Interior trim repaint

[kip Foss]

As with most small projects this one started out with all the best intensions and very quickly turned into a 'might as well' project.

The whole tale started out with a small rust bubble on the lower right edge of the rear window. I understand that this is a weak point for rust on these cars since this is where the defrost cable goes into the car. To get to the rust I had to pull the window. Then I figures that since I had the window out and the head liner looked its age, I 'might as well' put in a new liner. To get the liner out I needed to remove the interior trim. Since the trim was the same age as the liner and looked as bad I 'might as well' clean it.

I tried cleaning the liner with every known cleaner but to no avail. The color change is in the plastic and not on the surface. The body shop that did the rust bubble told me that there was a good plastic paint available that would cover the trim very nicely. I got it at the local auto paint supply store. It is not available at auto parts shops. The paint is called SEM color coat and is made by SEM Products Inc. Ph. 704-522-1006. It cost me about $8 a can and took about 1 can to do the job. The slc is fairly small so I am sure it would take at least 2 cans for a 4 door car.

I used Phantom White (15003) which is more a very light tan. The application was dead easy. Since I had already scrubbed the pieces with scrouring powder they were ready to go. I applied 4-5 light coats. It only took about 10-15 minutes to dry between coats. The results were very impressive.

I was very glad to find this stuff since it actually saved my life. I am sure that had I called Mercedes and priced new trim pieces I would have suffered a fatal heart attack and died there on the floor still clutching the phone.

Hope this helps someone.

[jbaj007]

SEM vinyl spray has been the auto wrecker's secret for many years.

"Sure, I've got that piece in grey" (as Toothless Ed starts painting the Palomino sunvisor with grey SEM) "Since it's the ONLY grey one around, it's a little pricey, though".

It really is a great product. Here's where I get mine (colors galore): http://vinylpro.safeshopper.com/29/cat29.htm?858