Yep your right! It looks just about that bad or maybe even a tad worse.

All that for a 10 yr old 40 dollar radio.

I just bought this from the owner who had the radio stolen. Ive spent some time wandering the incredibly informative forums here but this isnt a common problem so it seems. All switches seem to be functioning.

The frame piece appears to be beyond repair on the passenger side. Ive posted to both the 300D's being parted out here and thought Id add a post here for any suggestions from this well experienced group.

Overall the car is in good condition and mostly needs just some TLC to improve that grade. 190K on her and most of the work done in the past has been European type shops from what I can see from the mountain of receipts.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. My 1st MB in many years and I intend on keeping this one for a long time.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Ah was it the old Becker?

That's really sad However those radios fetch a pretty good amount of coin on ebay.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=becker+radio&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

I still have mine. I love it for the look, but the thought of it getting stolen worries me.

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

No or I might understand all the damage done. The one stolen was a POS Panasonic.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Best bet to get the plastic and foam console structure is to find a good one in a Junk Yard or find a parts car. Pretty much the same scenario for the purchase of our '83 300D, and I was able to locate a good parts car with a nearly perfect console structure as well as a good bit of the wood trim. Don't believe the part is still being made, so this is really the only option!!

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

Wowee! Got 2 grand prix models laying around here, was gonna throw them out because I never thought they were worth much.

Bob do you mean the doorframe is damaged or the center console around the radio? I've heard of thieves being able to slip a screwdriver somewhere in the door to unlock it somehow...

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Its the console piece that runs between the seats up the dash.

I kinda figured a yard would be the better option. Ive spent a fair share of time in several for either myself or helping friends.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Hi Bob.

I have an abundance of w123 parts. Where is your location? I can hook you up with a center console for cheap if you come get it.

Please let me know what you need by way of PM or email.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

I was much more concerned in going over the mechanics when I was looking at the 300D. I see now its mostly a covered foam panel.

A pic is worth a 1000 words so here ya go.

Attached Thumbnails

       

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Oh man that just sends chills down my spine.

I'm almost tempted to leave instructions on how to remove the unit without damaging the console.

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

The prior owner and I both would have happily pulled the unit for him.

As I said it was a POS el cheepo installed 10+ yrs ago.

__________________
1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Very similar damage was found on our 83 300D, and I really think the PO was intimidated by the console replacement job or was just fed up with the car in general by then.

The sad thing about ours is the thief threw the Blaupunkt into the bushes two houses away, and it was recovered by the police. So all of the console damage was simply for naught. But at least we got the Blue Dot from the PO, including the removable faceplate. The faceplate carrying case was still in the glovebox. PO should have been using it !!!

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

just went through this in august, the adjuster wrote up a total, just from the interior @$5000 on my 89 300ce ~~~ and that was figuring in used parts for my top section of the back seat($300), the rear center console($300), and the rear shelf($300)

then the fight with the insurance company began.....

about 30 days later i ending up with a $3300 check, the car, and a clean title

some examples, but for a 124 chassis

console MB $550 > fleabay $57

upper wood MB $418
ashtray MB $294
shifter wood MB $338 > > fleabay 3 piece matched set $175

all this for a POS $130 replacement value radio, that the face plate wasn't even in place

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1989 300ce smoke silver / brazil, in a constant state of flux ~~~

Thankfully the individual switch plates all seem to be in good shape. It just looks soo ugly right now.

Im getting a real quick education on parts cost for MB's too. Glad Ive spent time in yards getting parts.

So far none of the manuals Ive looked at have any clear information on the subject and at 23 degrees its too cold to be out there working on it.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

I recall some guy mentioning he used gorilla glue and vinyl paint to fix dash cracks.

Can anyone else vouch for this? You might be able to tease out some of the smaller cracks.

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.