w115 dashboard removal
 

i want to remove the dash of my 73 220d to repair the dreaded dash cracks.

i figure i can buy some marine grade vinyl and cover the dash, pretty well. i have upholstry expierence and i know it will come out good. the question is how difficult is i to remove the dash.

i have about 3 cracks from windshield all the way to the seem and its gone. ive read some of the dash repair links on the forum. id prefer not to have a cover. but as a last resort id buy a dashpad.

Last one I removed was pretty intuitive.

Remove console, IP, A-pillar covers, and start looking for screws around the dash perimeter.

Sometimes the leading edge of the dash can be stuck under the windshield seal, though...

It also takes some finagling to get it out of place once loose without the windshield out. The dash wraps around the A pillars, and makes it an interference fit when trying to remove.

I've got a pair of perfect dashes for my 250C, but I'm happy to run with a cover for now. They really look pretty good if done right.

Jim

covers can look good,and you run a real risk of damge to existing on the original , it is over 30 years old and can fracture. Hard to remove with window still in, but can be done as mentioned , good luck

They are right, This is one of those job's it might take a beer to do. If you start and get to a spot where it stuck STOP drink a little beer ,and look at it. I have taken some out and have not stop and looked . And crack it all up. just do not lose your cool ,don't say it coming out no mater what .

spoken with wisdom :) :)

maybe ill put this on the back burner, and start next weekend when i have time to do anything. ill take photos, and let u know how i do. my mentality is how much worse can a cracked dash look.

another question, my windshield has to get resealed anyway, should i take it out first?

Here's an option you might find interesting.
https://www.dashcaps.com/xcart/home.php?cat=269

have u used the dash cap? if so how does it look, im just afraid it will look like a dashcap. i am very patient, and take a lot of pride in my work, imo it will look better if i recover it....afterall, i did buy this car so in a few yeard my son will have something to drive around. so i plan on keeping it a long time

Sounds as if you are particular, and a dash cap probably is not an option for you.
Take your time, it can be done. Window removal is not too bad , lots of tricks , but the biggest issue is chrome removal without damage. That too can be done, but ever so slowly, then heat the seal and use a rope saw to get the window out, I have attempted two, broke both:)

These dashcaps look really good, not just flopped down on the dash like those carpet things. I had one on a 240D and you could not tell it was not original. Call 'em and see what their return policy is if you don't like it.

There is screws underneath the dash of a 114 220d i took out a couple of months ago. As far as i can remember i think there was 3 or four of them. They are located underneath the dashboard closer to the window areas..
I have a dash if you are interested..

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i311/c32wagon/a9d8eee0.jpg

The proper way is to remove the windshield, then the dash. If you leave the windshield in, the corners of top of the dash that wrap around fwd of the A-pillars are easily damaged (bent, cracked). Plus, there is a fabric piece on the front of the dash that gets under the windshield seal.

As I said earlier, it's pretty nice with a formed plastic cap over the dash. The edge of the cap is under the dash top roll, virtually invisible. If you have the wood trim the horizontal edge of the cover abuts the top of the trim.

It's a case of getting 95% of the way with 10% of the effort....

I've got a perfect dash for my 250C, but the cap looks so good, it's not worth the effort to swap out the dash. If this car is ever re-restored, I'll go to the effort to swap dashes...

Jim