Here is the dash of a 85' Mercedes that I am considering. It looks to me like it has a cover of some sort on the dahs top, but I was told my the owner that it does not. Notice how it looks like the speaker and dash vent are not "flush" with the dash, like it is on other Mercedes of this vintage? Could I just be mistaken? Thanks.


UPDATE - photos are too large. I will have to resize and post later.

Trying it again:

Attached Thumbnails

   

use photobucket.com to host the larger ones..they will help us see the dash better....that grille might be tighened down to a point where it looks lower...

I agree with you - it looks like it has a cover on it. The dash looks like it juts out too much in front of the wood on the console. Maybe the seller doesn't know that there is one?

best I can do - good luck

Peter
1988 420sel

has a cover.

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.

yea...cover

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking it was one of those covers, because it looked funny. When I asked the owner about it, this is what she said and I quote:

"I just asked my dad about the dash and he said it is the original dash. No protective coverings. The car was supposedly kept in a garage in Norfolk VA. My dad's uncle is a used car salesman and he found this car for my dad".

Perhaps he thinks it is the original dash. It is not a big deal, but I was wondering about this thing. Do they glue on, or are they easily removed?

This is strange, because this was when I was interested in the car back in January. The owner decided not to sell. The car has recently became available again, or at least I hope it is.

BTW- the car is a 85' 380SE - it has very high miles (over 200K), but it is cheap - around $1,000., but it gauranteed to be in good shape all over, including running conditions.

Thanks again.

To update this thread, I bought this car as some of you know and it is indeed a plastic dash cover installed on this car. I was thinking it looked strange. I was going to remove it, but it looks good on there and knowing my luck, it is probably cracked under there. It would be neat though if this thing has been on there since new and the dash underneath is still like new as well.

Leave it on.. I'd bet there are cracks underneath. If you remove it, you may damage it and will have to buy a new one.

I think these cost around $75-100 (can't remember from last time I bought one) so they're pretty expensive to buy just as a decorative cover for an uncracked dash!

Neal

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'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)

I put one of those on my old '75 450SE, and have one on my current '85 380SE. They aren't a great fit by a long shot, although some brands may be better than others. On my '85, I have the exact same problem with the fit around the speaker grilles. Also, the lower front edge also doesn't fit tight against the old dash just above the A/C grilles.
The first one I installed using the double-sided tape provided. Bad idea, as it doesn't stick after a year or 2 of temperature changes. The second one, in the car I drive now, I used lots of silicone sealant and it has stayed put. If you need to reapply in places where it may be loose, this is one way to do it. If the one you have was put on with tape, it might peel off fairly easily... but might break too, if brittle from age.

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

my 85 D has like a plastic vent thing in the center on top of the dash by the edge.. dont know what its for but it is there.. if you dont have one its got to be a cover or i have some sort of missile direction locator

The vent is the sample location for the climate control. I don't know what it would do to the climate control if it's covered.

The dash cover makers will ask if your model has the climate control air sensor on the dash. Later ones mount the sensor up by the mirror. The difference is that the in-dash sensor dash cover will have a hole cutout in it.

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus