As posted previously, I'm looking around for a late '80s to early '90s W124. In almost every car I've looked at, the wood in the center console has cracks. How expensive is a replacement part and is it a DIY type of job? Is it even worth replacing if it will just crack again?

Thank for all the help and feedback. Your knowledge has really helped me, and probably many others as well.

Both our 300E's (87 and 91) have cracked, faded wood. I have heard it's an expensive replacement, but I've never tried to source the part. You may want to try going to a junkyard or parts recycler to see what they charge. You will also want to check to see if the panel matches the rest of the wood in the car, since what's in your prospective car will have faded over time.

R&R is pretty easy - lift up the carpet in the center console, exposing a phillips head screw. Remove screw, remove plastic shifter gate surround (if you have a rubber surround ala early W124, leave it alone), pull up from the window switch side, separating switches from the wood panel.

-anthony

My local dealer has the part for $207. I tried to repair mine and just made it look worse than before.

I ordered a new one from The Benz Store www.benz-store.com or 1-800-631-4170 and am waiting to see what it is like. They quoted me about $160.

Hope this helps! It is such an eye sore when the wooded shift console is cracked, isn't it?


1987 300D (177km)
2001 CLK 430 convertible (20km)

Try giving this junkyard a call. Apparently they take requests for different types of wood in various MB's. They may be able to pull one out of a good car in one piece and send it to you.

1-800-248-YARD

They are located in Indiana I believe.

__________________
Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

Actually, that's funny because I hardly ever notice it.

I'm going to have mine refinished. I was referred to Drew at (888) 255-3523 as one of the best. His prices are quite reasonable and he says it will "look factory new" when he's done. I was referred by a long-time MB restorer who speaks very highly of his work, and has used him for very intricate projects on much older cars.

-Reed
'90 300CE
'84 300D
'70 BMW 2800

Drew must own or work at Heritage Woodworks: 888-255-3523.

They have advertised in The Star Magazine and come highly regarded.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I removed the wood piece and noticed the cracked varnish (or whatever it is) chipped off readily enough with a strong thumb nail. I used my thumb for a while but then got a decent piece of sharp and flat plastic that worked faster and without messing up my thumb. I later figured a guitar pick might have worked best. It takes patience and time, maybe two hours in my instance, but all of the cracks were eventually gone. After sanding briefly with fine grit paper I wiped on some soy oil. It might be teak. It looks great. I know just oiling the wood doesn't protect it as much as a varnish but I very much like the lighter look as the varnish tends to darken it significantly. It also made it less thick which makes the center console window control toggles easier to press.

The only badly cracked and faded piece in my 124 was the console. I was lucky enough to spot a NOS replacement on Ebay and snapped it up. It was around $150 delivered. Since I don't have heated seats I didn't want the current dealer part that I understand only comes with cutouts for the heated seat switches.

__________________
1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!