1990 300SL 129 dash vents
 

Question to all - my wifes 1990 300SL 129 (built 11/89) has broken vent levers that control the air deflection on both ends of the dash. This looks like a poorly designed part and probably trouble for other owners. Can these levers be replaced (part #?) or do the entire units have to be replaced. Also, I need some suggestions on how to remove them. Thanks, Craig

You buy the complete vent. I just bought one from Phil at Partshop for about $78. I removed one recently by just prying it out, but the manual says to remove the speaker grille above the vent first. You remove the speaker grille by prying out the small plastic trim between the grille and the windshield to reveal a screw.

Are your vents actually broken or just sloppy and loose? Mine were just loose, so I dis-assembled them, cleaned 'em up, and then tigntened 'em up by using black self adhesive velcro pads to take up the "slack" in the joints. My units also had broken tabs which held them in, so I used double velcro to remount them. Velcro is very useful stuff around the car. Tod