mats, cocomats, colour

[pj]

Hello friends,
I'm still not sure I understand what the original floor covering on a 230SL was. But if my car had its original carpet when I got the car, the carpet was in pretty bad shape and it was pulled out. I have been driving the car with just the mats since then. (Although it looks pretty obvious to me, many casual commentators tell me the lack of carpeting doesn't detract when they look at the car's interior.) The mats are also rather worn and shabby, but I think they are the famed cocomats that are widely mentioned here. Checking the company's website, it seems that a pair of mats is not terribly expensive. So I'd like to get new ones.

My first question is whether we know which colour combination would have been with the car originally. I gather the cocomats were a factory option on the 230SLs. If possible, I'd like to buy new ones that match the original colours. How can I verify which colour it was? If my mats happen to be the originals, it's hard to tell specifically which of the colours listed on the company's website matches.

In another thread, it is mentioned that the cocomats were option code 835. I definitely don't have that option code on my data card. Is it possible that not all options were recorded on the card? Or can I be certain that the lack of 835 on my data card means my 230SL didn't leave the dealership with cocomats?

Thanks and happy spring to everyone in the northern hemisphere.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Peter,

If you cannot get the answer here from our forum Friends to your question I recommend you drop David Latham at  Buds a line. I got a news letter from him the other day that they also redo interiors of our cars. I'm sure his team may have the right information for you.

Happy spring motoring to you also !

[Jonny B]

The 230 SL should have rubber mats on the passenger and driver side, no carpet. The tunnel and rear area would be carpeted. I think they were grey, but can't type that with 100% certainty.

Can't help with the coconuts question.

[KevinC]

I believe that the rubber mats came in at least a few basic colors depending on your interior. My friend Dennis has original tan rubber mats in the foot-wells of his '64 230SL.  The Classic Center sells only gray now however.  

[pj]

Hi Kevin,
do you know what colour codes Dennis's '65 230SL has on the original data card? It would interest me to know what the tan mats were matched against.

[KevinC]

Peter, I'll try to find out. I'm going to say that it is 114 natural or 120 cognac. I believe that the mats are the same color as his door sill covers. My door sill covers are tan but my rubber mats are long gone! 

[dsg]

Hi, Peter and Kevin.
The color code on the data card of my 230SL (with the original tan rubber mats) is 114 (natural).

[pj]

Hi everyone,
new mats have arrived from Coco-Mats. My first time, so I don't know what comparison to think about. I don't know if my old mats are original, but I doubt it. No details in the TM. Can anyone help? The rubberized patch on the old mats had the words "Mercedes-Benz" visible in raised letters.

Here is 2 photos of the old mat next to the new. I'm satisfied with the colour and the quality looks good. The new mats have rubbery undersides with little nubs.

The problem, as you can see, is that the new mats are not as long as the old. Also, the notch for the gas pedal heel is off a bit on the new mat. So I would like to know what's going on. Any suggestions?

[thelews]

your mats look original or very period for the 113.  The comparison would be better with the new mat laid over the old one.  That said, I think cocomats.com may not have gone all the way up since yours have no rubber backing and the new ones do, so the thickness of the new mats may interfere with things.  That said, you could trace out your old mats on craft paper and send them to Jeff or even send him the old ones as a template.  He'd make whatever you wanted.

I know my mats fit very well.

[pj]

Hi John,
thanks for your remarks. Which pattern do you think is correct? The longer, or the shorter? The comments on other threads about the mats, and in the TM, leave me unsure if our cars even had mats when they left the factory.

[66andBlue]

Peter,
the factory installed rubber mats with a thick felt pad underneath in 230SL cars, but one could special order "coconut mats (4 sections) in natural colors", SA code 835 (Sonderausstattung or special order code) and in that case they did leave the factory with such mats. I believe dealers could also order them separately using this SA code and install them later.

[pj]

Hi Alfred,
thanks for this info. Do we know what shape the optional mats had originally? Were they longer, like my old ones, or shorter, like the ones that Coco-mats sent me just now?

Also, Marcus pointed out to me in a PM that the rubber rectangle under the driver's heel has left-right ribbing on my old mats, and front-rear ribbing on the new mats from Coco-mats. Do you know which way they're "supposed" to go? (Heh, for any of you who have struggled with street signs in Germany, this reminds me of Spurinnen versus Spurillen. Funny.)

[thelews]

I don't think cocomats.com is necessarily trying to duplicate original, just make well fitting, functional, quality, new cocomats for vintage cars.  My guess is yours are the original pattern that would have come with ordering them from the dealer (this is a guess).  As I said, cocomats.com will make whatever you want if you send them.  I don't think they can duplicate the heel pad.  You should email them directly and not take my word.

[66andBlue]

Peter,
sorry, I do not know the shape of the original mats, my 230SL did not have them.
I would send the question to Brian at Motoringinvestments ("pagodapete" is his name here) and ask him.
Or perhaps Gernold may have seen original mats.

[thelews]

I have original cocomats for my 190 SL and they have the same heel pad as yours.

[jameshoward]

Off topic, sorry, but John, can you send me your email address via PM? Your inbox is full.

[thelews]

Try the PM again, I cleaned it out to only two messages.  There were 10.  That's a full box?!?

[jameshoward]

Will do. And yes, 5 or 10 must constitute a full inbox. (I've replied to beat Peter and Garry to the draw. They will point out to you that if you were REALLY committed to the site, you'd join as a full member and then get an inbox with a zillion message capacity!)

(I get this a lot, but it makes me smile, God Bless the 'Mods... )

[pj]

I spoke with Drew, the rep from Coco-Mats, today. He told me that the design they use is the same as the design used by the MB Classic Centre, and it's what everbody gets. So I guess that's a good thing. I haven't decided if I'll just keep using the old ones until we re-do the interior anyway.

[Peter van Es]

Will do. And yes, 5 or 10 must constitute a full inbox. (I've replied to beat Peter and Garry to the draw. They will point out to you that if you were REALLY committed to the site, you'd join as a full member and then get an inbox with a zillion message capacity!)

(I get this a lot, but it makes me smile, God Bless the 'Mods... )

Thanks, James, for this post. After discussions with John (thelews) just this week  I changed the limits for different post groups... I never thought to check the limit for "cheapskate"  basic members... Thinking neither of you would fall into that category. Your post made me check: and you are right, if you are a basic member you can only have 10 messages in your inbox, and any higher levels do not apply.

So I'll join Garry now: join for more value!

(I've increased the nr of messages for basic members to 25 now... But still please join!)

Peter