Topic: Wish List......

[John Hubertz]

Here's a thought starter - what options/accessories/features do you WISH a 116 offered that it doesn't have (or even if available, was so rare that it doesn't matter).

No limits - use your imagination.

[Nutz]

A quattro type drive system (AWD),power seats standard and oil coolers for V8 models.

Edit: Also optional turbos for gas models ,adjustable coil-over suspension and power mirrors.

[Mforcer]

I am going to spoil this thread by saying that I can't think of any option I wish my W116 had although if I must choose one I would want an adjustable steering column.

For things like electric mirrors and seats etc, I pretty much set and forget them so don't see any benefit of having them electric. I like the fact that by not having all these possible gadgets and options that there are fewer things to go wrong.

The stereo in my car has been upgraded and will eventually have an iPod installed but otherwise appreciate that a standard stereo fits without great difficulty.

Perhaps I need to think about this more

[John Hubertz]

OK, my turn (I didn't want to stir the pond before the discussion began).....

1.  Proper adjustable seats both front and rear, basically the electric seat configuration out of a W126 560SEL with our vintage design and construction (and of course a correction of the vanishing mystery padding in the rear so typical to leather 116s)

2.  A modern Sirius Radio/CD player that was visually as identical as possible to the original becker

3.  Rear seat footrests like my Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham had

4.  "Vanishing" hood ornament a la the new Rolls....fun to watch vanish into the grill

5.  A reasonable level of factory rust resistance - to make the cars roadable in all weather without watching them dissolve like Alka-Seltzer tablets

6.  USA style twin round lights, but with deluxe Euro-style custom-lensed round high and low beam lamps seen on 60s and 70s Jags and other top marques that are obviously unique to the model....  I've seen some neat lamps by Cibie and Hella.... (I'm shopping)....I sure wish Bosch had a similar type of premium round lamp.

7.  15 mpg in town

[Nutz]

I thought of one more........ Glass Sunroof !

[Mforcer]

I thought of one more........ Glass Sunroof !

What's stopping you from having one fitted? I once had a glass sunroof fitted to a Toyota Corolla (what was I thinking?!) where a sunroof wasn't an option at all. Very professional job that looked factory.

[OzBenzHead]

Airconditioning that worked - well. S'pose I could rectify that with a cash injection.

No sunroof; they are trouble - and next to useless in my climate, except on cloudy, mid-winter days or for summer-night cruising. Definitely no good on a sunny day in my part of Oz.

All weather-seal rubbers made from neoprene or some other inorganic, longer-lasting material.

Fully galvanised body.

Automatic shut-off at top and bottom of power-window travel so the regulators don't buckle and fail.

15" wheels. 

The "mild" AMG-tuned version of the M110 motor.

Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with my fairly mechanical (K-Jet, seat adjustments, ventilation, etc.) W116 280SE.

If I wanted a car laden with unreliable electrical gagetry, I could buy any modern car (including a Benz) - but that's not what I want, hence my daily driver being what it is: a garden-variety 116 - only options being the damned sunroof (!), power window cranks, and vacuum central locking.

[Peter Anderson]

Just a few quick things;

galvanised bodyshell
Lumbar adjustment of the driver's seat,
nicer 'touch points' - no crappy plastics on the steering wheel, gear shift or parking brake handle.

aside from that it has everything I want.

[John Hubertz]

Styria,

I'd suspect those front  ball joints or bushings.... 116s are well-known for their quality on-center feel and tracking without correction, even on rough or high-crown roads.

John

[Mforcer]

I don't get any wandering from my car either.

[OzBenzHead]

I don't get any wandering from my car either.

Neither do I, since having the steering box and front end rebuilt a couple of years ago; dead straight line on a level road, no hands; minor and very manageable one-finger corrections on poor surfaces and heavily cambered roads. And yes, I've had rack-and-pinion steered cars, so know how nicely they generally steer - on smaller cars; I've not been impressed that R&P is necessarily better than recirc. ball systems on larger cars. I think my 116 is probably the best steering recirc. ball system I've driven.

Styria, I'd be seeing to your front end's health, or at least an alignment.