85 300TD anyone got one for sale. I want to attempt a refinish.

You are brave. I have a pretty good one that I think is too good to experiment on, and a restored one from Madera Concepts in CA. It's not difficult to find a crappy one. I have a crappy one for a non-power mirror car if you are interested...

My 85 300TD does have a power mirror... so probably not worth it. But I do thank you !

Hi,
Anything good or bad to say about Madera Concepts?
I'm contemplating sending my center console piece off my 83 300td.
How come you are getting rid of a piece you had done?
Thanks in advance. LK

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1983 300TD White/Black
1986 560SL White/Palomino

Sure:

The good: The work is exceptionally perfect. I'm in the Pasadena area and you are welcome to see my 85 300 TD center console if you want.

The bad: Nothing really. They should have removed the (broken) plastic pin that is in the very back of the console piece and secures the console to the car prior to doing the refinish. Having not done so caused no problems, it just means that I had to remove the old one (which was broken) and install a new one after the wood had been refinished. Minor detail but something for you to address before sending them your wood. The plastic pin is something you need to resolve prior to having them do the woodwork.

On a side note, their actual facility has a great deal of political statements hanging on the wall. Political viewpoints, titty calendars, stuff like that. Think "white redneck straight guys". Definitely not my cup of tea but I didn't go there to meet new friends. I wanted excellent wood restoration and I got it.

Shoot me an email if you want to see my center console.

Thanks for your review.
I'd love to see it but at the same time I'm ready to send mine out to them tomorrow.
BTW...i live near the 101/405 intersection.
Do you ever get out to the valley with your 85?

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1983 300TD White/Black
1986 560SL White/Palomino

I don't get to the valley much. Traffic. If the plastic retaining pin/base is broken at the rear (towards rear of car) of your center console wood, remove it yourself and replace it with another or ask them to take care of it for you. Personally I don't like hammering staples into the console to secure the plastic thing...

Traffic is a real nightmare now anywhere...especially @ $4.65 gal.
I just looked at my console clip.
Years ago, I poked a non MBZ body clip into a piece of rubber and glued it using 3M black trim adhesive.
It has worked fine for years.
Do you think they have the part @ MC?
Also, does the hole have a female part the the clip goes into?

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1983 300TD White/Black
1986 560SL White/Palomino

I have it relatively easy. I live and work in Pasadena and have never commuted in my entire life. I feel for these people who spend 1+ hour in traffic each way...

This is not one of Mercedes Benz's best engineering accomplishments. Yes, there is a hole in the molded plastic vinyl whatever stuff in the console where the wood part fits. But the hole is sometimes torn out. I think on my car I drilled a hole in a piece of aluminum (1" x 2" aluminum, 3/8" hole, something like that) and epoxied that to the backside of the vinyl molded plastic area in the car. The hole and the pin get damaged because people don't understand how to remove the wood. To remove the wood, you take out the ashtray, take out the two Phillips head screws that hold in the ashtray bracket, take out the ashtray bracket (and put the two screws back in before you lose them) and then carefully lift the front of the wood console up. But it's a really snug fit and the front corners can easily get chipped trying to lift it out of the vinyl surround. As it lifts up a little, you can slide it straight backwards. Once you get it started, it's easy. They key to it is the front of the console has to go UP and the rear of the console has to go back. Then you can tilt it up and get to the switches, etc. It's kind of important top have that plastic pin or something equivalent to hold the back side of the console down. The shape of the console will hold it forward.

As for whether or not MD will have that piece, I can't say for sure. I know that they have stacks of center consoles and I suspect that if you ASK them to replace the plastic piece (or whatever you have) with one that is correct they will be able and willing to do that.

Great description for those who have never done it the right way first!

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1983 300TD White/Black
1986 560SL White/Palomino

The junkyard is the world's best classroom. Find out how to do it (whatever "it" is) on a junker before you mess up your own car...

I have a couple if you don't find any. give me your location for pricing shipping.... jim

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James A. Harris

yeah, that's right Scooter, possibly mess up some good and likely rare parts that aren't available anymore that someone else was looking for while your learning! Don't bother with a shop manual or asking someone with experience!

I don't go trash cars at the junkyard but I do use trashed cars at the junkyard as learning tools. Why don't you ask instead of assuming stuff that is false gear-head...

well excuuuuse me, it sounded like you were saying you do "experimental surgery" on 'em to learn. well just forgive me then! Good to hear your not one of those that tear the hell out of stuff then.