MBUSA lowers W124 & W126 vacuum pod prices !

[gerryvz]

All:

I was just doing some updating to the Wiki pages on the W124 and W126 vacuum pods, and decided to do a little "price checking" to see if prices had gone up over the past 1.5 years, since I'd last checked them.

Completely shocked to see that in all cases, prices have dramatically gone DOWN, some by more than 50 percent!!

Here is the link to the W124 pod prices at the Wiki entry:
http://www.500eboard.com/forums/wiki_index.php?title=W124-Vacuum-Pod-Reference-Guide

If any of you have an in-op or partially working ACC system -- and I bet that 50% of the owners here do -- then NOW is an excellent time to stock up on a new set of six factory MB pods to do the replacement.

Unfortunately on the W124, it's a "dash out" procedure to remove four of the six ACC pods. That process is detailed at this link.

On the W126, the replacement of all six pods CAN be achieved without removing the dashboard. That process is detailed at this link.

It is possible that the pod prices may still be cheaper at aftermarket parts vendors such as AutohauZ. A cursory check at AHAZ prices for the W124 pods shows that most AHAZ prices are more expensive or right at the MBUSA "list" prices -- meaning that you can save substantial money by going with an Internet factory parts source such as Lionel, Parts.com or MB Asheville.

ALSO, AHAZ is not showing that pod part number 124 800 02 75 is available, whereas factory sources are showing this is available from MB. This MUST be confirmed though, as some have said in recent months that this pod is out of production. However, MB parts lists are still showing it available, though this may be in error.

This is big news for all 124 folks !

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gsxr]

My dealer confirmed as of last week that 124-800-02-75 center vent pod is NLA from the dealership.

Remember that parts can remain on the MB price list for DECADES after they are NLA. Never, ever, ever think that because you can find a price for the part from a dealer website, that it means the part is available for purchase!!

 

[emerydc8]

That center vent pod (124 800 02 75) will be harder to find than the coveted transmission-to-exhaust bracket!

 

[gerryvz]

That center vent pod (124 800 02 75) will be harder to find than the coveted transmission-to-exhaust bracket!

I'm going to have to start scoring center vent pods out of the 124s that I find in the yards.

Definitely have some spare transmission/exhaust brackets and also V-8 transmission mount brackets, if anyone needs one

 

[Klink]

My dealer confirmed as of last week that 124-800-02-75 center vent pod is NLA from the dealership.

Remember that parts can remain on the MB price list for DECADES after they are NLA. Never, ever, ever think that because you can find a price for the part from a dealer website, that it means the part is available for purchase!!

What dave said. That part is currently NLA. And yes, items will remain in the pricelist indefinitely. Take some solace in the fact that nowadays the NLA status seems less absolute than it used to be.

Over the last couple of years, some strange incidents like this have occurred: We had a customer that needed an air filter element for his 1960 220SE Cabriolet. I ordered one for him. They had only built something like 1100 cars that took this particular air filter element, still I was a little bit surprised that ALL MB sources showed the part to be NLA and none were expected, ever. Case closed, lots of luck, have a happy. A few weeks later at about the time I was going to investigate having a K&N type element made for it, or something along those lines, it arrived, completely unannounced. It was seriously expensive for an air filter element, but it was a perfect, brand-new, newly made Mann, Hengst or such element.

Things like that are starting to happen more frequently....

 

[gerryvz]

Klink,

We have seen numerous instances of this type of thing over the years with our 500Es, and I have also seen it with the 6.3, 6.9, R107 and W126 too. For example, a few years back, the "500E" trunk badge was "NLA" from MB for a while -- perhaps almost a year or so. People were wringing their hands, wailing in sorrow and spreading ashes on their foreheads to mourn the passing of the "official" 500E trunk badge.

All of the sudden, they appeared back on the market & orderable from the dealers!!

I've seen this also with the R107 blower motors, and dozens of other parts too.

IMHO there are just too many W124s still on the road for this vacuum pod NOT to be available for too long. Either MB will commission a new batch of them to be made, or Hella/Behr will put them back into production and make them available on the aftermarket.

The only parts I've definitely seen go permanently NLA have tended to be interior trim items, particularly those in non-neutral colors. Starting to perhaps see some interior wood items go NLA, or at minimum get superseded so as to minimize the SKUs available and forcing buyers into specific configurations.

Even more frequently you see SKU consolidation, such as the 126 sedan hood pads all being consolidated down to the "diesel" hood pad with the silver turbo heat shield rectangle (as if that does any good on a gasser W126). Same thing with the E500E EZLs and LH units being now shared with the W140s and other models....

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[emerydc8]

IMHO there are just too many W124s still on the road for this vacuum pod NOT to be available for too long. Either MB will commission a new batch of them to be made, or Hella/Behr will put them back into production and make them available on the aftermarket.

Or, Mercedes will have to summon its team of Teutonic gnomes from the foothills of the Alps and make them get on it and build some more of these things!

