Is it possible make the instrument panel and shifter area of a 1981 240d look more like the upscale finish of the 300? Even if it's too complicated for the center panel; at least the flat surface around the gear shift? And if so, how best to do it- can the wood from an old 300 be salvaged and re-used or does the way it is affixed make that impossible? And are the layouts and dimensions even compatible enough? Or could some of this maybe be accomplished with some after-market ingenuity and product? Thanks!

The wood trim was an option for all of the W123s - you can in principle swap everything over. The problem area is the glove compartment door. It is easier to just replace the door with one with good wood.

A few years back during the minimalist trend (power nothing remove everything that might possibly help a driver or an engine and put in a manual gearbox) some people were lusting over my plastic trim! So you might even be able to sell it on.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!