W126 500SEL full hydro???

[Oversize]

So what are your thoughts on the value of this car? 500SEL with what looks like full hydro at some point.... But only some parts of the system remain. It seems to be missing the struts, pump and main pressure hose. I forgot to check for front and main cells; doh! It looks like the control knob's been hidden behind a horrible dash mod. Now this car seems to have me intrigued; where's the strut control button on the console and the solenoids immediately in front of the expansion tank? Could there have been a version that didn't have those components? Between 6.9 and the fully adjustable 4x hydro???

But yet there's other bits added! Mmmm I'm guessing a Euro preheater? Seat heaters front and rear, but neither are motorized. Pretty bastardized, but is it worth buying for the remaining parts?

 

[Oversize]

Oh the engine number is 117 961 12 004767

 

[Michel]

Sounds like an import with the German description under the switches.

Value always depends on the price

 

[Lukas]

The pic with the 5 buttons looks like a seat preheater control - i.e. you set the clock, and then a timer for when the seats should start heating. However, the warning at the top says do not operate in an enclosed space, which makes no sense at all.

Re the hydro gear - I'm no expert, but could the valves that do remain be different from the w116 in that the front/rear weight bias of this car is different, adn thus the valves are slightly different inside?

 

[BenzBoy]

Seat heater of cabin pre-heat? Maybe a block heater?
Regards,
Brian

 

[abl567]

I'm with BenzBoy on the block heater theory

 

[Oversize]

Yes I agree it's an engine preheater hooked up to the heater hoses; since it already has electric seat heater switches in the centre console and rear door trims. But I'm curious how it works; electric, or somehow running on petrol?? Someone said it's an inferno waiting to happen and the warning suggests combustion fumes.... I doubt you'd need something like this if you have a garage (even in Europe), so the warning is pretty redundant. It does make sense to use it outside when you've parked your car in the snow; after you've FOUND your car with a shovel!

What do all the buttons say?? The back of the control unit had a MB emblem, but I have my doubts it's was a factory unit.

Can anyone translate the option codes? Seems this car might be a LH to RH conversion and judging by the way it's been converted from hydro to conventional springs it'd be a purchase purely for parts. And parts that I don't really need since most of the good bits have already been removed

 

[abl567]

Mark if you can get a clearer photo of the build plate the options can be decoded.
You're right about the LHD to RHD conversion, the VIN indicates that.

 

[Oversize]

I ended up scoring some of the parts off this car. Sadly not the parts that I currently need!

 

[c107]

Yes I agree it's an engine preheater hooked up to the heater hoses; since it already has electric seat heater switches in the centre console and rear door trims. But I'm curious how it works; electric, or somehow running on petrol?? Someone said it's an inferno waiting to happen and the warning suggests combustion fumes.... I doubt you'd need something like this if you have a garage (even in Europe), so the warning is pretty redundant. It does make sense to use it outside when you've parked your car in the snow; after you've FOUND your car with a shovel!

What do all the buttons say?? The back of the control unit had a MB emblem, but I have my doubts it's was a factory unit.

Can anyone translate the option codes? Seems this car might be a LH to RH conversion and judging by the way it's been converted from hydro to conventional springs it'd be a purchase purely for parts. And parts that I don't really need since most of the good bits have already been removed

Just found this old thread.
This is a factory option, it uses petrol to heat the cabin of the car by heating the coolant. Was never offered in Australia for obvious reasons.

 

[c107]

Here is the picture from the series 1 126 brochure. This was a UK brochure, where this system was presumably available