I sold my perfect blue 124 dash a while back, now I have a blue interior car with a cracked dash. Bad move.

Anyway, I do have a good black dash, and am considering instaling this in my car. Any opinons on having a black dash in a blue interior? Most interior colors have either a black or dark brown (contrasting) upper dash, I'm thinking I'll go for it instead of waiting for a good blue one.

Opinions?

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

The other alternative of course is a dash cap, or a $20 dash mat from a flea market in a color you like. this would also be good as a temporary solution while you decide. It's important, because you have a beautiful and fine car there.

The blue Mercedes dash all seem have a tendency to develop cracks over time, in the older series cars.

Black would probably be ok but think carefully before you decide, because YOU will have to look at whatever you choose, each time that you drive the car.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

why not re-color it.. (?)

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Thank you for all the help guys!

"Old Gretchen" <--1983 300SD w126 cali. emissions (so it says on wdw sticker)
LIght metallic blue with dark blue interior. Odo stuck at 160,500 mi.

www.handydo.joolo.com

Thanks for both suggestions.

It has a dash cover, yuck. It looks like it's there to cover a cracked dash, and you're right, I have to look at it each time.

There was a time when Mercedes, and all European cars would come with black dashes. Regardless of interior color, black dash. The parchment interior for example, dark-dark brown dash. Reason? Glare. I'm a little old-school, like the dark dash, but also sensitive to the opinions of my fellow diesel-benzers, cause I want to show it off to them when it's finished. Therefore my solicitation for opinions.

I've re-dyed many dashes http://www.millercoachworks.com/OffCoach4.html with good success. However, with the '80s M-B dashes being as sensitive to cracking as they are, I'm afraid to touch it with an aggressive solvent such as in Sem Color-Coat et al. Might crack the next week! Besides, so far I'm leaning toward the black.

Thanks for the comments/opinions so far, ...

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I'd go with the blue dash and keep the cap in place until you find your dash.

As far as black dashes go.... I'm not familiar with the W124, but I know my 300SDL and 350SD have very dark seal-brown dashboards which may appear black if they are looked at without scrutiny. The steering wheels are most certainly black, though.

Yuck, I hate the blue dashes. They crack and they turn grey and yellow as the sun beats on them for years and years.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Black dash. Those blue or red interiors are just not right in my opinion.

Kevin
1979 240D manual
1984 190D manual

i would not hesitate to go black.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

You know what they say...

"Once you go black, you never go back."

And like I often say to my lovely (Asian, Japanese gold-tone skinned) wife, "I am only white on the outside."

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Autos:
1991 350SD 276,000 miles
2001 VW Beetle TDI 115,000 miles

Horns:
1955 Selmer Mark VI Alto (55,xxx)
1958 Selmer Mark VI Tenor (85,xxx)
1964 Selmer Mark VI Tenor (125,xxx)
1967 King Super-20 Tenor (430,xxx)
2002 Selmer Series III Soprano

For Jazz Saxophone enthusiasts - check out my website...
www.RustyBlevins.com

paint your cracked dash black first to see how you like it...if you don't then cover it with a mat until a replacement blue one comes along....but if you think it looks OK (which I think it will except to MB officianados who know the difference) then you'll know for sure.

John

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John Hughes, was in Landstuhl, Germany but currently in San Antonio, TX


1978 280CE Astral Silver now 59,xxx miles and counting "Silber-Kugel"
1986 300E Black Pearl Metallic 143,xxx miles 5-spd daily driver w/ blk leather "Schwarz-Schönheit"
1989 190E 2.6 (euro) 5-spd Desert Taupe 112,xxx kms Had to leave behind in Germany!!! "Helga"
1983 300D Pastel Beige now 312,xxx + miles SOLD

OBK#24

wish I could afford this one..... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-BENZ-DASH-300-420-W126_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ40017QQihZ005QQitemZ150059610756QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

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Thank you for all the help guys!

"Old Gretchen" <--1983 300SD w126 cali. emissions (so it says on wdw sticker)
LIght metallic blue with dark blue interior. Odo stuck at 160,500 mi.

www.handydo.joolo.com

I had a friend in high school who took out his dash and spray painted it with metalic silver paint... maybe you want to try that?

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105 to ship?????? USP GROUND?????

Black... I don't like the looks of the blue ones and you will never find a good used blue one anyway, they all crack.

Just bought a car with a cracked blue dash.

I don't really like the blue interior, but changing the whole interior over is too much effort for a cosmetic preference (IMHO).

I have a perfect black dash and center console in the car I'll be getting rid of soon (palomino interior).

My plan is to remove the cracked blue dash, paint it black and install it in the car to be sold. And paint the black dash and center console blue and put it in the keeper. Do a search of the forum on blue dye, someone used a spray on vinyl dye from NAPA with excellent results.