Hello! I am starting work on a 69' 280se that is not in too bad shape. I am not very familar with Mercedes automobiles yet, i've only worked on Fords Anyway, the plastic lever controls that control the temp and direction of the air have broken off. Could somebody please tell me what is involved in replacing them? I would imagine the whole dash would have to come apart. If this is the case could somebody guide me on the best way to take the dash apart. I would really appreciate any assistance you could offer.

Adam

The four levers are much larger than that which can be seen from the outside. When I used to do them I replaced them inside the dash.

I removed the radio, ashtray (and mounting bracket), and glove box. Working through those holes I would remove the levers one at a time. The whole assy has to be unbolted from the dash (the nuts that hold it also retain the chrome slots the levers protrude through). at this point the assy is hanging from all the cables which it works. You will see from your new levers that they pivot on a plastic cylider. They come off by releasing the cables and taking the caps off the plastic cylinders. The trick is getting all the cables into their proper adjustment after it is all back together.

There is an alternative. A company is making replacement levers that can be installed from the outside. We have done a few. Except that they are constructed of a much more durable plastic, I don't like them. They are bigger and don't look quite right. They are functional though and a whole lot easier.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

i just snapped the left most heater control lever on my 77 450 sl. this happened because i was working it up and down very hard, the heat has been either on or off, no in between, any help would be greatly appreciated, thanx

For the 108, do a search on 108 heater levers. There has been a lot of info posted, some by me, on the how-to. A be-itch of a job due to the fairly tight quarters and doing some of the work by feel. SHop time for this job is minimum 8 hours, I did it over a weekend.

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.