Bremer Wappen

W123 Bremen

Friday, 19.04.2024

The upholstery of the W123

You could not only equip your W123 with ample accessories and choose between exclusive paint finishes, but also order the interior in a homely color and with appropriate upholstery.
Basically, there was the choice between fabric, MB-Tex (synthetic leather), leather or velour. For each series of the W123 other colors were available for the seating furniture.
The upholstery is also indicated by a three-digit code, which is composed as follows: the first digit provides information on the type of upholstery. The second digit says something about the pattern and series / year. The third and final number finally indicates the color.
For example, SA code 235 (2 = leather, 3 = 2nd series, 5 = cream).
So there are distributed over the construction period of the W123 and divided into the three series, a total of 72 different variants with which one could design its car individually from the inside.
Who ordered a 280E or a coupé was distinguished not only by its car from the other, but also by another fabric pattern. At least in the first and second series. In the third, no differences were made.
A small impression of the various upholstery you can get on the side of the VFW Polsterungen W123. Hier sind die original Polsterprospekte von Mercedes-Benz abgebildet.

1. series 1/76 until 9/79 = 0
Colour Fabric (0) MB-Tex (1) Leather (2) Velours (9)
(1) black 001 101 201 901*
(2) blue 002 102 202 902
(3) tobacco 003 103 203 903
(4) bamboo 004 104 204 904
(5) parchment 005 105 205 905
(6) moss 006 106 206 906
* for velours, the color name is anthracite instead of black
In the first series, the fabric pattern for the coupes and the 280E is called „Rhombe”. All other fabric patterns were called „Geflecht”.
 
2. series 9/79 until 9/82 = 3
Colour Frabric (0) MB-Tex (1) Leather (2) Velours (9)
(1) black 031 131 231 931*
(2) blue 032 132 232 932
(4) date 034 134 234 934
(5) creme 035 135 235 935
(6) olive 036 136 236 936
(7) siena red 037 137 237 937
* for velours, the color name is anthracite instead of black
In the second series, the fabric pattern for coupes and the 280E is called „Schachtelmuster” or „Skala”. All other fabric patterns were called „Fischgrät”.
 
3. series 9/82 until 1/86 = 5
Colour Fabric (0) MB-Tex (1) Leather (2) Velours (9)
(1) black 051 151 251 951*
(2) blue 052 152 252 952
(4) date 054 154 254 954
(5) cream 055 155 255 955
(6) dark olive 056 156 256 956
(7) henna red 057 157 257 957
* for velours, the color name is anthracite instead of black
In the third series, the distinction between 280E / Coupe and other models was abandoned. The fabric pattern was called „Streifen”.