I just installed a new glove box lid; I had to use duct tape to tape the old one closed. I removed the duct tape but it has left some serious adhesive tracks on the dash. I've tried goo gone, orange clean and 3M adhesive remover, none of them are making a dent. I'm thinking about rubbing alcohol but I don't want to damage the dash surface. Any ideas?

WD40 works good on some adhesives. If you can find someplace to purchase it ZEP makes very good industrial strength aerosol spray adhesive remover

I feel your pain...did the same thing to hold plastic bag on when window regulator was broken...tried using a scrubbie, which was a mistake.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Try biodiesel.

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General George - 1967 Land Rover 2a SWB 1983 OM617 Turbo

I use turtle wax adhesive remover, but I'm sure it's not much different than the 3m.

Two suggestions:

- peanut butter (the oil removes stains from vinyl and paint).

- a product called De Solv It, should be available at Wal Mart in the US. I order it through Amazon to remove tree sap from my dogs' fur. The reviews of it indicate it works on a huge number of things and it shouldn't damage the dash (safe for skin).

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Mineral (baby) oil

I start w/ ethanol, which usually works on tape residue. Even more benign is "rubbing alcohol" (isopropyl). If that doesn't work, stronger solvents are MEK and acetone (finger-nail polish remover), but might affect the surface finish.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

Get some 'sticky stuff remover' it does wonders

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UK spec Mercedes W210 E300 Turbodiesel wagon - OM606.962 with 722.6 transmission - rust free!

I used goo gone to get some off the dash in my old W123 280E. I sprayed it liberally and let it sit for about 20 minutes and it came off. It did take a bit of scrubbing IIRC.

I agree with starting benign and working your way up in strength.

1. Another piece of fresh duct tape, apply and rub hard on the residue, then gently pull off, repeat a few times. Try another type of tape like the clear packing tape.

2. Repeat above but first heat the residue with a hair dryer to get it nice and soft. Repeat a few times.

3. Chemicals/liquids like mineral oil, WD-40, Goo-gone, peanut butter. If they seem to help but don't finish it, go back and re-try steps 1 and 2.

After that, I can't think of anything else that has low risk of damaging the dash.

Put a plastic dash cover over the whole thing? Mount your St. Christopher or dancing Hula Girl there?

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

...brake cleaner...

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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!

what kind of tape?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

He did say Duct tape - I guess the glue on a decent quality tape is oil based - though I bet there are plenty of cheapo water based versions out there too...

...well I remember when Duct tape would not come off in the rain! Used to have to use fuel to get it to fall out of the new boy's hair...

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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!

I've had good luck applying straight vegetable oil and letting is sit for a bit. It doesn't lift the adhesive, but it dissolves it to the point where it comes off easily with dish soap.

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'79 240D