[W126 Coupe] Rear view mirror upgrade - link to pics
Sharan Bains
mbcoupes@mbcoupes.com
Wed, 29 Dec 2004 17:31:11 +0000
Electrical component suppliers, like Maplin.
MB don't supply any electrical componentry like that. Take the capactiors in
the W126/w124 clocks - when they fail, the clock stops working. MB do not
supply the capacitors - they will only sell you the complete clock for
megabucks.
That resistor/sensor is nothing special - just a standard electrical
component that any component supplier can provide.
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 12:00:35 -0500
>
>I hear more and more stories akin to that, I knew another fellow who's
>ASD in his 2000 S600 would randomly extend the r/r shock for a second
>for no apparent reason/completely randomly. Mb eventually had to buy
>the car back from him after trying to fix it for almost 2 months..
>The fun never ends;-)
>
>Any thoughts where one could get that bit? Mb doesn't sell it...:-/
>
>Jonathan
>
>
>
>On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 16:53:50 +0000, Sharan Bains
><sharanbains@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > 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.
> >
> > 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.