heater control levers
 

could you tell be the best way to remove the dash to replace the heaterlevers for a 1972 280sel 4.5?

This might help - http://www.jaimekop.com/108Wood/

Have you considered repair levers that don't require removing the dash? Contact George Murphy at 865.482.9175.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I always removed the radio and dropped the assembly down and partially out of the radio hole. The ashtray and its support also must be removed. I think the manual would have you remove the assembly but I never wanted to fool with the cables so I left them attached and did the levers one at a time.

If you pull the instrument cluster you will have more than enough room to work, plus have easy access to the left side retaining nut. It is an easy 8 hour shop job, but it can be done at home over a weekend. Try doing a search using the search function on "108 heater levers" there are a number of posts about how a few of us accomplished this task.

In my case I removed the complete assembly and rebuilt using FEBI levers. Steve touched on the hardest part, the part about the cables. Pay close attention how they are routed - they have to be routed that way. I, in my infinite wisdom decided that the cables needed to be rerouted for a clean install. WRONG! I couldn't move the new levers. Routed the cables back in their original position and everything worked fine.