Ok, so how do you put the dashboard BACK IN then?
 

I took the dash out on my W124 to fix the a/c pods. Now that the job is (finally) done, I need to put the dashboard back in but it appears that it has grown 2 or 3 inches wider, than when I took it out.

What is the trick to getting this back in? Tip up, down, tilt right, left, start at the steering wheel side or passenger side, or what? I've tried everything that I can think of but it's simply too long. Maybe the ends flex a bit or something, I don't know.

Thanks,

jeff

Do you have any cracks in your dash? It is possible they created pressure in the dash and when you removed it the dash is a bit wider. 2-3 inches seems like a lot though.

Never owned a W124 so maybe others can chime in. Just a thought.

No cracks in dash
 

The dash must be able to flex somehow a bit. No other way it can go in.

Unless you know it's been done already have you considered changing out the evap "while you're in there"?

As to the reinstall - experience has shown that (dis)assembly is not always as straightforward as meets the eye with MB and you'd be well advised to follow the shop-manual fundamentalistically.

When I did my w201 removing the steering wheel made it possible.

Dashboard back in now
 

My mechanic came by to help me. He too was taken aback when he tried to put it in and it was 2" too long. It was like it came out of another car. But with two of us, that made it a lot easier to move it and angle it without the dash getting cracked and it went in much easier with 2 people. A bit of finagling and it went right in.