[W126 Coupe] Rear view mirror upgrade - link to pics

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:43:09 -0500

Interesting, most of the people I talked w/ told me half their mirror
was permanently dark, or that it stopped dimming all together etc..
That's as good as the fellow I ran across who's keyless go in his G55
died..  2200$ module   for his keyless go to tell his starter is was
OK to start..  He was out of warranty and the dealer wouldn't do a
thing for him.

Jonathan  

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 16:30:26 +0000, Sharan Bains
<sharanbains@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Yes, that's true.
> 
> But it's rarely the auto-dim that dies - it's the alarm circuit board that
> fails and for those who have it as standard fitment on their W140's and
> R129', it's a real problem since on those cars the immobiliser is hooked up
> to the sensors in the circuit board on the mirror........so their cars don't
> start when their mirrors fail..........!!!!!
> 
> talbir
> 
> >From: Jonathan Hodgman <jhodgman@gmail.com>
> >Reply-To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
> >To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
> >Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Rear view mirror upgrade - link to pics
> >Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:55:52 -0500
> >
> >Talbir,
> >As always a first class write up!  Just as a bit of info, these
> >mirrors do fail rather regularly..  I receive a healthy number of
> >calls/emails a year from people who's auto dimming mirrors died..:-/
> >
> >Hopefully yours was built on a Tuesday!
> >Jonathan
> >
> >
> >
> >On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 14:13:52 +0000, Sharan Bains
> ><sharanbains@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hope everyone has had a great Christmas.
> > >
> > > I just did this on my W124 500E over the Christmas break - since W124,
> >W126
> > > and W201 mirrors are all identical, the process would be exactly the
> >same
> > > for the SEC's. Indeed I am going to be doing this on my 560 and 500SEC's
> > > shortly - the process will be exactly the same.
> > >
> > > I updated the rear view mirror to one from a late 1998 W140 mirror -
> >this
> > > mirror is AUTO-DIM, and has red and green LED's for the alarm system.
> > > Moreover, the late W140/r129 mirrors just look so much better, rounded
> >and
> > > updated - and as can be seen from the pics, the mirror really does
> >update
> > > the interior. Best thing is, late w140/r129 mirrors are color-coded to
> >the
> > > interior. This one I have fitted is black, as it matches my black 500e
> > > interior. I have a grey w140 mirror for my 560 which is grey interior
> >and
> > > beige one for my 300Se beige interior. The original w124/w126/w201
> >mirrors
> > > are very dated, flat and all black.
> > >
> > > However, this auto dim mirror, brand new from MB, costs approx $500. The
> > > standard W140 mirror (with LED's but no auto dim, costs approx $200). So
> >it
> > > ain't cheap - I was lucky to get one new from my breaker at
> > > half-price....there are electrically adjustable ones too, but we'll save
> > > that for another day....
> > >
> > > Here is a link to the pics - there are other pics from upgrades on my
> >500E,
> > > namely
> > >
> > > - fitment of electric steering column
> > > - refurbishment of AMG 2-piece alloys
> > > - lowering of rear suspension
> > > - late 1998 W140 walnut/leather steering wheel fitment
> > > - late W220 walnut/leather gearshift fitment
> > >
> > > http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbum.asp?userid=hakkinen&album_id=191832
> > >
> > > The W140 mirror spring, which hooks up to the mounting plate on the roof
> >is
> > > identical to the spring on the W14/w126 - so the mirror can infact be
> >hooked
> > > straight up and all you need do then is wire up the loom for the
> >auto-dim
> > > sensor and alarm LED's sensors. BUT, and this is the sticking point, the
> > > W140 mirror stalk base is very different to the stalk base on the
> >W124/126 -
> > > as a result, you have gaps showing, and it ends up looking tacky. The
> >other
> > > major difference is that thw w124/w126 stalk attached to mirror from the
> > > back, whereas the w140 stalk attaches to mirror from back but comes into
> >it
> > > vertically.
> > >
> > > So a little work is requried to make it look original :
> > >
> > > - open up w140 mirror and remove circulating ball, which is held onto
> >stalk
> > > with T15 torx bit
> > >
> > > - open up W124/w126 mirror and remove stalk, which is held onto
> >circulating
> > > ball by Phillips screw
> > >
> > > - attached w124/w126 stalk to w140 ball - they fit onto each other
> > > perfectly. The w124/w126 stalk has a sqaure piece of metal which fits
> >into
> > > ball and then screw holds it in place. The w140 ball has a recess for
> >this
> > > square piece, and it's exactly the same size as on the W124 stalk. So
> >the
> > > w140 ball bolts straight up to the W124 stalk.
> > >
> > > - attach w124/w126 stalk with w140 ball to w140 mirror, reassemble
> >mirror
> > > and casing. Rear casing has a cut-out at top for stalk - this may need
> >to be
> > > filed to make it slightly bigger to allow more adjustment room with the
> > > w124/w126 stalk (which is angled more). The casing is plastic and is
> >easily
> > > filed down and if done properly with correct tools, looks very original
> > >
> > > - now a 3mm hole needs to be drilled into the w124/w126 stalk, at an
> >angle,
> > > to allow the loom to be run from mirror, up stalk, and then under
> >headliner
> > > down to the alarm control unit and power distribution unit, to power the
> > > auto-dim facility
> > >
> > > - wiring is simple. two wires for auto-dim, brown wire to ground and
> > > grey/blue wire to night-time illumination wire (which is also grey/blue
> >on
> > > w124/w126 wiring), so auto-dim facility is only activated when you turn
> >on
> > > the lights.
> > >
> > > - alarm led's - this depends on alarm system in car, but I wired up the
> >red
> > > LED so that it flashes when alarm is armed, and green LED flashes with
> > > indicators when alarm is being armed via remote. A relay was used to
> >ensure
> > > green LED only flashes when indicators light up with alarm
> >arming/disarming
> > > - green LED's will not light up once key is in ignition. The red LED was
> > > made flashing through use of a flasher diode and flashes only when
> > > alarm/immobiliser are armed.
> > >
> > > And that's it. Once wiring was complete and stalk transfer complete,
> >simply
> > > push in the mirror onto the existing roof mount. Running the loom up to
> >the
> > > mirror is a bit tedious, but straightforward.
> > >
> > > The auto-dim is brilliant - mirror glass turns dark within seconds of
> >light
> > > shining onto it brightly. The mirror has a rotating knob on the bottom,
> >as
> > > all w140/r129 mirrors have, but on this mirror that knob is not
> >functional,
> > > since it is auto-dim. On the standard mirrors, that knob has the
> >function of
> > > dipping the mirror to make it dimmer.
> > >
> > > More mods to come soon....
> > >
> > > talbir
> > >
> > > The MB Coupes Website!
> > > W126 SEC Mailing List
> > > Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
> > >
> >
> >
> >--
> >If you need Anything Mercedes please write, mercedesparts@gmail.com
> >Please have a look at my Mercedes Service literature etc page:
> >http://personal.rockbridge.net/hodgman/Mercedes%20Pages.htm
> >404-805-1357
> >1002 Oglethorpe Dr NE
> >Atlanta, GA 30319
> >jhodgman@gmail.com
> >The MB Coupes Website!
> >W126 SEC Mailing List
> >Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
> 
> The MB Coupes Website!
> W126 SEC Mailing List
> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
> 

-- 
If you need Anything Mercedes please write, mercedesparts@gmail.com
Please have a look at my Mercedes Service literature etc page:
http://personal.rockbridge.net/hodgman/Mercedes%20Pages.htm
404-805-1357
1002 Oglethorpe Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
jhodgman@gmail.com