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Last Year for Color-Keyed Hubcaps in North America?

970 views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  MercedesFan1981 
#1 · (Edited)
Does anyone here know what the last model year was when all the North American-spec Benz models could be optioned with the color-keyed hubcaps (as in, say you have a 1981 300D in red, and you specify it with red hubcaps)? They had been generally fashionable from the late 1950s through the '70s, but by 1986 (the year Mercedes-Benz had made significant updates to its North American product line) they were not so common.

I am speaking of the following (body series listed in order of size):
W123 (1977-1985): 230.4, 280E, 240D, 300D, 300CD and 300TD
W116 (1976-1980, the fuel injected years): 280SE, 450SE, 450SEL, 6.9, 300SD
W126 (1981-1985, the pre-facelift years): 380SEL, 380SEC, 380SE, 500SEL, 500SEC, 300SD
R107 (1972-1985): 350/450SL, 380SL, 500SL
C107 (1972-1981): 350/450SLC, 380SLC

~Ben
 
#2 ·
Good question. I might ask The classic center.

How about getting the part number and checking the EPC for model where the part might be found?

The part number for 14" hubcaps seems to be 115.401.0324

It shows as applicable to:
123
107
116
111
114
115
113
109
108

Since I'm primarily a 107 guy, I will focus on the 107.04x cars, the SL cars that lasted into the 80s.

The part number shows as applying to the 107.045 380sl that ran 1981-1985, but when I punch in that 107045, the hubcaps show as not applicable, meaning the US 380sl never came with hubcaps. But if I put Europe in as the location, the hubcap shows up.

Also, if I do the same for the w123 300d, the hubcap shows up.

I'm guessing your question then becomes whether the hubcaps ended before the w123 did.
 
#3 · (Edited)
The 300D I'm speaking of (it was one I remember my sister's boyfriend driving in 1992-93) carries a chassis code 123.130 and has an engine code 617.912.

The 1981-85 300TD Turbo Diesel carries a chassis code 123.193, engine code 617.952.

I want to say thank you... it appears that going by what you found, the color-keyed wheel covers did in fact lose their popularity in the U.S. by 1981, which was when the W126 replaced the W116.

Additionally, I checked out a few pages of brochures from these model years, and it would appear the last year of the color-keyed wheels was 1983 (but only on the 240D)... I guess the color-keyed wheels might have been dropped along with the 240D after its replacement by the 190D 2.2 in 1984.

~Ben
 
#4 ·
My understanding is that 1983 would of been the last year for colored hubcaps in North America. Might of had something to do with the death of the 240D as well. In 1984, only the Bundts were offered on the W123 300D/CD/TD. From 1983 and earlier, the colored caps were standard but the Bundts were an option.
 
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