option. Updates Mercedes-Benz updated the W123 in incremental steps, calling them series: Series 0.5, November 1975 – July 1976 First Series, August 1976 – July 1979 Second Series, August 1979 – August 1982 Third Series, September 1982 – January 1986 Changes to the second series (from August 1979): smaller steering wheel (10 mm) in a more elegant design modernized toggle switches with smoother edges (hazard lights, windows, etc.) pneumatic headlamp leveling system modified belt buckles and smaller headrests new fabric patterns for the seats Changes to the third series (from September 1982): Rectangular headlights and power steering as standard for entire model range Molded front seat backrests for more knee freedom in the rear Cloth insert in the door panels Zebrano wood paneling in the dashboard Reduced wind noise due to improved roof trim strips Ventilation outlets are no longer chrome-plated Driver's airbag available as optional equipment For the 1981 model year, the automatic climate control panel from the W126 S-Class with a simplified icon design was adopted. A new five-speed manual gearbox was introduced in February 1982 and was available in all models except those with the 3-litre turbocharged diesel engine but not in North America. This gearbox was only offered to North America via the grey market. In September 1982, the driver's airbag with seat belt pre-tensioners for the passenger were offered as a 1,762.80 Deutsche Mark option for all models from the 1983 model year onward. Very few W123s had both driver and passenger air bags. The passenger air bag used a pyrotechnic gas discharge design, a world's first. Copies The W123 was officially produced by FAW in China from 1987 until 1988, as a 200 sedan or as a long wheelbase 230E. Only 828 cars were built in their Changchun plant. Another Chinese company called Bamin Automobile made W123 lookalikes using other parts. Bamin was a army-owned company located in Minhou. Their W123 copy was built on the chassis of the Bamin BM212A/213A, a copy of the Beijing BJ212 and came in a few different bodystyles. There was a four-door pickup called the BM2022A (or the better equipped BM1020KHA) and a wagon derived from it, as well as the BM1020KH/BM6480 (proper station wagons). The Chinese copies used the 2.4-litre BJ492 pushrod inline-four engine from the BJ212. Technical data - Rest of World Technical data - North America and Japan In these markets, only the following models