The interior color code on my 1987 300D is 175. According to one chart it translates to "Mushroom", according to the dealer it is "Cream". Dealer also says the same color is called "Parchment" in later years.

So are the three colors the same? When buying used parts the color code is generally not stated, just the color name.

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Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

I was researching something similar so thought I would use this thread.

My car has upholstery code 154A. Anyone know what the 'A' signifies?

Code 154 is in some references Palomino and in other Java. A German site calls it Date. From my other old car, I know that codes can mean different things for different model years. To add to confusion, it also seems that seats, doors and dash are not exactly the same color. Maybe due to fading or different materials.

World Upholstery have their own (yet similar) numbering system. They have both Java and Palomino and they are quite different.


I am looking to buy touch up dye for my 1985 300D. Anyone solved this problem?

Here is picture of interior:


World Upholstery Java (768).....................World Upholstery Palomino (134)

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

It depends what you are using as a reference.

All the USA sales brochures refer to this color (xx5) as "Cream-Beige" for the 124 chassis, though 1993 model year (pre-facelift). The color did change on 124 facelift models (1994-1995 for USA 124's) to "Parchment", again as shown in USA (and Canadian) color brochures. The name "cream-beige" was also used in European (German) sales brochures for pre-facelift 124's.

The term "mushroom" appears in the EPC and some other places, and this term appears to refer to the color code, i.e. xx5. However the term "mushroom" does not indicate which specific color is referred to, cream or parchment. Therefore, "mushroom" must also accompany a model year or VIN to determine the actual color. I greatly dislike the term "mushroom" for the reason that it is non-specific. You need to know the model year or VIN to determine if it's "mushroom cream-beige", or "mushroom parchment".

When buying used parts, you'll need to get the model year for USA cars, to determine if you're buying a cream or parchment item. The two are very similar, but NOT the same, see pics below.

FYI, the same issue is present for code xx4, this is Palomino through 1993, and Saddle on 94-95, for the 124 chassis. There is less confusion over xx4 because the colors are very different visually and almost nobody uses the term "Date" that appears in the EPC to refer to the code. Strange that a ton of people like "mushroom" but nobody wants to use "date".


Note that neither "Mushroom" nor "Date" appears anywhere in the color brochures below. They're not used in any of the USA brochures during W124 production (1986-1995). I have all of them. I checked.

Link to PDF of 1993 USA color brochure:
http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/articles/1993_brochures/1993_USA_paintwork+upholstery.pdf

Link to PDF of 1994 USA color brochure:
http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/articles/1994_brochures/1994_USA_paintwork+upholstery.pdf











http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_stuff/color_change_94-95/cream_vs_creme_F+S.jpg

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Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

The color links above are useful but it seems do not cover the earlier cars and in particular the W123.

Anyone know of a source for similar brochures covering the W123 to 1985?

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Sorry. Original question was about the W124 chassis and Cream vs Parchment. Your quesiton is very different as the color change occured in the 1990's, well after W123 production ceased. You might want to post a new/separate thread for your W123 color question.

I can tell you that for the W123, code xx4 was Palomino. The term "Java" was not used until at least the late 1990's. Remember that we are discussing FACTORY terms for color codes, not aftermarket! Aftermarket vendors (for dye, leather, carpet, Tex, etc) often use different/incorrect names. Don't trust anything you see on aftermarket sites. Also keep in mind that colors fade drastically after 30+ years in the sun and Palomino is famous for uneven fading, which is why it's often referred to as "pinkomino"...