How hard is it to change a cracked trim piece from the upper consol? The piece in question is the black one that starts as a semi triange and extends down around the vents. Thanks Steve

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Steve Short
'91 300SE sold
'92 190E 2.3 sold
'99 S420
'06 Mini Cooper S
'08 Triumph Rocket III
'02 CLK430

Steve,
To replace the trim piece you are describing requires removing the instrument custer, which is a pain. It's worth paying a qualfied MB tech to install this part.

I don't get accused of being real smart regularly, so say I remove the IC, then what? Are there clips, screws, flypaper, chewing gum...?

__________________
Steve Short
'91 300SE sold
'92 190E 2.3 sold
'99 S420
'06 Mini Cooper S
'08 Triumph Rocket III
'02 CLK430

Steve,
Are you talking about the vent assembly's on the left and
right side of the dash? I believe the left may have a
rocker switch on it. I have done these on the '87 and '88
190E's. The crack was on the left side (drivers) by the
switch on mine. Let me know.

Gary

The piece is above the vents in the center of the dash. It is cracked next to the rear defrost switch. A revelation I had last night was to get the replacement piece (availability unknown) and possibly drill an access hole in the piece to aid in prying the instrument cluster free. It appears from other posts that the biggest difficulty in getting the IC out is damage caused by the extraction hooks themselves. Seems like if there was a hole in the trim piece, and the left vent pried out, access to both sides the IC from the sides and behind would allow it to come free easier. Then remove the trim piece and replace with new.
Let me know what you think.

Thanks for any help. This is a minor issue, but would be nice to fix

Steve

__________________
Steve Short
'91 300SE sold
'92 190E 2.3 sold
'99 S420
'06 Mini Cooper S
'08 Triumph Rocket III
'02 CLK430

It appears that you could pull switches out, pull vents out,
remove allen screw in vent assy and remove the phillips head screws below the vents, remove glove box assy and pull center section out. You may not even have to remove
instrument panel.
Maybe someone can confirm this who has done this, as I have
only replaced left and right end vent assys.

Gary

2 Philips screws in the bottom of the center vent assembly, 1 Philips screw behind the second (from left) switch, 1 Allen bolt to the center vent open&close-valve that needs to be loosened and possible 1 Philips screw at the dash compartment side (this screw is there in a W124, don't know for sure anymore in a W201).
It is possible to get the piece out without the IC cluster removed...pushing out the switches from behind, however, is easier with the IC out (but you need to replace the trim anyway, so no need to be afraid to damage it).

greetingz,

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1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

What MBNZ says is true, have my instrument panel out due to ignition lock/switch problem. Switches are accessable through front, just be sure that you pull switch plug through new vent assy. It is a pain to have to take out
instrument panel.

Gary