Correct Carpet Color for EARLY 230SL

[demichae]

This question is directed to those knowledgeable about early W113 carpets.  My 1964 230SL, #113042-10-001660, has upholstery code 115.  Per the upholstery codes on this site, that means MB text with dark blue 2300 interior and graphite grey 6117 carpet.  However, per this thread, https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=17227.0  “ the 1964 230 had blue carpet, not charcoal black or grey….The latter colors were used from 012467 (August 1964) on, not earlier...”
So, is my carpet supposed to be blue or graphite grey? 

Also, “Boucle” is the 7 loops/inch that prior posts discuss for early 230’s, correct?

[lreppond]

Over the years the mills which produce German square weave have dwindled and the color choices have changed. In other words, they differ from what was available back in 1964 when your car was assembled.  There is a grey blue square weave that would probably work best with a 115 interior. I think graphite grey was similar but with a tad bit less blue hue.

You are correct about the 7 loops per square inch.  Again, may be difficult to source. 

To further complicate matters, the early 230s had rubber mats rather than carpets in the footwells.  I have no idea if they can still be sourced and if so what colors are available.  My suggestion would be to choose carpeting unless you can source a mat color that works perfectly with your carpet choice.  There is a company in Germany called OK Gummiwerks that may have the rubber mats available.  I know they offer heel pads and door sill mats in many different colors. 

Good luck. Keep us updated on what route you decide to pursue. 

[lreppond]

Apparently floorwell mats are still available from Mercedes Benz.  They are well over $200 per side!  The color is a medium grey and it would look quite nice with the grey blue square weave material.  Here’s a link for the color:

https://www.authenticclassics.com/Mercedes-Left-Front-Rubber-Floor-p/auth-003064.htm

[rwmastel]

Rubber floor mats were originally available in colors.  I have my original brown ones, along with the original brown door sill rubber.  Somewhere, we have info on color codes that even says what color the carpet binding should be.  I once saw on old German language microfiche the color of the seat belts specified.  That was at a PUB at Joe's, but I don't know who owned the microfiche.

[BobH]

I've been looking at the scanned pages from the book of colour combination codes, "Equipment Manual 1974 Type 113", there's an example of a page from this book in the tech manual, at the bottom of the page

https://www.sl113.org/wiki/DataCard/UpholsteryCodes

What i don't understand is that in the book, the 230 chassis start at 012467.  does anyone know why there aren't codes listed for earlier cars, or was there an earlier book perhaps?

Am i correct in thinking that all 230's had rubber mats in the footwells and only carpet on the transmission tunnel and behind the seats, or am i misreading things

Thanks

[Jonny B]

There should be carpet on the sills to the interior of the car, and on the back of the seats. Some cars have carpets under the seats too.
There rubber sill covers on the entry.

Regarding the VIN ending in 12467, there were a number of changes to the 230 SL to go with the intro of the 108/109 cars These are listed as part modernization. You can see the items in Pagoda Notes Volume 10, No 2. You can find those in the Technical Manual.

There are no changes listed for the interior coverings in the Parts Book C, which is dated 1967. The footnotes usually capture those kinds of changes, but nothing is indicated for 12467.

I can't speak to the items before that. You would most likely need to find an earlier version of the list.

[lreppond]

Rodd,
Is this what you’re referring to that was on microfiche?  I got this off a German site and saved it because it specified all the interior colors of my interior/VIN.  As I recall, there was page after page of these for literally every sequence of VIN for all the w113s produced.  Those lists should be included in our tech manual but I think all that exists there is one page translated into English as an example.

Len.

[BobH]

This a page from the book i've seen on another forum, problem is it's in German, and the chassis number for 230's only starts at 012467, whereas numbers for 250's and 280's start at 001.  I needed to register on this site to view them, so i was reluctant to copy them, and, as i say they're in German, so difficult to decipher

[rwmastel]

It was maybe 10 - 12 years ago that I saw the microfiche, so I can't say that it is the exact same.  But, your image does show color codes for quite a few items/categories.  You see sicherheitsgurt is at the bottom, and that is seatbelt.  This is what we need for every color code.  And, of course over the years, the factory would have changed the items listed and the color combinations for them, so we'd need the updates over the years.  That would be quite a task to undertake, finding and compiling all that information.