Old W116 versus New W116

[Casey]

Is there a list somewhere that documents all the differences between various W116's?  Comparing my 1974 with the 1980, I notice at least the following:

* 74 has smaller rearview mirror.  Dislike.  Picked up a replacement from the local junkyard.
* 74 has much nicer steering wheel with chrome detail surrounding the horn pad.  Love this.  Want to figure out a way to get this onto the 1980 which has a different size spline.  Wonder how hard it would be to swap the steering column out...
* 74 blinkers and hazards are very fast, which made me think a light was out.  But no lights are out, and even the hazards blink fast.  Is this normal or is something broken?
* 74 uses plastic trim pieces under the dash matching the interior color.  I actually like these as the carpet here doesn't seem to hold up well.
* 74 has black dash, rather than one that matches the interior color.  Neutral on this.
* 74 has speakers under dash, rather than on top.  I think I prefer this, though I'm not sure if there's worse limits on the speaker size or not as a result.
* 74 has manual antenna in front, rather than power antenna in rear.  Dislike.  Is there a power antenna option for the front?
* 74 has switch on the dash for cruise control, rather than a stalk.  Works okay, but the stalk is definitely nicer.
* 74 has foot pedal for windshield washing.  Love this!  Mine has a later-model replacement stalk, though if you push the windshield washer button, it just makes the bright lights toggle on.
* 74 has nicer fader dial, though mine's been removed.  Prefer this style.
* 74 has center vent control under the vents, rather than in between them.  Neutral on this, though I think I find the newer style a little cleaner.
* 74 has red fuel warning light, 80 has orange.  Prefer the red.
* 74 has arm rest mounted to passenger seat, rather than driver.  Prefer the 80 style, as this way the armrest is always best suited to the driver seat position.
* 74 has coil springs in seat bottom, making it much more durable.  Prefer this to the newer ones.
* 74 used horsehair pads that dissolve to nothingness in the headrests.  Dislike!
* 74 has grey sill covers, rather than matching the interior color.  They look out of place this way...
* 74 has entirely chrome ignition switch, 80 has black circle part.  Prefer the chrome.
* 74 uses wider older-style keys.  Prefer the newer ones.

I'm sure there's more...

[Mforcer]

74 has smaller rearview mirror.  Dislike.  Picked up a replacement from the local junkyard.

I have never noticed this. Are you sure both mirrors are correct? What are the part numbers?

74 has much nicer steering wheel with chrome detail surrounding the horn pad.  Love this.  Want to figure out a way to get this onto the 1980 which has a different size spline.  Wonder how hard it would be to swap the steering column out...

Spline changed in 77 if I remember correctly. Mine is a 77 with the small (older) spline.

74 uses plastic trim pieces under the dash matching the interior color.  I actually like these as the carpet here doesn't seem to hold up well.

I prefer the older style too.

74 has black dash, rather than one that matches the interior color.  Neutral on this.

Did this depend on the year or was it dependant on the colour options?

74 has foot pedal for windshield washing.  Love this!  Mine has a later-model replacement stalk, though if you push the windshield washer button, it just makes the bright lights toggle on.

I have never understood how a foot pedal could be better.

74 has arm rest mounted to passenger seat, rather than driver.  Prefer the 80 style, as this way the armrest is always best suited to the driver seat position.

Shouldn't the driver have two hands on the wheel and not resting?

As you suggest, it would be interesting to start a Wiki page to reflect what was changed and when.

[Squiggle Dog]

I just looked at a 1973 450SEL and it had a smaller interior rear view mirror. When I was driving my 1968 200D I installed the large mirror from a later model W116.

The blinkers operating too quickly is probably due to using light bulbs smaller than 21 watts.

The speakers in the early dashboards are much smaller than the later models.

Later model headrests use foam instead of horsehair. Front seats are wider at top and have coil spring bases instead of torsion bars.

The 1973 models have chrome on the sill covers, which is interesting. Also, the hinges for the spare tire cover are metal instead of plastic, but they screw in instead of clip in. Taillight bulb holders are also different looking.

[Mforcer]

Also, the hinges for the spare tire cover are metal instead of plastic, but they screw in instead of clip in.

There is a hinge?

[powerglide]

Yes, my '75 280SE has hinges on spare wheel cover, my '77 350SE stays in by gravity. Cheaper, no?  Today you might not even get a spare, and if you do it probably looks like something off the baby's pram. 'space saver', 'run flat', aka rubbish. And these tyres that look like a strip of licorice, when you get a nail, they are catus before the car has rolled to a stop.  Anything under 60 profile is going to be problematic off the blacktop, will cost you a bundle, and shred itself if you make just one little error like dropping an inside wheel off the shoulder or running over a dingo. It happens. Old is good. I'm old. Problem is, old is ... not young. Stuff wears out: knees, ball joints, etc.

