I've never heard of 303 but after reading this i'll definatly consider it. I always put up the sun blockers even in the winter and thats really the #1 most important part however and i'm probably going to get flamed for this one.....

I've always wiped the dash with Meguiars leather wipes even though I know it isn't leather....thus far the results have always been very good, I hope i'm not damaging it.

__________________
1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

If you're going to use Meguiars stuff us the Natural Shine or the other interior detailing stuff and make sure it has UV protection. The interior quick detail doesn't have UV blockers.

303 Aerospace Protectant is available at West Marine

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SiteSearchView?catalogId=10001&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&keyword=303+protectant&Ntt=303+protectant&N=377+710&y=0&x=0&storeId=10001&Ntk=Primary+Search&ddkey=SiteSearch

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

I am a proponent of the Dash mat for this. Particularly some sort of Mod color Shag carpet!

__________________
1983 300D-Turbo - Deep Blue w Palomino MB Tex (total loss in fire 1/5/09 RIP)
1995 E320 W124 Polar White/Grey Mushroom MB Tex
2005 F150 Supercrew - Arizona Beige - Lear topper
1985 Piaggio Vespa T5 - Black and Chrome

www.cphilip.com

Check out their site and look for comparisons and testimonials. Take what you will from online customer testimonials but there is one where a whitewater rafting company sprayed 303 on half of a life vest, threw it on the roof, and forgot about it for quite a long time. The untreated side nearly disintegrated while the treated side still appeared functional.

I have used it exclusively for a few years and it is fantastic stuff. The interior of my W220 S430 has this strange "soft touch" coating on some of the interior panels and buttons. (Headlight switch surround/steering wheel buttons) This coating picks up anything that touches it, including body oils, which makes them wicked sticky. 303 actually does a nice job of cleaning and protecting them. Everything else I've tried just adds to the sticky mess.

__________________
Best Regards,
Sam

'76 280 Time Capsule
'00 S430 Long Trips
'91 190E Seeing how far it will go. 366k
'04 American Eagle Motorcoach

Is there anything out there that'll help stop cracks from forming/growing? Vinylex is good stuff w/ UV blah blah blah, but it doesn't stop crack growth. Not sure anything will...just wondering.

__________________
1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

In theory, yes. The process of drying out and cracking can at least be slowed down, but once they've started forming, their probably isn't much that can be done. As I stated before, I use Meguiar's #40. It conditions as well as provides UV protection. It's been around for decades, and there are examples of older interiors out there that have managed not to crack, seemingly because of their treatment with #40. Blocking UV, as you suspect, is not the only thing needed. I believe that heat in a car will still act to accelerate the ageing of vinyl and rubber no matter how much sunblock it is wearing.

of course, nothing is ever going to beat keeping the car in a cool dark place, but most of us don't have that option.

__________________
- K.C.Adams

'77 300D Euro Delivery
OM617 turbo / 4-speed swap
404 Milanbraun Metallic / 134 Dattel MB-Tex

Current status:
* Undergoing body work

My '77 300D progress thread

Use Aerospace 303 protectant can be found at Camping World!

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

I have heard if you have a crack starting, drill a small hole at the end and then super glue to stop the continuation of the crack. Any other opinions?

I've had a decent amount of success with melting a hole through the dash at the end of the crack with a hot thumbtack.

__________________
"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

I use 303 on the dash, wood trim, bumper covers, tires, etc. I like the shag carpet mat idea, but my 300cd came with a genuine 80s aftermarket sunshade; it's teal with pink geometric shapes Of course I use it.

__________________
1980 240d
1999 SL500

DITTO 303. Great stuff. Its "Sun Screen for stuff".

__________________
92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59