The engineering behind mercedes vacuum systems are mechanically cool and complex, but fixing them can be a nightmare. Solid video addressing vacuum on the dashboard and AC control!
Thanks for watching! And yeah - it definitely takes some dedication! 🤣 In this case, it was a GREAT "while you're in there" since my dash was horrible shape. When it's all working, it is cool seeing the pods actuate. Many of the pods in W126 are accessible without pulling the dash; I wish it was the same with W124.
You're welcome! Let me know if you have any questions - those two years of car were exactly what I did here (1995 E320 into 1987 300D). There are lots of small pieces you need to transfer over near the glove box / passenger airbag. Moving those pieces over (like the bracket that holds the screws for glove box) is very easy. Don't throw anything away until you finish the job! The 1995 one will have wood on it - like this one does. If the interior is the same color between your two cars, definitely consider switch the door panels for an upgraded look 🙂
You do a fantastic job of producing an extremely valuable video! I followed your disassembly video to replace the center pod of my 92 300CE. I never would have attempted this without watching your video (about 10 times)😅. I ordered all the parts to rebuild all the pods. However, while I was carefully releasing the white plastic retainer on the right hand pod, it also popped the 4-prong clip off the far end of the brass colored lever arm - which fell down into the abyss 😮. I can’t see it -even with camera, so I’m charging up my endoscope so I might find it. I tried a magnet, but nothing. 😢. After that experience, and knowing that all the other pods are good, I decided not to tempt fate and repair the remaining pods. This is my fourth older Mercedes resto, and I’ve never experienced anything as tricky as behind this dashboard😅.
Hi David - super glad it was helpful! 🙂 I have an interesting kind of flexible arm with a push button that extends a wire claw out... That might help. Another thing I've done before is put tape (sticky side out) on a magnet want and see if you can get it to stick. I ran into this issue (small parts going into the abyss) often when replacing the hydraulic cylinders on my SL320 😂 That was a test of patience. Do you have any pics or videos of your Mercedes restos? Would love to see them 😁
I would post pix, but don't know how in You Tube... I have the same flex arm with claw, but the part fell down in a crack too narrow to get the claw into. Same with sticky-side-out tape. I can see it with my endoscope, but still trying to grasp the part...
The plastic piece that attaches to the pod fell into a different crevasse, but I was able to use the pick-up tool to get it out! I had to cut that black plastic bar that retains the flap, in order to get the flap back in place. I'll glue it back together when I'm done. I may post a YT of that process -- if it works!
The engineering behind mercedes vacuum systems are mechanically cool and complex, but fixing them can be a nightmare. Solid video addressing vacuum on the dashboard and AC control!
Thanks for watching! And yeah - it definitely takes some dedication! 🤣 In this case, it was a GREAT "while you're in there" since my dash was horrible shape. When it's all working, it is cool seeing the pods actuate. Many of the pods in W126 are accessible without pulling the dash; I wish it was the same with W124.
Thanks for sharing. I've got to transplant a 95 parts car dash into my cracked dash 87. Thanks.
You're welcome! Let me know if you have any questions - those two years of car were exactly what I did here (1995 E320 into 1987 300D). There are lots of small pieces you need to transfer over near the glove box / passenger airbag. Moving those pieces over (like the bracket that holds the screws for glove box) is very easy. Don't throw anything away until you finish the job! The 1995 one will have wood on it - like this one does. If the interior is the same color between your two cars, definitely consider switch the door panels for an upgraded look 🙂
@@bsclifton Lol. My parts 95 is an e300 w a om606 that I bought to convert my 94 s124 into diesel.
You do a fantastic job of producing an extremely valuable video! I followed your disassembly video to replace the center pod of my 92 300CE. I never would have attempted this without watching your video (about 10 times)😅. I ordered all the parts to rebuild all the pods. However, while I was carefully releasing the white plastic retainer on the right hand pod, it also popped the 4-prong clip off the far end of the brass colored lever arm - which fell down into the abyss 😮. I can’t see it -even with camera, so I’m charging up my endoscope so I might find it. I tried a magnet, but nothing. 😢. After that experience, and knowing that all the other pods are good, I decided not to tempt fate and repair the remaining pods.
This is my fourth older Mercedes resto, and I’ve never experienced anything as tricky as behind this dashboard😅.
Hi David - super glad it was helpful! 🙂 I have an interesting kind of flexible arm with a push button that extends a wire claw out... That might help. Another thing I've done before is put tape (sticky side out) on a magnet want and see if you can get it to stick. I ran into this issue (small parts going into the abyss) often when replacing the hydraulic cylinders on my SL320 😂 That was a test of patience. Do you have any pics or videos of your Mercedes restos? Would love to see them 😁
I would post pix, but don't know how in You Tube... I have the same flex arm with claw, but the part fell down in a crack too narrow to get the claw into. Same with sticky-side-out tape. I can see it with my endoscope, but still trying to grasp the part...
I used the magnet to get the metal arm out of the crevice, but magnet doesn't work on plastic part! Still fishing...
The plastic piece that attaches to the pod fell into a different crevasse, but I was able to use the pick-up tool to get it out! I had to cut that black plastic bar that retains the flap, in order to get the flap back in place. I'll glue it back together when I'm done. I may post a YT of that process -- if it works!