!@#$%^&* Dash craccked. - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

brandlj · #16 02-08-2008, 11:21 AM

You know Mercedes did this on the w126 cars. They moved the air sensor from the dash on the early 126's to the dome light region in the headliner.
I think you could move it wherever was convenient by just getting some additional hose. Take a look at the later w126's prior to 1986 and see how Mercedes did it.

TheDon · #17 02-08-2008, 11:24 AM

you do know that Mercedes still has a few W126 dashes in stock.. NOS dashes are probably $1500 without an MBCA discount

lutzTD · #18 02-08-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

The $120+, blue, plastic dash cover looks better than cracks but I really got tired of looking at mine so I painted a black one from one of my parts cars. Used "Sem Shadow Blue" with all the proper cleaner and prep, came out great.

I have been trading emails with Jim (jim16671836) and he has dyed a few blue dashes in the past. I think he said he would have a couple (w123) available soon. I hope to find a real one but I would like to hear how your painted one is holding up. I was thinking I would be able to get a good dash from a cold climate parts car but it sounds like the cold climate cars have issues too. maybe dyed is the only way

the tenor man · #19 02-08-2008, 12:47 PM

I glued a coverlay on my 1987 300D Turbo a few years ago and it warped. I called Performance Products (I purchased it from them) and they sent me a new one. You have to cut out the number section on the back and send it to them...

BTW, they now have a different method of gluing it on the dash. I'm waiting for warmer weather to put on the replacement.

One thing that I can say about Performance Products...they didn't care how old it was or how long it had been on the car...I bought it from them and they sent me a replacement quickly and even paid for the shipping.

The Tenor Man

the tenor man · #20 02-08-2008, 12:52 PM

I know that I have seen this posted before, but I just had to say it....

Guys driving 25+ year old cars should still feel pretty good...all plastic dashes will eventually crack...It's just that most of those Non-Mercedes "tinboxes" are already in the junkyard.

Just my 2¢ worth....

The Tenor Man

bobodaclown · #21 02-08-2008, 12:54 PM

Maybe I'm just cheap. I like the carpet dash covers. Covers the cracks and you can shake it out if it gets dusty. They usually have the color that will match your interior.
To each their own.
Bob

lutzTD · #22 02-08-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobodaclown

Maybe I'm just cheap. I like the carpet dash covers. Covers the cracks and you can shake it out if it gets dusty. They usually have the color that will match your interior.
To each their own.
Bob

i have the carpet dash mat on mine, when I get a good dash the carpet will stay. I just wish the carpet corners wouldnt have curled up. makes it more pronounced, at least the huge cracks in the dash keep hold of the carpet, A new dash with some 303 and i might have trouble keeping it in place

barry123400 · #23 02-08-2008, 01:44 PM

With time I think the dash plastic continues to outgass. This results in it becoming more brittle over time or loosing flexability. At a given point any excessive thermal stress is going to let it crack.
On that basis I feel any attempt to repair is probably only going to have a short lifespan. Logic almost indicates it will crack somewhere else in the near future. There is probaly nothing to loose and perhaps nothing to gain by using a plastic conditioner before yours cracks.
In my opinion with the advanced age of the average uncracked dash it might just lessen the constant outgassing to some extent and lessen the effect of uv exposure.
It is questionable again if it could really impact the material directly. I have wondered about this for quite awhile myself.
Other opinions of the logical progression of this problem are more than welcome by myself. We must have some vinyl experts amoungst us. I certainly am not one.

Hatterasguy · #24 02-08-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

you do know that Mercedes still has a few W126 dashes in stock.. NOS dashes are probably $1500 without an MBCA discount

If I had the money I'd get a spare.

imagesinthewind · #25 02-08-2008, 02:20 PM

If you have an interior repair place in your area you can take it there and get the cracks filled, sanded, textured and dyed. Can't tell where the crack was and then once a week wipe the dash with armor-all or buy a dash mat.

turbobenz · #26 02-08-2008, 02:23 PM

i know there are services where you can send in the dash and they will re-vinyl it

lutzTD · #27 02-08-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imagesinthewind

If you have an interior repair place in your area you can take it there and get the cracks filled, sanded, textured and dyed. Can't tell where the crack was and then once a week wipe the dash with armor-all or buy a dash mat.

please dont Armor all it, thats the fastest way to ruin it again. Use something with no alcohol in it so it does dry it all out. Best Ive ever seen is 303 Products Inc.: 303 Aerospace Protectant

Stevo · #28 02-08-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

I have been trading emails with Jim (jim16671836) and he has dyed a few blue dashes in the past. I think he said he would have a couple (w123) available soon. I hope to find a real one but I would like to hear how your painted one is holding up. I was thinking I would be able to get a good dash from a cold climate parts car but it sounds like the cold climate cars have issues too. maybe dyed is the only way

Right on about Armorall, 303 is a much better choice.

I did a fair amount of searching and couldn't find anyone that had a problem with Sem" aerosols if you clean and prepare the surface with the proper "Sem" products. Cant remember the # but its "Shadow Blue". It took almost the entire can but not a problem covering the black, looks great.

babymog · #29 02-08-2008, 09:45 PM

I'm going to be pulling my blue 124 dash, and installing a black one. I hate blue dashes, and I'm not really sure why they didn't install a black one like the gray interiors got. Even the browns, palominos, bamboos, cream beige, ... all got a brown so dark everyone thinks it's black. Blue got blue, go figure, looks like an '80s Honda to me.

Anyway, learned my lesson on Armorall. Used to use it all of the time, and my dashes kept cracking. I stopped using it, no problems (and no sun reflecting off of the dash in my eyes).

Sem color-coat is good stuff. It is pretty tough, and if done right it looks like factory, same gloss level and all, I used to use so much I bought it two cases at a time so it'd all be the same dye-lot. You can have it custom mixed also btw.

What I don't know about the SEM is what it will do over time to the vinyl, ... will it preserve it and keep the plasticizers in so it remains soft, or will the harsh solvents in the Sem make the vinyl more brittle.

As far as failures, keeping it soft is key. When it is soft, it is not notch-sensitive like it is when it's hard/brittle. Once it gets hard, it tends to fracture at stress-risers such as the corners of vents or holes over speakers. When soft it will stretch more as temperatures change and vibrations/stresses go through the dash.

One of our lead Chemical Engineers (a 123 guy) uses silicone on his, says it replenishes the plasticizers lost (oxydized) with the UV from the sun and ozone. Seems to work.

turbobenz · #30 02-08-2008, 10:01 PM

My 85 has a blue dash and its uncracked, a rarity Ive heard. Im so worried the cold will crack it. We just moved and it has had to spend the last month in the cold outside, now its in a garage. I bought a bottle of mequirs vinyl cleaner/protectant. The dash went from being hard to squishy, very relieved. And it does wonders for basically anything on the car. I tried Armour all on the rubber trim once and it wouldnt even soak in, however this does and looks awesome.