Take steps to protect your car during service
 

I blame myself!! Now, while the persons tinting the windows on China today did the actual damage, I simply should have prepared for this. I offer this post for yall to think about prior to having things done to your car.
China's interior is in pretty good shape. The back seat was really clean with no tears and most importantly, NO SPLIT SEAMS!! Now, I knew the padding in the upper back seat was getting crunchy, and I knew the window tinting dudes would be back there, but I didn't know what a dick-hammering it all would take. Sadly, in hindsight, I should have removed the rear seat, upper and lower prior to taking it for tinting. Tough lesson......:(
Here is what I was left with after tinting.
Notice the wrinkles in the seat back, and the now non-straight line the top of the seat back is in:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...D/China263.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...D/China264.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...D/China265.jpg

Also, there wasn't a split seam to be found anywhere. Now:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...D/China259.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...D/China260.jpg

Also, you can't really tell from this pic as I had it tucked in briefly, but they broke off the forward most tip of the inner C-pillar cover. The fabric doesn't stay on, and also it doesn't stay flat against the side of the car.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...D/China262.jpg

And I'm guessing this will clean off, but tint guys just firehose the inside of the car to lube up the glass, and the medical kit cover was perfectly clean and even-colored before today.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...D/China261.jpg

I called the owner and let him know what happened, that I wasn't pleased, and that they should be more careful before ruining the next old car. He was a bit defensive and mentioned the reason I was having the windows tinted was the years of baking the car interior, especially the rear shelf and seat. He also was not an A-hole in any way. He is also an '85 mile round trip away.
So, like I said, I mostly blame myself. I could have prevented this. I'm not gonna waste time blaming others.
Actually, they did a great job tinting the windows, and I would actually use them again if needed. But I would take steps to prepare "for the worst".....
In the meantime I will keep my eyes open for a rear seat back in I think it's called Sand Pebble, or some-such....

What's the story with the ring? Are you the Boss Hogg of Sunnyvale, Tx or something? No bull horn plans for China as of yet?:D

Have had the ring about 28 or 30 years now. My first wife bought it for me while we were in high school. I couldn't get if off my finger if I had a gun to my head.
I wouldn't know what a pair of boots even felt like, but I do have 2 roosters and 2 very nervous hens......:eek:
:D
Just say "No" to the Texan stereo-type. And Boss Hogg was far from Texan. ;) Wrong part of the South.....:cowboy:
Yall telling me somebody doesn't have a Cali or Florida ring? :P:P

.

That stinks.

I think I would complain to the manager.

:joker:
RichC

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Don't forget Kansas Sterotypes. Yeah, Hazzard county, Ga, right? Just kidding around. I'll be driving through Dallas in the 300d March 18 and 22. I would love see your fleet and buy a lunch to thankyou for the help these past months.

I'm not one of the more helpful posters, but I'm always up for meeting a forum buddy. Too bad we can't all converge in Kansas or similar from all parts of the country one day. Lots and lots of folks on here I'd like to meet.
I have certainly been lucky to meet so many of the Texas folks, along with some Okies and a few Louisiana people. Oh, and the Michigan refugee...... :D

I know how you feel. I think most of us would rather no one else touch our cars with regards to maintenance or repair. Maybe you feel like you let the old girl down letting those guys manhandle her the way they did. Emotional bond sometimes with these cars, especially if they are really old or you've saved them from oblivion and made them nice again. My 240D is a Texas car and looks exactly like yours except my interior is black. The thing I struggle with is that every time I fix something I find something else that needs attention.

Kevin

1978 300D
1979 240D

I always hate when the people at service places (tires, windshield, etc...) are too dumb to start a diesel properly. When I had mine in for a tire rotation they just hop in after its been sitting there an hour, and crank away, no glow....so it rotates 10-12 times, then blasts to life with an enormous-diesel-stereotype-fulfilling cloud of gray/black smoke rather than a clean quick start. Very annoying. I have made an instruction sheet that I put on the steering wheel explaining the glow cycle now. :rolleyes: Also, I try to explain it to the person beforehand....usually they " :dizzy2: " at me, and then I have to start it for them to demonstrate. Its sad.


As for the seats....that seems to happen to the tex on occasion. My dad's SD had a mint interior when he got it, now the passenger front seat looks like that, the stitching came apart on the base and looks wavy. Used to be perfect. Oh well. :o Part of the endless maintenance. :D

Personally I am on the hunt for a nice interior out of a later W126 so I can swap in a nicer setup....a cloth euro interior would be the best thing ever, but I doubt I'll ever find one. Both euro cars around here I've seen have had leather.

That is really crappy. Specially since they caused so much damage (tint looks nice though). Yea I definitely have an emotional bond with my 240D. Heck i wont even let anyone drive the car. Not my brothers or parents, while i have let them drive my Infiniti before. I just feel that anyone who hasn't owned one of these cars wont relieze the quarks of the car and end up messing something up. My car is also a Texas car, but must have been garaged as there is no oxidation.
Along with the whole "quarks" of the cars, I absolutely hate taking my car into a repair shop (unless there Mercedes specific) as i have had numerous dumb sh!!s do something stupid. Most notable is the parking brake. My car is manual, you can clearly see that when you get in the car. Also i never leave my car in gear because of it being able to crank while in gear (not like new cars were you have to push the clutch in for the starter to engage). Thus i must have a parking brake on right? Well i can't tell you how many time these kids have popped my clutch or tryed driving with it on. I walk over, reach in the window and pull the knob. There are so many other things as well, that i have just screw it and done most of the work myself. Saves money anyways:cool:

Jimmy;

Have you tried wrapping your finger tightly with dental floss from the ring outward toward and over the knuckle and then lubricate it with very soapy water? We have removed rings in the operating room using this technique before procedures.

Your other option is to buy a ring cutter if you really want to remove it.

John

I love the ring!

Though the diamond definitely doesn't indicate the part of the state most like a precious gem ;)

I do have boots and hats, but the only jewelry I wear is my wedding band.
and no livestock or oil derricks in my yard :)

Working on old cars is tough things tend to break.

Thats why I only let the dealer and one local tire shop touch my car. If I have to explain the glow cycle to someone who is supposed to do anything on my car, they don't get to work on it.

Last fall I went to Sears to get an estimate for tires on the Jetta, and they guy eyed the SDL and tried to sell me new tires for it. I'm like no you guys don't get to touch that car. Maybe one day when your tire guy gets good enough to work for MB of North Haven he will get to work on it.:D

Can you redo the foam?
 

Jimmy,
I was at the FW PNP today. Was your donor car the maroon one? That was the only 123 today. Looks like good MBtex on the back seat but the same issue with the foam feels crumbly. Those covers don't look too hard to R&R. Couldn't you refoam (use closed cell) in two steps with the first making the ridge pieces and #2 glue them to a solid second layer? Just a thought.
BTW went back to the other PNP and found all my blue interior items (assuming a 116 has the same seats - I measured). Gave up on the 190 idea.
Charles

I had to show the kid at the dealership how to start my car... pathetic

Yep, that car at the FW PNP is the donor for both the front seats in China, driver's door pocket, almost a brand new radiator I have stored in the garage {still had stickers on the top} and 4 good glow plugs I think. I seemed to remember looking at that seat back before but ruled it out. I can't remember if it was because of the crunchies. Maybe I'll go take another look on half price Wednesday. I also need the driver's C-pillar trim piece too, but can't remember condition. Seems like it might have been broke in half, but I've seen several cars over the last few months.
I hope the seats fit!