[TJ 450]

Also, the hinges for the spare tire cover are metal instead of plastic, but they screw in instead of clip in.

There is a hinge?

Indeed, and I can confirm that early is metal <1977, and late is plastic.

Tim

[Casey]

Indeed, and I can confirm that early is metal <1977, and late is plastic.

I just confirmed the same.  1974 has metal that's riveted (I hate rivets) to the cover and screwed into the chassis.  1980 has a plastic clippy deal.  I'd rather replace the setup in the 1980, as I'd prefer metal hinges.  I need to find a good material to use to make new stronger spare tire cover pieces anyways, as these tend to deform with time.

[TJ 450]

With the dashes, coloured versions were available all the way through, however they were only available with certain colour schemes.

RHD cars always had the speakers under the dash.

Tim

[Casey]

Oh, the fog light positioning is different (actually the fog lights are missing entirely on my 450SE).  Does anybody know if the actual US bumpers were physically different or if they just allowed mounting the fog lights in different locations?  I was hoping to swap bumpers - I'll have to have a look closer later...

[Squiggle Dog]

Early USA bumpers don't have cutouts for the fog lights, just bolt holes, so the fog lights are positioned lower to the ground. They probably recessed them in later models to prevent curb damage.

I pulled a nice metal hinge spare tire cover from a 1973 450SEL. I was going to put it in my 300SD, but the later cars have bumps in the metal that sort of, but not entirely, interfere with screwing in the hinges. They could be flattened out, though. I ended up not using it also because I realized that the hinges could rust, where the plastic won't... I also discovered that both types of spare tire covers have plastic straps that hook onto the trunk lid to hold up the tire cover!

[Casey]

I also discovered that both types of spare tire covers have plastic straps that hook onto the trunk lid to hold up the tire cover!

Neat...both my cars seem to be lacking this piece...  Speaking of trunk lids, I found the clip for securing in the euro warning triangle in the junk yard!  I installed it in my car and attempted to mount the triangle.  Then I realized there must also be two pieces for holding the base up a bit, as otherwise it falls out of the top holder.

[oscar]

* 74 has arm rest mounted to passenger seat, rather than driver.  Prefer the 80 style, as this way the armrest is always best suited to the driver seat position.

I agree. Conversley my original 73 mbtex seats did have an armrest on the driver's side (RHD) but the leather replacements from a later car has the arm rest on the left hand seat, ie passenger side for RHD car.  I've always thought it a shame they didn't come out with armrests half the size on both seats thus giving both front occupants an individual armrest like W108/109s and possibly others??  Anyhow, such a move would've satisfied all markets, RHD and LHD with the same setup IMO, and one could access the area under the armrest independently without asking the other person to "lift their arm for a second".
Actually, seeing how similar the seats in this pic of a w108 are to my early 73 mbtex w116 seats, ie without wider side bolster of the later w116 seats, it makes me wonder if these would bolt onto a w116 floor.  Armrest issues solved.

74 has smaller rearview mirror.  Dislike.  Picked up a replacement from the local junkyard.

I have never noticed this. Are you sure both mirrors are correct? What are the part numbers?

I forgot to look at part numbers but here's how much difference.  I never noticed it myself until selfor50 told me about them.
Later version is a tad shorter but much wider and yes, is inverted for comparative purposes.

[Casey]

Actually, seeing how similar the seats in this pic of a w108 are to my early 73 mbtex w116 seats, ie without wider side bolster of the later w116 seats, it makes me wonder if these would bolt onto a w116 floor.  Armrest issues solved.

That would be sweet!

[Casey]

* Seat belts are a different style as well.  The older style looks neater, but all the rear latches have plastic trim surrounding the buttons that has cracked, and only one remains somewhat intact in my car.  The others have completely lost this piece and as a result, the button and everything else it held in.  The older style is also more of an afterthought - a metal bar is attached to the center of the car and protrudes up alongside the seats, rather than being a part of the seat itself.  This means you have to fish around for it, and it's never quite where you'd like it to be.  The newer style is much better all around.
* Trunk lining is different on the older model - there are rubber pads on the bottom of each sidewell rather than carpeting.
* Chrome trim above the tail lights on the older model does not have the mysterious holes with a plastic plug, but are just solid chrome.  Prefer the older style.

[Squiggle Dog]

I think those W108/W109 chassis front seats with dual armrests are the same as early W116 seats, minus the armrest part. The dual armrests should bolt up to early W116 seats.

I believe I have some spare rubber triangle blocks that fit below. I'll have to check.