 

[HOFF]

Do you guys realise you can replace the rubber diaphragms in all the existing pods of any make very cheaply from this US company based in Oak Ridge TN
Owner is George Murphy and he is all over any Merc Model - just call him to discuss your own model
Also make sure you buy the "pod opener tool" with your purchase for ease of opening up the pod (wire clamp that you use a pair of small locking pliers to squeeze it tight and hold - as too hard with your hands)
I have changed all my own pods in my W126 (dash out in my case as easier) and it is a very easy process and cost a mere faction of the cost of buying a whole new pod
http://www.perfanalysis.com

And here is a step by step pod repair in action with clear pics of the process
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w12...uum-pod-repair.html?highlight=pod+replacement

Hope that solves your pod problem at a fraction of the cost of buying any new pod
Cheers Hoff

 

[gsxr]

Yes, the Performance Analysis repair kit can be used to repair the center vent pod. Sure wish they had an online store, appears you have to call and order via phone... how quaint.

Note that the center vent pod is the ONLY pod on the W124 which can be properly/fully rebuilt. The dual-diaphragm repair kits restrict pod travel (details on PeachParts) and the diverter pod is a smaller diameter. All the dual-diaphragm pods are still available, get 'em while you can.

 

[gerryvz]

Note that the center vent pod is the ONLY pod on the W124 which can be properly/fully rebuilt. The dual-diaphragm repair kits restrict pod travel (details on PeachParts) and the diverter pod is a smaller diameter.

You beat me to it, Dave.

Don't you have some photos on your web site that detail this, as well? I seem to remember George Murphy denying somewhere what you found, with regard to the limited travel in the dual pods with his diaphragm kit, to be true.

 

[gsxr]

Yes, photos are here. I never saw any official denial from the mfr, and it is possible that either the kits have changed since that time (10+ years ago) or that I goofed up the rebuild. I'm reasonably confident that my conclusions are accurate though. It is also possible that the full travel of the pod is not needed to fully open/close the flaps... that is one thing I haven't yet measured, but I plan to do so the next time I have the dash off a 124.

BTW - the Performance Analysis kit should work GREAT to rebuild the single-diaphragm center vent pod. I had purchased several of those kits and they worked perfectly. NO issues with fitment or quality.

 

[gerryvz]

I goofed up the rebuild.

You? Goof up?

I did not think that was/is humanly possible.

Do tell !!

 

[gerryvz]

What dave said. That part is currently NLA. And yes, items will remain in the pricelist indefinitely. Take some solace in the fact that nowadays the NLA status seems less absolute than it used to be.

Over the last couple of years, some strange incidents like this have occurred: We had a customer that needed an air filter element for his 1960 220SE Cabriolet. I ordered one for him. They had only built something like 1100 cars that took this particular air filter element, still I was a little bit surprised that ALL MB sources showed the part to be NLA and none were expected, ever. Case closed, lots of luck, have a happy. A few weeks later at about the time I was going to investigate having a K&N type element made for it, or something along those lines, it arrived, completely unannounced. It was seriously expensive for an air filter element, but it was a perfect, brand-new, newly made Mann, Hengst or such element.

Things like that are starting to happen more frequently....

Klink,

A brave soul had once attempted to start a list of NLA parts for the E500E... here in the Wiki.

 

[clarkz71]

I'm going to have to start scoring center vent pods out of the 124s that I find in the yards.

Definitely have some spare transmission/exhaust brackets and also V-8 transmission mount brackets, if anyone needs one

Have fun, that's buried in the case, below the center flap. The dash has to come out
Then you pull the right side case cover holding the defrost flap and foot well flap
Then you'll see the pod and heater core

 

[gerryvz]

Uhhh....been there done that !! Documented it too. You can remove the pod by slightly bending and removing the top flap of the box, and pulling the pod out through the top.

If your hands are small enough.

 

[clarkz71]

I chose to buy a few spares when word got out the were being discontinued.

I'm not pulling a dash in a bone yard for a $20 vacuum element.

 

[gerryvz]

Hmmm...a pinkClarkomino dashboard. Could that be Vader removing that pod from that box ... ?

You selling those spare pods for $55, tops ?!?

 

[clarkz71]

lol

I would pull the case and do it right. The fresh air/recirc pods are a bitch.
And I'd inspect the evaporator while I was in there.

And I don't know anyone who leaves the console in doing this repair.

 

[clarkz71]

Uhhh....been there done that !! Documented it too. You can remove the pod by slightly bending and removing the top flap of the box, and pulling the pod out through the top.

If your hands are small enough.

That looks like a thread Dave did in November 2002.

So I'll excuse the way he did the repair, but Gerry......... taking credit for Dave's work ??

 

[gerryvz]

taking credit for Dave's work ??

No .. HE inserted the photo in MY post, after the fact. I still appreciated it though, if only to give me an opportunity to make a crack about Clarkomino and "$55, tops!"

My work is appropriately credited, here.....

Cheers,
Gerry