I ordered my dash cap from Coverlay Mfg. (www.coverlaymfg.com) and it's the color that they list as Dark Blue on their web site.

Dash cover
 

Where can I purchase a dash cover like this for a 300D?

How difficult is this thing to install?

I was hoping to find some tips in this thread on how to fix those cracks but I guess we have to live with them. Here's the dash cover in my 240D (FOR SALE!), there are no major cracks underneath it, though, but I want it to stay like that.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...h_DSCF0405.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...h_DSCF0404.jpg

I just got a mat like that for my turbo 240. It reminds me of a toupee...trying cover that bald spot, but not fooling anybody. :D It will do for now though.

A good dash cap will look almost perfect if it has the right grain. A dash mat looks a little funky. I have one on the '79 and dont really like it.

It was very easy to install. Remove the speaker covers & ACC sensor, clean the dash and apply small amounts of silicone adhesive. The edge around the instrument cluster, wood trim and glove box wraps around the indentations in the dash, so it holds itself in place. I held the front edge down with some rags stuffed between the dash and windshield until the silicone set. I actually tried to fix the dash cracks before I bought the cap. I used an epoxy filler that's made for dash and upholstery repair and sprayed the dash with SEM Colorcoat to cover the repairs. It looked pretty good until it got cold and the dash re-cracked between the filler and dash. The cap was a much easier (and so far more permanent) fix.

WOW....OLD thread I know............please see pics of "dash cap" on post # 12.

I plan to order this dash cover from http://www.adsitco.com/ but wanted everyones opinion on it before I ordered.

The cap is designed to cover cracks and comes in blue and black colors only, my dash is black.

My dash is (so far) crack free and it's always been garaged so I wanted to order the black cap to put on mine to keep it from cracking in the future.

The only time my car will be in the heat/sun will be for very short periods while I am driving the car on short trips and maybe parked for a little while.

My question to you MB experts is simple, will the black cap take the heat and keep my dash a little cooler in the sun and heat or will my dash get as hot even with the cap on ?

I know this is a loaded question and the answer would be hard to guess short of using a laser to test for temps on the "cap" and raise it to test the dash temps underneath it.

You might even ask, why cover it ? Well my dash is 30 years old and still crack free. The cap I am condsidering looks almost identical to my dash and this cap seems to be so much better in looks than some of these carpet type covers.

Last question, the dealer/manufacturer says to install cap by using some sort of silicone adhesive. I won't use this and hope the cap will stay put without anything except maybe a couple thin strips of double sided sticky tape on each end.......does this sound doable ?

Edited to add my car will be covered and under a carport 95% of the time.

No temp sensor in my dash.

Opinions please ?

Thanks,

Revolverman ;)

I have two vehicles with the caps on them. at first glance you don't notice the cap at all. however, it really covers several things. if your temp sensor is in the dash, it will not work, and the seam above the vents will grate on you.

I'd just clean well, and treat your original dash with aerospace 303 treatment. keep it out of the sun when you can, and use a windshield screen when you can't keep the entire car temp down, not just the dash!

303 and a sunshade will be the best things you can do for your vehicle.


My car spent all of its life in the north east so a cracked dash is the least of my worries, but I always throw up my sun shade when my car is parked outside or in direct sunlight.

I was so proud of my un-cracked blue dash in the '81. Then one day I got in the car to go somewhere. It was about 5 degrees out. As I sat there waiting for the glow plugs to cycle, I heard a snap and the dash cracked all the way from the front at the defroster vent to the temp sensor hole.

It hasn't got any worse since, as I suspect that the crack relieved most of the tension. I keep 303 on it and am hoping for the best. I have a good black dash, but really don't want to install it due to the color mismatch.

Guess I'll just live with it until or if it gets worse.

Two things I have done to stop dash crack from running.

1/ Stop driving over railway tracks at 70 mph. Just creep. The excited guy behind you can beet his car all to hell if he wants.

2/ Using a tooth pic I drizzled crazy glue into the crack, three times to sort of fill it. No movement in one year that I can see.

Thanks everyone for the input.

I think since mine is not cracked yet I may just follow everyones advice and keep it as cool as possible and use a sun visor.

I just got a really nice $400 dollar cover that is white and water proof so it should stay pretty cool under that and my carport this summer.

Added note: if I heard my dash crack like that there would be a brown stain on my palomino seats............:(

Revolverman.;)

Rattle, buzz, clack dash cover
 

I recently bought a 240D with a 4 spd. The blue dash looked really great... until I discovered that it was a dash cap. The P.O. installed it with dabs of silicone to hold it down. That didn't work and all it did was rattle, buzz and clack. When I lifted it up I discovered a very cracked dash pad.

Since it was loose and really annoying me, I removed the dash cap and installed a dash mat. Yeah the dash mat looks fuzzy and maybe funky, but it doesn't make any noise. The dash mat has pieces of velcro that attach to the dash. I made sure that I put velcro on the gauge hood, the vent humps and the windshield side of the defroster vents. Next I tucked the mat into the small space between the windshield and defroster vents. Then I finished up by securing the mat to the rest of the velcro on the dash.

If you were to use the plastic cap, I'd suggest you clean the dash with a solvent (to remove oils and dust / dirt) and secure the dash cap with velcro (adhesive self stick double pieces) This would allow the cap to be removed and reinstalled without much of a problem. It would also hold down the cap so it doesn't rattle, buzz, or annoy you.

In either case mat or cap, you improve the looks.

You can buy the dash mat with or without the sensor hole. Early W123's with manual HVAC systems don't use the sensor. If you get the mat or cap without the hole... remember the old advice... measure twice, cut once!

I have a 80 240D with a crack free dash. I have had it for the past yr, and had a dash matt on when we got it. I assume it was on there for the past 30 yrs. There is not a hint of a crack.

I know we have several camps here on this issue. some would rather look at a cracked dash than use a Matt. some like the dash cap.

I saw the one RCOUNTS has on his CD, and didn`t know it had one. looking on closer inspection, it is noticable. If not looking for it, you wouldn`t know it was on there.

I think there are different company`s that make these, and the quality might vary.

I have a Matt on our 85 300D for the past 14 yrs, and really don`t notice it much. better than looking at the road map cracked dash.

I have had a Matt on my 82 Datsun PU for the past 29 yrs, and it is also crack free.

Charlie