[SoCal_Dan]

Seems like a random question I know but I firmly believe my car was in some sort of accident with the PO(repaint being the most obvious culprit) and that the body shop that fixed the rear end was too damn lazy to reinstall the guide rods and ditched it altogether.

For the record, I have the 1995 Model and EVERY '95 w140 that I've seen over the years has the rods. Hell, my car is an early 95 so theres no excuse why it shouldnt have them!

Now I know some of you are thinking that those rods are useless, not worth the money, etc but you have to understand that in the 2.5 years that I've owned this car, I went out of my way countless times to restore certain things that were missing just because I'm picky like that.

That being said, I know they're gonna have to drill the holes again so spare me the body shop labor costs, my question specifically is how many components are involved in the whole ordeal?

2 guide rods, uhh... fill in the rest

 

[Peter Guenther]

I think the guide rods were discontinued in 95, you need the actuators, the chrome trim rings, some tubing, and an accurate drilling fixture. I personally dont find them usefull, and a retro is not a worthwhile project. You must remember they are run off the locking pump under the rear seat and I dont know if the wiring from the transmission is there. I would start there if the port is capped uncap it shift to reverse and see if you get pressure/vacuum. The port is RH

 

[SoCal_Dan]

They actually discontinued in the '96 models

Thanks for the heads up. I'll go check that out(not right now, raining outside )

If my theory is right, the rest of the components should still be there. Its only the guide rods and the tubing thats missing. God forbid the PO ripped the whole system inside out

Edit: by '96 I mean US-spec. Euro got shafted in '95

 

[NZ Benz]

Good starting point might be to poke a finger in behind there and see if you can feel where they covered up the hole. You might be surprised I was sure that they stopped them in 95 too.

 

[SoCal_Dan]

I went to check my trunk and on the driver's side right next to the taillight, I found this mystery item:

Its not connected to anything, and its tip looks suspicious eh?

Sorry for the unfocused pics. That area is so cramped that I just stuck the camera in there and started snapping.

I also try to check the inside where the antennas should be but its smooth so they did a pretty decent job. Theres also evidence of primer and other paint prepping stuff on the inside where the taillights are located.

 

[MikeJT]

...If my theory is right, the rest of the components should still be there. Its only the guide rods and the tubing thats missing...

There is also some kind of mounting bracket that each of the pneumatic actuators fits into: there's also a sheet metal retaining screw involved somewhere, as I recall. If the brackets are not there, I guess you'll be into some kind of fabrication job, plus attaching them to the inside of the wings - and I assume that you wouldn't want to weld them.....

If the weather's better tomorrow I'll take a look and see if I can post a pic.

Mike

P.s. Although they're a bit quaint, I quite like them. For very close parking in a range of circumstances I find them v. useful.

 

[The andrew]

You should see either a yellow or red vacuum line laying around there. Most likely the body shop covered it with worthless plastic (bondo). Then again you may have never had them, I've seen 95s in my shop without them.

The biggest thing is seeing if you PSE pump has the correct output for them, pressure inflates the bladder and then its sucked back down.



I bought these from Eddie of course, one of mine gets stuck partially up sometimes so me and my paranoid self like to have extras lying about.

Personally I like them and they wow people when they see them working, awesome to have two little aerials glide up when parking and since you can't see the end of the boot anyhow.

The units looks like this:

 

[z168]

Hey Fuel, that isnt the line. I have that too. If I remember correctly its a RED plastic vacuum line that connects to the guide rods

 

[SoCal_Dan]

There was a red vacuum line next to that "thing" that I posted pictures of, though theres alot of crap going on in that corner of the trunk at the moment so I'll take a look next time.

In the mean time, those of you who do have the guide rods can you post a pic of how the trunk layout is like? I know its quite a squeeze but any point of refrence pics would be appreciated

 

[z168]

There was a red vacuum line next to that "thing" that I posted pictures of, though theres alot of crap going on in that corner of the trunk at the moment so I'll take a look next time.

In the mean time, those of you who do have the guide rods can you post a pic of how the trunk layout is like? I know its quite a squeeze but any point of refrence pics would be appreciated

I knew those guide rods would catch on, haha

 

[Stryker-1999 S600]

FYI: The parking guides were replaced by an optional Parktronic system, available starting with the 1997 model year. Every W140 had the guides until then, it was standard with the car, not an option.

So, it is possible to have a 97-8-9 without the guides and without Parktronic, it is not possible to have a 92-6 without the guides, unless they were covered over, after the factory.

 

[bayhas]

FYI: The parking guides were replaced by an optional Parktronic system, available starting with the 1997 model year. Every W140 had the guides until then, it was standard with the car, not an option.

that is not very accurate, there was a gap between the 2 systems between late 95 and 97.

also, the rods were standard, but the parking guides were optional, so it is not true that you must have one or the other.

