The lighter than stock of that wood looks nice .
I don't like the wood finish my own self, part of my 240D's dashboard has been replaced with the black plastic ones from graymarket cars that I no longer see in the junkyards
.
I guess I shoulda saved those black dash trims, I may well replace the entire dashboard before too long .
Yes, disconnect the heater hoses at the firewall hot water valve (7MM nut driver IIRC) and
*gently* flush and back flush the matrix .
If it flows water easily and comes out clear with no
rust colors STOP and look for something else .
The FSM has details on how to properly hook up the bowden cables that control the valve, mine were mis connected and one had a 40 degree kink in it .
What I do is : close the hot water valves (there's TWO) and then I connect the bowden cables so when in the 'off' position there's a
tiny bit of pressure holding the valves in their closed position .
I live in the Desert and when I don't want heat (most of the time) I really don't want heat .
The two horizontal sliders also have a MASSIVE effect on how much heat you get in the foot wells Vs. out the dash vents .
Take the time to adjust them and you'll be well rewarded and the defroster will work better too .