[W126 Coupe] Rear view mirror upgrade - link to pics
Sharan Bains
mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
Wed, 29 Dec 2004 16:53:50 +0000
That keyless go story is funny...not that I'd be laughing if it happened to
me....just funny in the sense that today's MB's are controlled by computers
not their drivers.
If the auto dim fails, all one needs to do is change the pick-up sensor in
the top right of the mirror - probably a $15 part. No need to change the
mirror glass or anything else.
talbir
>From: Jonathan Hodgman <jhodgman@gmail.com>
>Reply-To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
>To: mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
>Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Rear view mirror upgrade - link to pics
>Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:43:09 -0500
>
>Interesting, most of the people I talked w/ told me half their mirror
>was permanently dark, or that it stopped dimming all together etc..
>That's as good as the fellow I ran across who's keyless go in his G55
>died.. 2200$ 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
>The MB Coupes Website!
>W126 SEC Mailing List
>Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.