[W126 Coupe] Permanently Attaching Replacement Wood to Dash

[Dick Spellman]

Hello mark;

You need to remove the one trim piece running from driver's air vent 
clear across to the seam at the glove box.  Then you need to apply 
either an epoxy as Mike Ramay suggested or a urethane glue.  If you use 
the urethane glue be sure and wear gloves and keep the container away 
from any kids.  The stuff works well and is activated with just a 
misting of water on the surfaces to be glued but, it is toxic stuff.  
Fumes from curing are toxic as well.

I had heritage Woodworks refinish all of the wood in the SEC where it 
was cracked and faded.  On the 86 300SE sedan, the wood separated from 
the wood/metal backing in a number of spots but was in otherwise perfect 
shape no cracks or fading.  So, it is on the sedan that I removed all of 
the wood and set up a jig to support the original shape (using a sheet 
of 1/2 inch plywood with over-sized holes for the studs to just pass 
through) and then applied Gorilla Urethane glue followed by paint 
paddles (to protect the veneer) and lots of spring loaded clamps.  I 
used a clamp just about every 2 inches to get a tight bond.  I was very 
careful to check for excess glue at time of application and every 15 
minutes thereafter (it expands over time to fill voids and bonds to 
everything) for the first hour wiping any excess off with qtips rolled 
away from the veneer finish.  This is most likely what you will have to do.

So, I'd check the cd-rom for the removal instructions and I'll add that 
the driver vent blind must be popped clear and the nut removed from the 
stud in the vent hole, the headlamp knob pulled off and the retainer nut 
removed from the switch and bezel, then it's remove the instrument 
cluster to access the (2) additional nuts behind the dash.  Where one 
nut is to one side of the ignition bezel, I'd disconnect the battery for 
safety.  Nuts are all plastic 7mm.  When re-attaching just snug them and 
then check for play in the wood veneer by depressing the wood with your 
thumb.  You will need to pop out the two center vent blinds and loosen 
the small screws in the vent holes to remove some of the tension that 
holds this length of wood in place.  Then it's gingerly remove the door 
vent corner followed by lifting or pushing a bit from behind the dash 
the headlamp area, over the top of the steering column, ignition bezel 
and ever so carefully free up that long thin wood strip going under the 
center vents that's just held in place by the downward pressure from the 
center vents when they are screwed to the dash.  Note: these little 
screws are not screwed into the wood.  This info plus whatever the cd 
manual has to offer should help.

Photos and a few notes are at this old link (hope it still works, 
haven't touched it in a few years)   
<http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2mwm9/mercedes380secinteriorrestoration/index.html>

Good luck.

Dick

Mark Clemence wrote:

> Hello Dick, I have a similar situation.  The trim on

> the dash is fine, but the "side piece" (along the

> driver's side of the dash) has also warped a bit so

> it's not only separated but also needs to be

> straightened.  Any advice on this situation would be

> appreciated.  Mark

> --- Dick Spellman <spell.yy at verizon.net> wrote:

>

>   

>> Hi Larry:

>>

>> If the replacement wood is simply a thin veneer, I'd

>> attach it as Mike 

>> suggested.  If on the other hand, it' s the original

>> equipment 

>> replacement for the dash on the SEC, then there is a

>> totally different 

>> set of requirements.  The original wood is secured

>> under the dash and in 

>> the vent pockets with studs protruding into the dash

>> from the wood 

>> backing and plastic 7mm nuts are snugged from the

>> back side.

>>

>> Please advise if it's a replica veneer or wood from

>> a salvage SEC or new 

>> from MB as the manual has detailed instructions and

>> I have photos from 

>> when I did the wood restoration.

>>

>> Regards,

>>

>> Dick

>>

>> Larry Martin wrote:

>>     

>>> Subject: How to apply replacement wood to dash to

>>>       

>> stay permanently

>>     

>>>  

>>> I have a 1984 Mercedes 500 SEC with replacement

>>>       

>> wood (for the dash) 

>>     

>>> coming. What is the best way to attach it? Use

>>>       

>> "Contact Cement" on 

>>     

>>> both dash and wood....then carefully stick them

>>>       

>> together...or is there 

>>     

>>> a better way?

>>>  

>>> Regards,

>>>  

>>> Larry C. Martin

>>>  

>>>  

>>>

>>>       

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>

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>

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