As noted by ScottinSoCal and KCM, the job proved to be difficult or impossible to do with the trims in the car, so job 1 was to remove them. I had glossed over the statement about 'removing the bolts' found in the manual and mentioned above. Also, didn't think too much about the clips holding the center main switch panel on. Those bolts and clips are easily some of THE MOST DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING to get out or put in that I've ever worked with!
Here's the blow by blow on the job:
1. Far left and far right short trim strips each have 2 8mm bolts that also hold the vent lever assembly. The inner ones are not too hard to see with a mirror, but the outer ones are a real pain. On the right, you first remove the glove box, and on the left, the instrument cluster, then take out both speakers/grilles and pull off the plastic duct from the vents (more on the driver side of this part below). You'll need a small bright light to see with.
2. Using a mirror, fish a short extension and socket, working through the speaker hole and glovebox opening, to get at the bolt heads for the passenger side trim. Unbolt, then pull the piece kind of out and down from the windshield post trim (no need to remove this, thankfully).
3. On the driver side, undo the light switch and push it up and out of the way. This will give better access to the ductwork, to pull it off and force it back as far as it can go. Again with the mirror and socket, BE REAL PATIENT and get ahold of the outer bolt. This is at best a 'touchy-feely', extremely hard to do step, since there is no room to work and your hands will block both light and mirror image. The inner bolt isn't too bad.
4. For the middle strip, remove all the switches. I used a dental pick and light/mirror to force the tangs of the clips upward to relieve pressure on the posts. At least one will probably go south into the bowels of the dash.
5. The glovebox is easy, just remove the screws, don't lose the little post/spring left of the catch.
6. So, with all the pieces on the bench, time to remove the old wood/aluminum from the diecast chromed strips. As pictured, I started each with a flat, squared exacto knife, and poured Goof Off into the crack. This stuff really softens and dissolves the old glue! I sharpened a cheap steel ruler to make a perfect-fitting wedge to continue the removal. This step was super easy. I cleaned all the old glue residue off with Goof Off, a brass brush, and rags.
7. At this point, since the kit I got with the car was not the right one, made I think for the older manual levered heating system, not the auto climate setup, (see picture of the left over pieces with slots), I went to the wife's jewelry bench and cut the pieces I need to fit. I used a round all direction blade and cut around the old pieces as templates, finishing with a round and flat file to precisely fit the switches.
8. For fun, I left off the opening for the antenna switch (piece of junk) and just shoved it behind the dash (saves re-wiring).
9. I applied garden variety contact cement, let it set up for about 20 minutes, then held each piece together with padded vice-grips to get a tight bond. Some ends needed a shot of crazy glue to get them down tight. (But be cautious, as this glue will eat the varnish).
10. Installation is, well, the reverse of removal, and those end piece bolts will take as much time to put in again as they did to get them out. VERY demanding on your 'mechanics touch'. It helps to use a bit of tape or whatever to hold the bolt in the socket while you attempt to get it in the hole. If you broke or lost the middle piece clips, get a speed nut clip (I think that's the name)(like the ones that are there for the speaker grille screws, see pic1) and break off the part with the screw hole in it. Make the hole just right for a press fit on the post. I used some outdoor double sided carpet tape too for extra insurance.
Anyway, the end result was more than worth it AFAIC. I'm not sure of any aftermarket kits that custom fit the auto climate setup in the SL, so it may be a $dealer$ item. You DO NOT want to pay to have this job done!
