color codes

[floyd111]

Ok, I am going to look silly here, but we all lose it at times..
I am trying to select the right color code for hard vinyl interior trim, but the color codes used by my supplier are 4 digit, and the MB codes I find are all 3 digit.
I need the numbers both for Pergament and Bambus.
Can you help?

[ptashek]

Ok, I am going to look silly here, but we all lose it at times..
I am trying to select the right color code for hard vinyl interior trim, but the color codes used by my supplier are 4 digit, and the MB codes I find are all 3 digit.
I need the numbers both for Pergament and Bambus.
Can you help?

As far as I can tell, MB only used 3-digit codes where the first digit indicated material used, and the last two indicated colour: 0 for cloth, 1 for vinyl, 2 for leather and 9 for velours.
http://www.meinbenz.de/polster/116/polster116.htm has most of the codes

What codes have they got for the colours you need, is there any correlation?
What's the chance they're just using the RAL palette?

[floyd111]

Codes I see are like these..
8209
8336
9004
8263
5045
9004
9005
8263
8102
8248

Bambus colors in 3 digit are on that website you linked.

[UTn_boy]

Ptashek, I think Stan was referring to things other than upholstery for the seats, etc.  You're right, a 3 digit code was used for the upholstery.  See attached pictures for a visual representation of what Ptashek correctly stated. 

When it comes to carpeting, trim pieces, hard vinyl and plastic interior trim, a 4 digit code is employed, and there are several different 4 digit codes.  It all depends on if it's vinyl, plastic. carpeting, a dash top, and also where the piece is in the car. 

Stan, here is a list of the various 4 digit codes used for all other parts in the car that are parchment. 

8115  General Parchement color code for Bulk material for coverings wrapped in either leather or vinyl. "A" and "C" pillar trim, front, rear, and lateral roof panels, moldings around inside of door windows, lower "A" pillar trim pieces, and seat hing and seat rail coverings.)  etc.

8142  Thermoformable sheet plastic.  (door pockets)

8186  Windlace

8173 Carpeting (Tuftingteppich, or multiloop carpeting)

8036 headliner (this is actually called Creme, but is what is supposed to be used with parchment)

7044 sun visor holding clips and bezel at end attached to roof  (7044 is called Graubeige, or gray beige; to be used with parchment interior)

8157 parcel shelf lining and rear rail that holds down parcel shelf carpeting.  Carpeting is also Tuftingteppich.

9012 center console.  Labeled as Schwarz/Pargament.  The reason for this is because early W116 cars with parchment interior had black dashes and black consoles with parchment colored multiloop carpeting on the center console. 

9004 Color code for use of black seat belts. 

Hope this helps.  AARON

[ptashek]

When it comes to carpeting, trim pieces, hard vinyl and plastic interior trim, a 4 digit code is employed, and there are several different 4 digit codes.

Indeed. Forgot about those. They're all listed in the EPC for paneling/carpet part numbers.

[floyd111]

OK..I have a proper headache now..
You are saying that, even though there may be a whole heap of parchment colored trim, many of those identically colored pieces have different numbers?
How am I gonna crack this?
I need 2 complete interior outfits, once in Parchment, once in Bambus.
Is there a reference list that I can use, that will give me "all I need to order", to get to 1 complete outfit?
Stupid question, eh? This is probably why there are MB-workers employed at MB.
If I have to use the EPC for this issue, I'll never see the end of this mission, and no doubt I'll end up with the wrong parts still.

Guess it's a good thing I ordered vinyl-paint in 2 colors.
Place all old rim in one room, toss some fireworks into the paint can, and run for cover, Mr Bean-style.
Or is there a better way?

[rumb]

Finding NOS of all the interior trim will be a challenge even for you. 

The vinyl dye work very good and is easy to apply following cleaning and application instructions.  I found that a small touch up spray guy works best for the final color layer.

[ptashek]

This is what it looks like for one of the front passenger side inner sill carpets, and right driver door panel... It's a nightmare, no doubt about it.
I have no idea why there's four separate colour codes for one part, but only three for the other. If it were a consistent four, I'd speculate they map 1:1 with the four upholstery material codes. But with three, I'm lost.

Aaron seems to be in possession of the upholstery/carpet samples book, as seen in his last post. Maybe there's some more clues there.

[floyd111]

My word..
I refuse! Life's too short!
Bought the highest quality vinyl spray, and hope it will do.

But, if I had the skills, one of my suppliers has mountains of NOS trim, all nicely listed by part number and color code (whatever the codes mean) It's even affordable. I'd probably get quite far, assembling a full set.
(Update: just saw that there is a big mix of used and NOS trim in that list. There are NO mountains of NOS)

There are always pieces that shrink and bend over the years, and that makes for a poor restoration.
It may be an idea to wait until I know which parts need replacement, and order those parts specifically.

[UTn_boy]

Well, I can say this, Stan. Anything in EPC that says "up to 7/75" is game for you since you have an early 280S and 280se.  The pictures of EPC that PTASHEK posted are for late models, and sometimes won't work on the early models for reference purposes such as this.  However, the process is the same.   

I don't think the three different color codes are there to confuse the hell out of us. Take a piece of carpeting as an example.  When we look up a piece such as a piece of carpeting, the foot notes are all inclusive.....albeit really confusing to follow.  What I can gather is that for each grouping of trim pieces, (carpeting, plastic pieces, vinyl/leather wrapped pieces, etc.) they listed all of the possible color codes for that particular grouping.  So to directly answer Stan's question of "You are saying that, even though there may be a whole heap of parchment colored trim, many of those identically colored pieces have different numbers?"  In a sense, yes, but there not exactly the same piece.  Even though two different trim pieces are made form the same carpeting, they sometimes have different color codes.  I don't know why, and I just roll with the punches. 

Below is everything you should need to decipher, and maybe better than I can since you're more fluent in German than I.

[ptashek]

Aside question - what book is that? Is this data part of the upholstery sample book?
I've found one on eBay recently, in mint condition, tried to get it but it sold for crazy money... (in excess of 180USD if memory serves).

[Zaxxon]

Below is everything you should need to decipher, and maybe better than I can since you're more fluent in German than I.

And if you need help with deciphering anything, please feel free to ask - it's my native language and I'd love to help out!

[UTn_boy]

PTASHEK, the book I referenced is called the Pkw-Ausstattungen.  (Passenger Car Interior Appointments). There were two versions of this particular book.  The early one had nothing but printed material referencing all that I show here, and the second version had the same data, but also included actual color samples, which is the one I have.  I find it very hard to believe that someone would pay nearly $2,000 USD for one of these books.  They're only worth around $300-$400.  However, to each his own. 

A much less expensive alternative is to find and buy a salesman's color/interior option book.  It won't show anything but interior and exterior color/material options, but it's better than nothing.  Essentially, the later version of the book i mentioned in the first paragraph includes all of, if not more, of what is included in the salesman's book.  The major difference is that it'll also include all other models like R113, W108/W109, W114/W115, W100, R107, in addition to W116. 

[floyd111]

Yeah, I was gonna ask that same question.
But, if they're so costly, why not have copies made?
Here in Taiwan, it is dead simple and cheap to have a complete book copied and bound.
There's a shop like that in front of every school and university, so kids don't have to buy school books at top dollar.
You could ship one book here, and I'll take care of it.

[UTn_boy]

There are many shops here, too, that will do the same job, but I never had a reason to copy them because no one has ever expressed an interest in having a copy, much less an interest in using it for the reasons it was intended for.  Granted, many enthusiasts don't know of it's existence, so I'm very understanding of that, as well.