(I now have the answer. Read about 4 replies down). I'm redoing the vinyl on my B pillars that got ripped. It looks like the pillars were only glued on the backside, leaving the vinyl on the front to be loose. I'm thinking...... nah, can't be. Then the vinyl is sort of loose on the front side.

Maybe this stuff was just stretched really tight then to keep it from flopping around?

Has anyone ever reupholstered their B pillars? I saw a video on YouTube, but the guy skipped over the part where he does the job!

Thanks,

Jeff 1991 300d

IMHO, taking the car to a professional upholstery shop is he best way to go. This is not a DIY job and if you attempt it yourself, you will get DIY results which will look like crap. You won't get any dates, girls will notice the crap B pillar job and run away.

Check out the upholstery shop carefully, skills and experience vary. You want someone who has prior experience with vintage mercedes automobiles.

They wanted something like $325 to do one pillar. I bought the vinyl for $60 and will do both pillars.

I tried to fix this problem myself. Per the comment above, it looks like crap. Thankfully, I am already married, but yes, I would not get any dates.

Kidding aside, it was my first time trying something like this, but it didn't go well. I am thinking of just painting the aluminum once I strip off the mess I created. It won't look original, but will be better than what I have right now.

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

I just called an upholstery shop to ask what kind of glue I was supposed to use on this, 3M spray or Dap brush on.

He asked me what kind of vinyl I got, stretch vinyl or non stretch. I didn't know the difference so he said the original vinyl is stretch vinyl, it stretches 4 ways so it more or less molds to the pillar. The replacement vinyl that most people get only stretches 2 ways so it doesn't stretch and look as finished as the original.

That said, the only way to get it to look proper is to probably spray adhesive the whole pillar and apply the vinyl.

Save face, turn the car over to a professional upholstery shop now. You will end up wasting more time and money and at the end you will be frustrated at the results. Ask the upholstery shop if he has any photos or real life examples of B pillars he has done.

If he knows what he is doing, $300+++ is a bargain. Why destroy a high-end german automobile??

Remember, there is the PRICE, then there is the COST.

All that said, lest any of us should forget, it is your car and you can do what you want. I just hate to see these wonderful examples of german engineering get downgraded.

MB never said these cars were cheap to purchase, own or drive. As a matter of fact, much about the car is pricey but then we chose to get into it.

The vinyl is supposed to have a foam backer on it to make it feel a bit plush too, The glue is only on the edges, and lots of binder clamps help out.


I did that on my old W124 and it worked out ok, its quite a job to get it right though. I got the foam at a car upholstery place. Used 3M 90 glue.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

I think the foam also helps keep the vinyl glued in place.

The underlying foam had crumbled away on my B pillars at the loose spots. I tried re-gluing the spots directly to the aluminum. Once the summer heat hit, the vinyl let loose again.

Absent prior experience, I agree it would be quite a job to get it right.

I have several sets of 126 B pillars in the shop. All have the vinyl ripped &/or off the pillar itself. All have crumbling foam.

I believe that the process would be to find and cut 1/8" foam to fit the vinyl then attach the vinyl and foam using one of the 3M products. Leave enough exposed vinyl to wrap around the pillar. This bare vinyl edge is glued to the pillar using a brush on upholstery glue. Use clamps to hold in place until the glue sets then stretch tight and do the other side.

So...glue foam to vinyl. Then glue edge (only) of vinyl to B Pillar. I say this because an unmolested B pillar aluminum only has glue residue on the back side edge of the aluminum.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I just did using DAP landau glue. Do not use headliner spray as that turn into useless goo in short order.

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Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz

There is a soft material between the vinyl and the metal to cushion it to the touch. That material is similar or the same as what you'll find backing many headliners on cars which have the headliner glued to the roof.

A substitute to that material can be bought at Walmart. Just find something thin and soft which won't dissolve when glued.

It's not rocket science. I did it, anyone can do it. I think I used a closed cell styrofoam which came in a roll like the cloth material.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

Nearly any type of glue will work on this because the edges contact something to keep them tight. I used spots of superglue.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic