues. John

Johnhef · #5 12-06-2006, 12:27 PM

ok then, do it, it will all fit.

take front and rear seats out and center console. the main carpet will come out easily then. make two harnesses for the front seats of 8 wires 1 ft long or so and attach the body plug to it and plug each correct wire into the individual motor plugs under the seat, the seat modules wont be needed. swap out your door panels, pillar trim panels, etc and thats pretty much it.