 

[bayhas]

The "thing" in the picture is the door closing pump intake line... that's where the door closing pump "inhales"!

 

[Merc-S600]

Here ,this may Help you out a Bit to figure the connection , Enjoy one Part of my Numberplate while you back there ,keep guessing for the rest ,lol.
The Parking rods look awesome when up , once you get used to them and in Reverse and know how and what the exact Space is between the Rods and the Wall ,considering the small Gap sticking out from the Bumperbar ,you will be Parking about 1 inch away from any Wall or Object Visually from your Drivers View behind the Car.
The Antenna with those 2 Rods combination looks clean ,High Tech .If someone ask's what thoses 2 Antennas are for ,i just tell them that they are Sensors detecting any Baby's/Kids behind the Car & they will stop the Car if there is any Danger behind me ,lol.
Ciao :thumbsup:

 

[myarmar]

According to EPC rods were used up to ident 255509

 

[MBs600v121998]

Here ,this may Help you out a Bit to figure the connection , Enjoy one Part of my Numberplate while you back there ,keep guessing for the rest ,lol.
The Parking rods look awesome when up , once you get used to them and in Reverse and know how and what the exact Space is between the Rods and the Wall ,considering the small Gap sticking out from the Bumperbar ,you will be Parking about 1 inch away from any Wall or Object Visually from your Drivers View behind the Car.
The Antenna with those 2 Rods combination looks clean ,High Tech .If someone ask's what thoses 2 Antennas are for ,i just tell them that they are Sensors detecting any Baby's/Kids behind the Car & they will stop the Car if there is any Danger behind me ,lol.
Ciao :thumbsup:

))

Your car looks clean and beutifull, excepts the S500 badge it will look awesome if it was S600 :thumbsup:

 

[Merc-S600]

Thanks M***H***D
I keep the S600 as a Reserve Car when i need to sell this S500 ,i still have not come to a conclusion of what Car i will buy after this one, so it most likely will be an S600 W140 ,Early or Late Model ,not sure yet .I'm worried that Buying a different Car, that, there will or would be to much of a Downgrade overall in Driving Experience etc ... , you know what i mean ,BUT , i have noticed some Late Series Range Rover's ,( too be investigated 1st ) to be a Similar driving Experience to the W140's but i could be wrong .
What will you be buying after the S600 , YOU ARE STUCK ,LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL ,No More Upgrades as you have reached the Limit (No S700's yet ) .
Ciao

 

[MBs600v121998]

Thanks M***H***D
I keep the S600 as a Reserve Car when i need to sell this S500 ,i still have not come to a conclusion of what Car i will buy after this one, so it most likely will be an S600 W140 ,Early or Late Model ,not sure yet .I'm worried that Buying a different Car, that, there will or would be to much of a Downgrade overall in Driving Experience etc ... , you know what i mean ,BUT , i have noticed some Late Series Range Rover's ,( too be investigated 1st ) to be a Similar driving Experience to the W140's but i could be wrong .
What will you be buying after the S600 , YOU ARE STUCK ,LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL ,No More Upgrades as you have reached the Limit (No S700's yet ) .
Ciao

loooool,
Ok, About the Range Rover, i think its more Costly Reparing than our Lovely W140, Beside That, if you are planning for a 4X4, my Opinion is to try the Hummer H1 Alpha, or if you feel its too big to park in your Garage, go for the H2, Never think of the H3 its for Ladies

About me, Your are right in one point and wrong in another !
You are right about (Downgrade Issue) i cant drive anything less than a V12 ! i feel like driving a Donkey !
And Wrong about what will i buy, i will buy a 1998 or 1999 S600 and add the Chip, and install 4 Turbos, and 6 Bottles of NOS, Which will make me reach 1000 HP , there is a Picture..i think BENZBROZ posted it before for that M120 Modefied.. So Why Not

 

[MikeJT]

In the mean time, those of you who do have the guide rods can you post a pic of how the trunk layout is like? I know its quite a squeeze but any point of refrence pics would be appreciated

Here are 3 pics of the attachment points for the actuator. The top left is the same location shown by merc s500. The other two show the second attachment point on a small flange spot-welded to the wing at the ege of the rear light cluster. This flange is at the rear of the base of the unit in merc s500's picture.

Mike

 

[ronw123w124]

I'm currently looking at a '94 S280 which has those guide rods, I believe there's a rubber gasket or rubber seal in between the body and the chrome trim rings, I noticed that the rubber seal in the car that I'm looking at has perished, where can I buy those rubber seals?