New member of the cheap wagon club - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #16 08-21-2008, 02:04 AM

Despite being the dynamic duo pictured in this thread, Jimmy and I differ on interior tastes. I think leather feels better, and can hold up just as well as MBTex if conditioned regularly. The feel and the smell, oh and the looks.

EvanB · #17 08-21-2008, 02:22 AM

I will take a picture of the dash and more of the interior later but there are about 4 or 5 cracks on the dash. Definitely nothing like an Ohio car but I will take a cracked dash over rust any day.

How do you tell the difference between the leather and MB-Tex? (sorry I'm new to Mercedes). The seats are pretty cracked and there is a nice big hole in the rear seat covered by a stylish custom t-shirt seat cover.

Oh yea, back before the previous owner purchased it (probably early 90s) it was in an accident and the rear drivers side quarter panel was replaced but the door jamb was never pulled out so it is a few centimeters in from where it is supposed to be, it is not the prettiest car but it does run and drive great.

TylerH860 · #18 08-21-2008, 02:37 AM

5 pleats for leather and 4 pleats for tex on older models. Newer tex is harder to tell, but I think there's more/different stitching to leather.

daw_two · #19 08-21-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I didn't like the blue leather seats in my '85 wagon and swapped them for some nice blue MB Tex seats from a Euro wagon {no nets!

}
I hope to swap the 2 leather seats from Smash with 2 nice blue MB Tex seats someday......

Okay, Jimmy, I just want to know why the preference of nice blue MB Tex over leather seats? Oh, by the way, I happen to know someone that has some nice blue MB Tex seats.

vstech · #20 08-21-2008, 09:01 AM

nope. I got dibs on leather for tex swap... I asked first!

SwampYankee · #21 08-21-2008, 10:28 AM

Nice find, Evan!

I'd welcome you to the CWC but my membership is still pending approval.

JimmyL · #22 08-21-2008, 10:41 AM

I am simply basing my preference on the condition that 25+ year old leather is in when I seem to find it these days. It usually hasn't been conditioned properly to last and be in as good of shape as the MB Tex appears to be in, and the Tex probably hasn't had any conditioning either.
That is my only preference for Tex over the leather. Tyler, I could only hope that my leather in either wagon looked as nice as yours. You are certainly the royalty of the Cheap Wagon Club!
I have a blue leather passenger seat in pretty good shape that I pulled out of the '85 wagon, but the driver's seat had a couple of splits in it.

and here is my awful leather back seat. It appears the seats were folded up most of the time and crammed into the back of the front seats.

**those were early pics. The netting was certainly tightened up pronto, but the Euro seats in the front now have no netting, just a smooth back!

EvanB · #23 09-01-2008, 04:45 PM

Mini update on the wagon. Got a new windshield put in and have been driving it, went to the junkyard yesterday for some parts and got a blower motor since the one in it was pretty tired. I still need a heater valve, the previous owner took the faulty one off and looped the coolant lines so the heat is always on even though the A/C has been extensively gone through I cannot use it or even see if it still works.

It makes a whining sound around 35mph that goes up in pitch depending on how much the accelerator is depressed, does not go up in pitch with speed. Not sure what that is about.

The front suspension is pretty creaky, are there grease fittings to lube the front end or is it just tired? The front suspension was rebuilt in 2001.

I am still looking for some new seats, I would really like some cloth seats, does anyone have pictures of cloth euro seats in a wagon? Also, will seats from newer wagons fit mine?

UriahT · #24 09-01-2008, 04:58 PM

Your wagon will fit most all seats from 77-85, sedan included (if you're talkin front seats).
Cloth interiors are real hard to find in the states. Your best bet is to put up a wanted in the parts section.

Welcome to the world of Mercedes w123 front suspension. You will need to be more specific than creaky (at speed, coming to a stop, turning, etc), as there's a lot to go wrong! There isn't much to lube, either... Best bet is to take a look underneath and see if any rubber bushings look like they're on their way out. Tightening a few things sometimes helps.

EvanB · #25 09-01-2008, 04:59 PM

Creaky as in coming to a stop, going over bumps at slow speeds, and bouncing it up and down while parked.

EvanB · #26 09-01-2008, 06:13 PM

I have also been dealing with a leak on the passenger side. I cleaned out the sunroof drains and by the hood hinges but it still is coming in the front of the passenger floorboard and running back to the rear seats. Any ideas where it could be coming from?

Chad300tdt · #27 09-01-2008, 06:32 PM

Take out the battery and look for holes under it.

Also, you just had the windshield replaced ... did they use sealant along the pillars before the pulled the window in place? If they didn't, get a tube of Butyl Rubber Sealant and put masking tape all around the seal covering the paint. Then squeeze the sealant under the seal all the way around just until it starts to come out of under the seal. Then wipe up the excess with mineral spirits and pull the tape off when you're done.

EvanB · #28 09-01-2008, 08:12 PM

There are rust holes under the battery but I didn't know that would cause leaks, should I just put the battery in a plastic tray or something to cover the holes?

I'm not sure if they used sealant when replacing the windshield but it does have a brand new seal.

Chad300tdt · #29 09-01-2008, 08:45 PM

The holes in the tray aren't a problem, it's where the tray attaches to the firewall. If there is rust there, you most likely have water entering there.

I would look under the battery tray first, then use a garden hose to track down the entry point of the water. No need to go through the effort of sealing the windshield if that isn't the problem.

EvanB · #30 09-02-2008, 04:01 PM

I found the problem after I pulled the battery tray, these pictures were after I washed the thick layer of battery acid off everything.

Now, what is the easiest way to go about fixing it? I know I could cut new metal panels and JBweld/seal them in but that seems like quite a hassle in this area. Any easier fixes?