What's the best way to preserve a good dash?
 

My newly aquired 1982 240D has a perfect black dash. I would like to keep it that way. I keep it out of the sun as much as possible but it is still old. What products do y'all recommend for preservation of vinyl dashboards? I even tought of buying a carpet cover just to save it but that would kind of defeat the purpose and I would be preserving it for the next guy. I used Armor-All just to clean it and get the grime off but I have heard bad things about this product. Thanks, Paul

use Aerospace 303

1. Avoid sun (you already do that) with a dash cover, windshield shades, under-cover parking, etc.
2. Use 303 occasionally, not Armor-All. I used to use it a lot but it has a tendency to soften some plastics over time and it attracts dust.

mercedes benz recommend to use mild soapy water and a towel. lightly wet the towel and wipe w/o pressure, dry w/o pressure. IDK what soap they use.

303 x3

Sweet find Paul!! NO Armor-All EVER!! I've not used 303 as of yet but may try it myself.

Why no armor-all? Is this MB specific or in general?

Also, get a garage :P

I'll try and get this right so please don't flame me if not:
Armor-all is a popular product as is STP Son of a gun, the draw back(imho) is it's petrolium based(think that is right) which actually causes deteriation/dry rott. I use to show a truck and sprayed gallons of that stuff on tires, engines and everything else. I wondered why after seemed like a short time my tires looked dry and cracking? It's the Armor-all! Looks great at first but over time is BAD! And this is for ANY make/model car, bike, truck.

I believe it has alchohol in it which attacks the plasticizers of rubbers and plastics making them hard and brittle, best to not use it. 303 is sold over the counter at MB dealers, before that I used it because my mustang club recommended it

Armor All (and probably any oil based junk you put on the dash) eventually coats the inside of the windshield as it goes into the vapor state when sunlight heats the dash.
Removing the greasy film on the windows requires constant use of glass cleaner. THATS why I stopped using it.
Use a damp cloth as was suggested and cover the dash

Coat it in 303, wrap it in a cotton sheet and store it in the closet.......;)

303. It can be found at West Marine.

silicon issues
 

I've heard that Armor All has silicon, as does silicon brake fluid. Silicon seems to ruin the ability to paint any bare metal it touches, and I had Armor All ruin a speaker grille for a (non auto) radio. Paint on it now has bad "fish eye." Cleaning did not help, solvents would not take the Armor All off. So with my car, I try to avoid silicon applications. If using silicon, try not to get it anywhere but where you want it, and wipe off any extra.

I did cover my '71 220D dash with a carpet cover last year. It had one crack, rather wide. Now it has many hairline cracks. My theory is that it gets hotter under that mat, and stays hot longer. Maybe the mat protects from the UV, but not from the heat.

There's no good solution, but to store the dash in the closet until you want to use a nice one. Ron

I'm a fan of Meguiar's #40 Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner.

About half the cost of Aerospace 303, easier to find, has UV protection, attracts less dust, and has superior cleaning powers. In my opinion, it smells okay, plus it really does a good job of cleaning and maintaining door seals and the like.

Which one affords the best UV protection? I have no idea.