W124 dash switches
 

Hey,

I want to add heated seats to my W124 sedan. Where are the factory locations for the switches? On the base one the console like the W126?

I thought maybe I could get a 7-switch wood panel and mount them on the console (by the rear defogger, headrest switch, a/c recirc, etc, buttons)... Do panels with more then 5 buttons exist?

Thanks much for any info!

-m

The factory location for the two seat heater switches are below the ashtray, on the panel between the gear lever console and the ashtray.

You can get upper console panels (with the row of switches) in a variety of configurations. You can get up to and including the FULL ROW of cutouts for the switches. Unfortunately a new piece of wood runs between $500 and $600.

if you can find a piece of wood from an early 500E (1992 or 1993 model) it will have all cutouts except two, and the 1994 models have all cutouts except one. The piece of wood with the full row of cutouts I believe was used in the cabriolets.

Also I don't know if these pieces of wood with the higher number of cutouts were available in Zebrano wood (used in normal 124s) or burl walnut which was used in the coupe, cabrio and V8 cars. This would be worth checking out with a dealer.

I think your best bet is to purchase the smaller piece of wood (or getting it from a wrecking yard) with the two switch cutouts where the heating switches were originally intended to be. these would be far more common than the upper pieces with the higher number of cutouts.

Good luck!

Cheers,
Gerry

Have you checked out the wiring diagram for the seat heaters?

This is a modification often discussed, rarely, if ever, pulled off.

I

So other pieces exist, great! But I agree, it would be best the get the console piece to make it factory.

I have not looked at the wiring yet, but checking all my angles on hardware right now. Also am considering an aftermarket heater interfaced to an MB switch--might be a longshot I know....

Time for more digging... Thanks for the info!

-m

I got my console piece from Caliber Motors in Anaheim. It has the extra slots for the heater switches (located on the top of the console by the ashtray as gerryvz stated) , which I believe are the only new console pieces available.

I went ahead and bought heater switches as opposed to block-offs because they look better overall. Just need to tap the illumination lead off the harness to make it complete. Heated seats are not a problem in Texas!

Good luck on the heated seat project. Many have ventured, but I have yet to see a thread posting a completed job...

Sheepskins are much less hassle and $ and also cooler in the summer.

The two critical parts needed besides the switches and heating pads are a $150 wiring harness and a $250 control unit.