I have glanced through my owners manual, but cannot find anything, nor see any buttons. So, does the 85' and older S-Class models lack the "recirculated" air feature? If so, I find this very strange, because this was a feature on Japanese cars as far back as the 1970s.

I have had several pre-85' Japanese cars and all had "recirculated" air feature- my old 81' Toyota Cressida and 84' Honda Accord had it and even grandpas old 1984 Toyota Van and 1983 Toyota truck had it. They had a lever that you could slide for "FRESH" air, or "RECIRCULATED" air. My 84' Accord, as well as my 86' Accords actually had a button for this that was electronically controlled.

Perhaps I am just not sure which button it is on my car? If they do not have it, what year did they add it on the S-Class and wonder why is was void on these models?

AFAIK, the only air you could get in an old Benz is air from outside that's blown in by a fan - no recirculated air, and no direct fresh air (like how it comes in faster when you drive faster).

I could be wrong.

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'82 300TD
'77 6.9
'75 280S
'74 280
'87 Porsche 944 turbo

MB didn't have that switch untill 1986 on the W126 chassis...BUT the climate control systems all of the way back to 1976 DID provide recirculated air in the "MIN" a/c mode!

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

After driving an 82 for a few months I am starting to miss the added features of the 86+ W126's. For example:
The head rests are not power on the 82 and the seats do not have memory.
The reading light that is part of the dome light on the later cars is missing.
The recirculated air button is nice in construction zones.
The tilt sunroof is also nice.
I prefer the later climate control layout.

Just a few little differences you notice after living with them for awhile.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

follow any old truck or van. yech!

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

You mean there's a way to recirculate air in my '82 300TD?? How does one do it? What combo of buttons do I have to push?

I think the MB climate control is the most retarded f***ing design ever. It makes no sense. I'll take the Porsche system any day.

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'82 300TD
'77 6.9
'75 280S
'74 280
'87 Porsche 944 turbo

Bump - is there a way to recirculate the air in my 85 380SE? Even if I have to go in there and modify a flap or two?

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Doesn't the 85 come with a switch on the console that looks like 3 arrows chasing each other? If you do, that is your recirc switch.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

No, it doesn't. That's why I asked - the 86 W126 has the switch, as does my 91 W124, but the 85 and earlier W126 don't have the feature. Is there a hack so I can secure one of the flaps for homemade "recirculate" feature?

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Hmm...my '88 126 had that feature...that's why I wasn't sure if you did or not. On the 126 I noticed (once I pulled out the glovebox) that there were two actuators that would move the flap open for the recirc feature.

So....I would think that as long as the flap is there to begin with, that you could hook up some sort of "valve" do give you some vacuum, to make that flap move.

keep in mind, that it's my bedtime and this is off the top of my head

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

1984 300d Turbo 138k
Turn The Temperture Wheel All The Way Min Or Max It Goes To Full Recirculate, Remove The Glove Box And Watch The Right Vacuum Valve Actuator If It Is Leaking You Get Outside Hot Air, Also You Use A Hand Vacuum Pump To Check For Leaks,

Your car is a different chassis, W123 versus my W126. Even if the W126 behaved this way, problem with this method is the blower gets locked on high setting. Of course you can manually override by pressing the "low" button, but there's no medium, just annoyingly loud "high" or insufficient "low." Hacking the flap to get it to stay shut would enable a medium setting.

Anyone else out there done this?

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

I saved this in my folder from an unknown source:

FWIW

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

my 85 california 190e has a recirc. button on the dash.