Console Removal - '72 350/450SL

[Graham]

We have owned a '72 350SL since 1989 and it is still in great shape. However, there are one or two small blemishes that I need to attend to.

One of these, is the centre console. Once when winter stored, I leaned on the top edge of the console and the plastic fractured - exposes foam underneath.

A Lot of Questions!
- Has anyone removed the console? Seems to be attached to carpets, and not clear how to remove it.
- How would I best rebuild the plastic and finish it smooth?
- Would I be better to have one of the pros do it? Could they do it in place?
- Anyone know of a source for a new or used console for this early model? Newer cars have different cut-outs for radio & climate control. Colour is sort of tan (light brown)

Thanks

[c107]

I have removed the center console while I was redoing the interior of my '80 450SLC and it is pretty straightforward. As with anything it depends on how much effort you want to undertake. It probably would save a lot of labor costs if you DIY. The service manual, item 68-200 suggests you remove the seats. My seats were out by that point anyway before I took the console out to recolor it.

Just to summarize really to show you what's ahead, and I can quote from 68-200 if you need... you also need to remove the center shifter panel which comes off by removing the ashtray and ashtray frame, exposing the 2 screws holding the panel from the firewall side, then a little notch which holds the panel down on the other side. Then remove the radio, center heater controls (which look like you pop the panel for the vents first in the picture).

It is a straightforward job to remove the console as one piece, just a lot of places where you need to fish around over the carpet (the peel back the carpet) for the screw holes. Screws hold it down on the center hump towards the back, on each end towards the firewall, and I think there were 2 screws on the center console by the heater section.

Should you wish to go new, any of the parts places I've researched no longer stock the "older" version of the console and they suggest you buy the "newer" version, which has a different setup of the front sections toward the firewall, requiring new carpet pieces. You'd have to find a parts car to get an original style center piece. The new consoles (used) show up on ebay once in a while... something like once every couple of months. As far as I know, the center holes for the radio and heater controls are the same size, it's just the carpet panels have changed over the years.

I've had excellent luck cleaning the console which was loaded with assorted gunk by cleaning it with ColorPlus SuperCleaner, filling holes (a cup holder was installed on the passenger side center) with their filler, resanding, and recoloring with ColorPlus Surflex. I don't know how effective the filler would be to fill a major crack. If you can get the filler in there and sand it and support it from behind, you might have a shot.

It was a pain to get the original carpet off. It was glued onto the foam rubber very well.

Steve

[Graham]

Thanks for the input Steve - I will have to do some web searching and see if I can find a replacement. I think I might also call a plastic repair shop and see if they can do the repair in-place.