W124 fuel filler flap question

[manalishi]

For those of you with a W124 4-door saloon, can you answer this question: does your car have an extra 'space' for a fuel filler opening under the filler flap?

Like the extra circular shape on this one:

I'm wondering if it would be usable as an LPG filler - to avoid the typical (and awfully ugly and amateurish) LPG filler that you see ruining the flanks of many converted cars.

I think I remember some sort of complication about LPG fillers having to be visible (fire safety?), so perhaps that's an idea-killer. (Not seen how Volvo and other factory bi-fuel cars do their fillers...)

 

[jpskiller]

I have w124 saloon, and I dont have that extra space

 

[d w124]

i have 2 w124 mate but i dont have any extra space

 

[manalishi]

Curious... That car - a '94 300D - is at www.realmb.co.uk which is where I first spotted the dual-hole thing. For some reason they often photograph under the filler flap, and I've seen several like that there.

Here's an '87 260E at the same place:

And the nautic blue 500E (that they finally sold):

W124 saloons are such bargains, that one of them with LPG conversion would make a great and cheap-to-run cruiser to keep forever.

 

[grober]

I reckon its for some emission control type filter for the tank in some markets?? Or another filler cap for an alternative fuel tank. I would guess this is an indication these cars were not British at first registration but imports???

 

[219]

Neither of my W124 estates had that arrangement ; nor have I seen it on any other model .

I agree it would be a 'neat' place for the additional filler for an LPG conversion .

I have contemplated converting various cars I have had , and thought of cutting out the fuel filler aperture and flap from a donor car in a scrapyard , then welding into the rear wing on the other side , also connecting in the vacuum actuator for the central locking .

 

[ede220]

I have a '93 W124 e220 saloon and it has the extra space as in the pics

 

[manalishi]

I have a '93 W124 e220 saloon and it has the extra space as in the pics

Interesting - do you know if it was first registered in the UK? (Ref the comment above) The V5 would say if it was previously registered overseas.

Pontoneer - I think the W124 estates I've seen all have the shorter filler flap - so no room for the extra orifice/blank.

 

[219]

I never had a W124 saloon so have never noticed a difference in flap length . Do all saloons have a 'long' flap ? How about coupes ?

I just went out and looked at my W126 , no room there either for an additional 'orifice' , but if I was converting that car I'd fit a flap on the 'other side' .

 

[grober]

If ede 220 puts his VIN in here the full listing version should indicate the country of the dealer that supplied the car originally. http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng manalishi you could try one of the VINS of the cars you are interested in?

 

[CE230]

Nothing on my coupé

 

[219]

There are a number of late-registered W124 saloons running around which were produced in India from kits after European production had switched to the W210 . A number of these cars then found their way back to these shores . The models in question tend to be entry level ones with fairly basic spec and different suspension to suit the dirt roads in India .

 

[bolide]

I've not seen that on any of the 400+ cars I've looked at

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[ede220]

I entered the VIN as suggested at #10 by grober, and it says it was supplied by a dealer in Britain in '93.
So the confusion continues.......

 

[manalishi]

Thanks EDE. I remain mystified... Don't think MB ever did a factory bi-fuel car?

 

[grober]

Still a mystery then. I have seen pictures like this on W124 cars in the USA and Australia. Could be something as trivial as a batch of body pressings designed for certain markets finding their way into "the mainstream" at one point simply to use them up, or to cover a supply shortage on the production line??

 

[IMD]

My 230e has the larger fuel cap and the blanked off hole. It was originally supplied to a Liberian dealer in 1990 and has a few other african spec bits and bobs. Only noticed it today!

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

My 1995 facelift E300 Diesel saloon has the space for the extra filler.

It was UK dealer supplied and first registered in the UK.