Wagon Noob... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ghoti · #1 08-03-2010, 07:29 PM

I just bought a 1992 W124 300TE 4Matic wagon. 161k miles.

The locks are not working. I can look each individually by hand, but sometimes the passenger door lock pops back up.

The 4Matic light came on???

Other than that, love these things. Wifie really loves that it's MB AND seven passenger!

Any pointers on how to get the middle seats to lay flat? I can get the bottoms to go forward, but not the tops to lay down.

I'm not hugely worried about it, but the heater lines that run into the windshield washer tank are capped. Is that common on these? Do those lines leak?

Thanks!!

duxthe1 · #2 08-03-2010, 08:56 PM

With the lower seats flipped up or removed you just have to grab on the seat backs and give them a yank. If they're stiff sometimes you have to yank back and forth a few times to get them to release. If they still don't want to release there is a little lever deal that the seat bottoms sit on at the bottom of the seat backs, that's the release... wiggling that lever while pulling on the seat back may get it to release. Once you use them a few times they will probably free up quite a bit, they get stiff from not being used.

Several different things can cause the locks not to work. Have you tried the key in all the doors and hatch?

Does the 4-matic light stay on? Check to see if the hydraulic fluid reservoir behind the driver's side headlight has fluid.

Most people don't realize it but the 124 chassis 4-Matic wagons are one of the best handling cars MB built during those years. You'll find that the more you push the car the more grip it has, that is if you can keep the 4-matic functional.

Ghoti · #3 08-03-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duxthe1

With the lower seats flipped up or removed you just have to grab on the seat backs and give them a yank. If they're stiff sometimes you have to yank back and forth a few times to get them to release. If they still don't want to release there is a little lever deal that the seat bottoms sit on at the bottom of the seat backs, that's the release... wiggling that lever while pulling on the seat back may get it to release. Once you use them a few times they will probably free up quite a bit, they get stiff from not being used.

Huh...did that. Still pretty solid. They sound like they're caught right about where your shoulders go while seated; but behind the seat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duxthe1

Several different things can cause the locks not to work. Have you tried the key in all the doors and hatch?

Yes. Just did. Each of the three locks work independently, but don't lock or unlock the others.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duxthe1

Does the 4-matic light stay on? Check to see if the hydraulic fluid reservoir behind the driver's side headlight has fluid.

It usually stays on. It has turned off briefly...and has been off when I started the car first time in the morning. It was off for the test drive, but turned on on the way home on the freeway. There was one trip across town when it didn't turn on at all. ?????

The fluid level is good in the reservoir.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duxthe1

Most people don't realize it but the 124 chassis 4-Matic wagons are one of the best handling cars MB built during those years. You'll find that the more you push the car the more grip it has, that is if you can keep the 4-matic functional.

I hope I can keep it functional. Is there a way to tell if it's working right?

Question: The tranny fluid is too full. Could that trip the light?

deanyel · #4 08-03-2010, 10:13 PM

The fine German engineers that designed the 124 wagon didn't in their heart of hearts think that the rear seats should be folded down, and designed them accordingly. Try this - raise the rear hatch, wedge a long 4 inch steel pipe between the seat back and large building behind you, then back up the car until either the pipe bends or the seat back comes down. I once had 4 people, large size, at a dealership try to get the seat back down, they never did get it, and that was when the car was relatively new.

Ghoti · #5 08-03-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanyel

The fine German engineers that designed the 124 wagon didn't in their heart of hearts think that the rear seats should be folded down, and designed them accordingly. Try this - raise the rear hatch, wedge a long 4 inch steel pipe between the seat back and large building behind you, then back up the car until either the pipe bends or the seat back comes down. I once had 4 people, large size, at a dealership try to get the seat back down, they never did get it, and that was when the car was relatively new.

Yeah...I'm going to go ahead and not have them fold down, then.

I'll try pushing harder. This has the cargo area cover attached to the back of the seats, but that should only mean that they have to go down together, no?

Ed Richardson · #6 08-04-2010, 10:56 AM

The seat release is hung up, which happens from lack of use. I had a '94 and the release, if I remember correctly, was at the rear of the rt. rear door and operated by opening the door. On your model, I believe it is mechanical as previously posted. Try lubing it and a lot of jiggling and shaking.

The door locks sound like a vacuum leak/s in the system.

a great car, keep them serviced.

Ed

Ghoti · #7 08-04-2010, 04:29 PM

Switched the 4Matic switch to "Test" this morning. Light is still on but it seems to be shifting perfectly now.

RobertFini · #8 08-04-2010, 10:20 PM

The rear seats on my '94 E320T usually take a good karate kick from behind in order to fold down. You need to make sure that the rear doors are open and start with the small one first. If it doesn't come down with a good hard kick, kick it harder and maybe cuss at it too. Once the small one is down, the big one doesn't much give me any trouble (maybe 'cause it knows what's in store if it doesn't cooperate).

Best Regards,
Rob

kwontumspeed · #9 08-04-2010, 10:38 PM

With both seat bottoms pulled upright, follow the split of the back down to the bottom where the seat bottom would land. There you will see two - what almost look like a gas pedal, yes, a gas pedal made of metal. This is part of the release. This gets stuck at times and need a jostle or smack.

nestorb98 · #10 08-07-2010, 12:20 AM

Both rear doors must be OPEN!

at least they have to be in both my 124s.

Ghoti · #11 08-07-2010, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nestorb98

Both rear doors must be OPEN!

at least they have to be in both my 124s.

Good call. It ends up that, although my doors were open, the little "thingys" that stick out from the jamb and open something when the doors are open were hung up.

With the doors opened, I just pulled on those "thingys" and the seats went down pretty easy.

Thanks for the help on that!!

Bob Weir · #12 08-07-2010, 09:01 PM

A few thoughts on your new wagon aka Estate

Seriously lube all the rear seat mechanism, especially in top of wheel well and exercise them frequently.

When you lift the red center latch of the seat cushion [what you butt sits on], you'll be able to slide the seat cushion up and gain about 6" storage space. When you reinstall the seat, slide it down "evenly" on the two pins. The pins are white metal and can snap. Also when the seat back is down [for additional storage] the holes in the top edge should line up with the pins.

Wagons are prone to rust along the bottom of the rear windows. Peel back the rubber on the inside to inspect.

I know 94's & 95's wagons have [rear only] self leveling suspension aka SLS. It's a great feature when it works. If you have it, do a search to learn maintenance and repair of the system.

They handle and perform wonderfully and haul an amazing amount of stuff. Enjoy your wagon.