Suggestion on where to buy center console lid?

[spinedoc]

OK so stupid me decides to leave my top down while I run up to the office to do about 2 hours of paperwork. Upon returning to my car I find that some moron thief climbed over the back of my car and ripped off my center console lid!!!! Luckily it looks like he was scared away before anything was stolen.

Anyhow the dealer wants $600 and change for this!! Anyone have any suggestions or possible internet/phone junkyards who may stock something like this?

Thanks, its for a 96 SL500. The upholstery color is tan.

[bwheitman]

Eeek! Those center lids have a lot of stuff in them for the locks and some switches, I don't know why the car needs to know if that thing is open or closed, who knows. I know of a couple of black 129 MB's that are in salvage. They might have others, There is a place in OKC that is i35imports at 405-799-2886, and there is another guy that is parting a 129 out on Ebay, you might want to try to get ahold of him as he might have some ideas too.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7978930230&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Good Luck!
Brian

[spinedoc]

Thanks Brian, wow someone got the junked SL for $1200, pretty good bargain.

Anyone else have any suggestions? Looks like I will have to bite the bullet and pay the $660 for this item, sigh.

[DanielG]

Hey Doc -- have you looked to your insurance company -- cover and install will cost you your deductable? Sorry for your trouble.

Regards

[jjrodger]

There's a guy on UK e-bay parting a 1999 SL with what looks like a Java interior, he may ship as he looks like a pro. If you're interested the item comes up on a search under "SL" and is listed as just the xenon lights!

Problem with insurance is that cover generally is invalidated if you leave any locks, lids, windows, doors, covers open. I checked with my insurer and they said they would not indemnify for a claim in respect of a time when the car was parked with the roof down. Not that this stops me leaving it with the roof down.

[DanielG]

JJ -- its a funny situation - because if there is something desireable in the car, a thief will cut through the roof to get it. So, the insurance company would be better off paying claims for items stolen with the top down instead of paying for the item stolen as well as the cost of a replacement roof.

[spinedoc]

Originally Posted by jjrodger

There's a guy on UK e-bay parting a 1999 SL with what looks like a Java interior, he may ship as he looks like a pro. If you're interested the item comes up on a search under "SL" and is listed as just the xenon lights!

Problem with insurance is that cover generally is invalidated if you leave any locks, lids, windows, doors, covers open. I checked with my insurer and they said they would not indemnify for a claim in respect of a time when the car was parked with the roof down. Not that this stops me leaving it with the roof down.

Thanks JJ, I pulled up a search for SL, but got like 1700 hits! Auction is prob over. My interior color is "mushroom", but the top of the cover is intact so Im sure I can retrofit just the bottom plastic part and locking mechanism onto the top of my old cover.

I try and not involve my insurance, and would rather save it for a true emergency such as an accident or total theft. It seems these days that a small claim like $660 would raise my rates and I would end up paying more in the long run.