Finally got the web site up for the Custom white face gauges you have all been asking about. Sorry it took so long. Thanks for your interest. Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://hometown.aol.com/crhenkel/myhomepagebusiness.html

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

What is the backing for the faces? Paper? Plastic? Vinyl?

Super SEC,
The whole process is explained at the web site that is included in the original post. THey are archival quality "card stock" type paper with a quality 3M adhesive backing that will not pull the OEM screen printing off should you ever want to remove them from the OEM aluminum gauge face blanks. I dont know why you would want to though after seeing how much easier and clear these are to see and read at night. They are laminated on the front side with a top quality UV resistant outdoor satin lamination to protect and provide a finish. "paper" Yes, high quality custom gauge faces for a good price that cant be found anywhere else, YES.
Feel free to call or visit the web site for more info.
We can do the entire refurbish of the cluster and the face install or you can do it your self with our instruction sheet. Either way, these faces turn out great. Many happy customers on this ShopForum will attest to the quality and price. If anything ever happens to the faces we can replace them for almost nothing.

Christopher

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

I looked on your web site and read the process but I don't recall it ever mentioned it was made out of paper. Anyway, I would be worried the paper would not stand-up to the extreme heat and humidity in Florida. Good luck!

Super SEC,
I hope I did not offend you in anyway, I did check the web site and I also did notice that we did not specifically state they were a paper based product. You are correct and the web site has been corrected to state they are a paper based product. The paper, however, is completly encased in the lamination and is not exposed to any outside elements once installed.

Our gauges overlays have been used on many cars in California, Florida, Arizona and West Texas and the heat and humidity have no adverse affect on the faces as far as we can tell. The same method has been used for 6 years now with no problems in extreme cold or heat. Several gauge sets have been installed in Northern Canada on Euro models and the cold has no affect on them either.
Actually there are two sets in Saudi Arabia and One set in Abu Dabi that we sold and they are still looking as perfect as the day they were installed. The customers are still in contact with us, one is buying a second set for another car he owns.

In any case, You drive the car and you get to decide. Your choice. Please note that we stand behind every set we sell reguardless if we install it or you do and we have guaranteed to replace any set of gauges that have delaminated or otherwise have been affected by weather or any other force and have not yet had a need to replace even one set for anyone. Please feel free to challage us and our product. After over 100 sets sold we stand by our gauge overlays. They are the only custom sets available and they have the most profession install appearance.

Have a great day and a better tomorrow.
Christopher

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

I purchased a set of these guage overlays for my 300E two years ago from Christopher and they still look great! These guage faces are of very good quality.
Adam

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Current Stable:
01 ML55 AMG
92 500E (a few mods)
87 300E (lots of mods)
00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck
68 18' Donzi Marine
06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!)

PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320

I just thought I would pass on how much I like the white face gauges that Chris Henkel makes.

They're awesome. I painted the needles black on my '80 240D W123 and the guages really stand out compared to the original black ones.

Everything went well with the installation, except that I still have to figure out why my dash lights and horn don't work.

I strongly suggest that anyone removing their gauges take the bottm panel off first and then push the cluster from the back by hand. That definitely works the easiest and cheapest and doesn't damage the sides of the cluster.

tradonguy can you post some picts please...

also how did you get the needles of and be sure that they were going back correct???

when i made my gauges we had to create pullers, and mock up templaes with markings and such...i still got my fuel needle a little off - it reads less fuel than you really have - but i suppose thats a good thing, harder to run out when 0 really has a bit in there!

thanks
Jake

Chris,

Any chance that you have a 16v speedo that displays km only?

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'94 W124.036 249/040 leder; 8.25x17 EvoIIs
'93 W124.036 199/040 leder; 8.25x17 EvoIIs, up in flames...LITERALLY!
'93 W124.036 481/040 leder; euro delivery; 8.25x17 EvoIIs
'88 R107.048 441/409 leder; Euro lights
'87 W201.034 199/040 leder; Euro lights; EvoII brakes; 8x16 EvoIs - soon: 500E rear brakes
'70 R113.044 050/526; factory alloys; Euro lights

yhliem,
Yes, we can do the gauges you need for a 190E 16V US or Euro. All three years, grey market or not. Contact us at crhenkel@aol.com for info. Just let us know.
Chris

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Lots of pictures of the white face gauges can be seen on the web page at

http://hometown.aol.com/crhenkel/myhomepagebusiness.html

If you want specific pics that are not there, contact me at

crhenkel@aol.com

Christopher

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Here is a picture of the White Face Gauges that Chris Henkel made up for me in my 1980 Mercedes 240D with the W123 body style. My speedometer was in KM only but Chris did a great job of putting the MPH in for me too. The gauges are in now. All I have to do now is figure out how to make the dash lights work. Chris tells me it may be a ground problem, so that's my next thing to check.

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Jake,
I was very nervous about taking the needles off so I just used my fingers and pulled gently. Amazingly enough, that worked. And putting them back on I just gently pushed the needles back on.

Just curious, but is this a commerical thread?

I know this is an oooooold post, but Chris, if you're out there... do you have a more current website? You are still making the white gauge faces, right?

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Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!