[W126 Coupe] peeling woodwork

[Divov]

Hey Dick,
What a great web page!
Photos not fuzzy at all.
You did a great job on your interior.
I was thinking of a quick fix in situ but your article has inspired me to do 
a proper job.
I am blessed in that my car has been "mothered" all its life and spent very 
little time in the sun so I have none of the problems you faced on your 
restoration.
(Dash cracking, hood lining etc). African sun I guess must be like your 
Arizona or Texas sun - darn harsh!
Other than the veneer starting to lift, my interior is still mint original 
condition. Even the leather looks like new and free of any cracks or 
discolouring.
I always look at other SEC's and a sure sign of spending too much of their 
life in the sun is evident from the piping on the rear head rests going all 
wobbly.
My pipings are all still dead straight as my car always lives in a garage 
all the time and when it is rarely parked outside, say on a trip, then I 
cover the whole interior with a space blanket. (aluminium foil blanket) plus 
these front & rear windscreen sun shields.
I am somewhat surprised that the veneer is lifting on my molly-coddled car?
You are probably the right guy to ask my next question.
The car still has its original Becker Mexico radio / tape. It has a quirk in 
that the memory doesn't work anymore and after switching off the car and 
restarting, I have to reprogram all the pre-selected stations. Also, upon 
restarting the volume is on full blast. Any ideas?
Regards
Alec D
84 500SEC Euro

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Spellman" <spell.yy at verizon.net>
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 3:19 PM
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] peeling woodwork



> Hi Alec:

>

> I've done 2 MB dashes where I've just repaired the lifting as you describe 

> on sedans.  I tried just doing the minor fix with wood in place and this 

> has never held up for more than 6 months or so.  Next time the weather 

> shifts hot to cold or visa versa the pieces start lifting once again and 

> often in new places.

>

> Removing that long piece with the ignition surround and headlamp bezel is 

> not too bad.  I'll include the link to my fuzzy photos of my dash work 

> that may help.  If you go the route of removal and repair, clamping just 

> requires a strong piece of wood or metal as a backing so the wood strip is 

> held straight and square.  I'd use a dozen spring loaded clamps to set the 

> piece with fresh urethane (gorilla) glue.  Make sure you wipe it clean on 

> the finish surfaces and use some protection where the clamp teeth meet the 

> finished side.

> <http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2mwm9/mercedes380secinteriorrestoration/id7.html> 

> dash

> <http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2mwm9/> index to the rest

> Regards and yes some classical or jazz music helps!

>

> Dick

> Divov wrote:

>> Hi Dick,

>> It is the very thin veneer on the dash stuck on to an alloy base.

>> Of course, where it is still stuck (the majority of the area still) it 

>> doesn't want to come off & I'm afraid to break it.

>> Also, even if I got it off, there is nowhere to attach any clamps.

>> It is lifting around the key hole & a few other places.

>> I have visions of squirting some epoxy behind with a syringe or something 

>> and then sitting there applying pressure for 20 minutes till the glue 

>> sets....

>> Mindless pursuit.

>> I had better put on some nice soothing classical music!

>> No easy fix?

>>

>> Alec

>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dick Spellman" <spell.yy at verizon.net>

>> To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>> Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 1:20 AM

>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] peeling woodwork

>>

>>

>>> Divov wrote:

>>>> The veneer on my dash is starting to lift in places.

>>>> Before I climb in with super glue or epoxy, I figure I should rather 

>>>> ask advice from other members who have been down this road.

>>>> Help please!

>>>> Alec D.

>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>> Hi Divov:

>>>

>>> The best way requires that you remove the wood trim from the car first. 

>>> Then use urethane glue following the container directions and clamp 

>>> overnight.  Wipe off any excess that expands from the glue joints before 

>>> it drys.  Wear protective gloves and place in a well ventilated area 

>>> during the cure process.

>>>

>>> Should last many years.

>>>

>>> Regards,

>>>

>>> Dick

>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.