Heater Control Lever Assembly (part needed)

[Charles 230SL]

hello all, I need part of the Heater Control Assembly that holds the right-side lever bulb. I have no idea what it's called so I'll just call it the "right-side bulb holder" (picture below). Today I took my dash speaker out and discovered that some previous owner Cro-Magnon had over torqued the cap screw, resulting in the cracked 'bulb holder'. There's nothing left to secure the cap to. Anyone have an idea where I can get the bulb holder?
BTW, the second picture shows what the bulb holder used to look like (picture compliments of Scottcorvette) thanks! Charles

[MikeSimon]

Charles! Coincidentally, I have been reading about the evolution of prehistoric humans quite a bit lately and Neanderthals seem to have been much smarter than we commonly give them credit for.
 

[mrfatboy]

This part seems to be another candidate for a 3D printer. Given the dimensions I could create the file. 👍

[ja17]

Charles,
I have lots of these, as they are the same as some MB sedans of the era. PM me if you like.

[Charles 230SL]

thanks Joe! PM sent

[Charles 230SL]

Charles! Coincidentally, I have been reading about the evolution of prehistoric humans quite a bit lately and Neanderthals seem to have been much smarter than we commonly give them credit for.
 

Sorry about that Mike (correction made) .

[Charles 230SL]

Today I repaired my right heater control lever with the bulb-holder & cap Joe/JA17 sent me - its as good as new.
Thanks x 1,000,000 Joe! 

[Benz Dr.]

I save every one of them I see but the most common one to break is underneath the cap. That old plastic gets so brittle it almost crumbles with even a small amount of force.

[ChrisInNashville]

I’m curious.  15 years ago, I was trying to replace this part..it was impossible.  I think I bought and harvested a replacement from a salvage unit (that wasn’t cheap).  Remembering this difficulty, I recently stumbled on new parts and bought them to keep in reserve when the plastic inevitably breaks again. 

My curiosity is whether it’s the proliferation of 3D printing making obscure parts like these more available and whether it was unnecessary to purchase a reserve. 

[hansr433]

Charles,
I have lots of these, as they are the same as some MB sedans of the era. PM me if you like.

Joe, are these illuminated on a W113?  If so, would you know if the W111 Coupe/Cabs use the illuminated versions as well?  I cannot find any definite info and at night my dashboard is dramatically dark.

[col320ce]

It's not illuminated on my w111 coupe and also a completely different design.

[wwheeler]

Col is correct. Totally different levers and design. They are not illuminated and never were. The early levers were chrome and then Mercedes changed to a softer black plastic. The plastic would break with age and when the the cables went dry and created too much friction. I changed the levers on my '68 W11 to the early chrome ones. Look much nicer and won't break. Requires a bit of fitting though.

[ChrisInNashville]

Isn't this what you're looking for?

https://vintageeuroparts.com/index.php/chassis-number/w113/new-heater-control-unit-light-assembly-fits-mercedes-w113-1138300385.html?___SID=U

[ja17]

Yes, on the W111 and W112 coupes, and sedans, the heater levers are not illuminated and a completely different  design. The early versions of these had metal chrome control levers and the latest version had plastic levers which are easily replaced if broken (ten minute job). I do not think any parts in these systems are usaboe in a W113. The W113 heater controls are illuminated and more complex design. They share the same basic design with the W108 and W109 sedans of the era and a lot of the parts are the same. As we know the early ones had solid plastic slide levers and the later ones used the rubber/plastic slide levers which fail with time. Many of the internal plastic parts of the heater control parts of the W108, W109 sedans and W113 SLs are the same or will work in a W113. I think that the soft rubber controls were a result of new USA DOT safety requirements for "soft knobs" on the dash.