Hello all, I though I would share my experience with trying to bring back the faded wood trim on my "new" 89 300E (W124)

I have read all about people trying to find a new piece, or by completely refinishing the wood.

Refinishing wood is beyond my skill, and I cannot afford a new piece, even if it is "only!" $200!

I read somewhere that the plastic looking stuff is actually clear coat paint!?

But my trim has cracks near the gear shift area and stuff, so I always thought it was plastic.

Whatever, I gave it a try anyways.

Time for a trick, or maybe an act of desperation. You pick! It did not matter what would happen whether my trick would ruin it or not... It looks old and crappy anyways....

I already had a bottle of Meguiar's Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner Step 1 of 3 of the complete system, I applied it to one small circular area on the console wood piece, near the rear left window switch!

After one coat, I let it dry to a slight haze, you know like just when you start to see faint white lines. Then I buffed...

No change!

I was like, well, it was worth a try...

Now come the stupid/genious/miracle/Oprah worthy part

So I grabbed my rag and while picking that up and exiting the car, the rag happened wrap around the stupid bottle and knocked it over, causing to land on its side, spewing the cleaner all over the switches and wood.

I was like, oops.

So I took my trusty terry cloth rag and smeared it all over the wood and removed it from the electronics.

Waited for it to dry, buffed, and WOW!

The spot I had previously covered looked brand new!

Well, not entirely, it looked a whole lot better, but nowhere close to new...

I discovered a poor man's fix to the wood console fade stuff!

I will take pictures, before and after style.

Don't expect to be taken aback, but dont expect to be dissapointed!