leather door armrest insert
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Joined: Dec 2004
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leather door armrest insert
My dad picked up a 2002 C32 used, and it looks like the previous owner swapped his driver's door card for an MB-Tex one to free up some space for his arm. (The paranoid person in me thinks maybe the side airbag deployed and this is an el cheapo repair, but there's no sign of bodywork and the carfax reads clean) The dealer only sells the entire card for about $1000- are their any shops that sell this insert as an aftermarket upgrade? OEM appearance is a requirement. Can an upholstery shop do this properly with the breakaway seam?
TIA
-n.
TIA
-n.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 453
Likes: 3
From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
I just did this operation to switch out my MBTEX for leather (family in the industry FTW), though it's not quite done yet (the car's a mess, I bring pictures!).
Basically, the plastic piece attaches to the door by means of melted plastic tubes (sort of like plastic rivets) and melted plastic tabs, which means taking it out and putting it back in is a PITA, since it's not just a set of screws. Even better news is that MB doesn't sell the plastic panel with the tubes unmelted by itself (unlike, say, the speaker covers). However, once you drill/cut off the melted parts holding the plastic piece in, the upholstery comes right off the door, and an upholstery shop can remove the MBTEX and glue on some upholstery of your choice.
The fun part comes in reattaching the piece to the door, as now you can't replicate what they had with melted plastic rivets. I'm planning on trying several pastey glues (like hot glue) and filling in the holes and see if it attaches in a satisfactory manner. If MB sold the part, you could have taken that to the upholstery shop and then reattached it the "right" way by remelting the plastic tubes, but no dice.
Basically, the plastic piece attaches to the door by means of melted plastic tubes (sort of like plastic rivets) and melted plastic tabs, which means taking it out and putting it back in is a PITA, since it's not just a set of screws. Even better news is that MB doesn't sell the plastic panel with the tubes unmelted by itself (unlike, say, the speaker covers). However, once you drill/cut off the melted parts holding the plastic piece in, the upholstery comes right off the door, and an upholstery shop can remove the MBTEX and glue on some upholstery of your choice.
The fun part comes in reattaching the piece to the door, as now you can't replicate what they had with melted plastic rivets. I'm planning on trying several pastey glues (like hot glue) and filling in the holes and see if it attaches in a satisfactory manner. If MB sold the part, you could have taken that to the upholstery shop and then reattached it the "right" way by remelting the plastic tubes, but no dice.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Hi Jed,
I'm in San Jose. How much did this job run you? Any pics of the finished product? My only issue is that 3 of the inserts are already factory correct so I wonder how much of a job would it be to match the OEM texture and finish for the driver's door. Keep in mind that since I need only one, it has to be cheaper than a grand since that's what MB charges for the entire panel. Thanks!
-n.
I'm in San Jose. How much did this job run you? Any pics of the finished product? My only issue is that 3 of the inserts are already factory correct so I wonder how much of a job would it be to match the OEM texture and finish for the driver's door. Keep in mind that since I need only one, it has to be cheaper than a grand since that's what MB charges for the entire panel. Thanks!
-n.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 453
Likes: 3
From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
Well, the "job" per se is somewhat free in my case, since I removed it myself and am getting the upholstery done by family. The thing is, even when you buy the $1000 door panel, it doesn't come with the little odds and ends, like the speaker covers and such which you have to buy and attach separately.
My guess is the panel being reupholstered should cost you no more than $200 with materials, since all they're doing is pulling the old stuff off and gluing the new material on the panel.
By the by, another solution that would make more sense in your case would be to troll the local junkyards and pick-and-pulls to just get the whole door panel, oem color and all, off a junked car that's been rear-ended or something. My guess is that any C-class sedan will do, since I doubt there are any differences in the door panels of the C230, C240, C320, C32, and C55. I don't know how much junkyards charge for something like that, but about $500-700 would be my guess. Even one that has had the airbag deployed might be salvageable with a bit of needlework at an upholstery shop. Though it seems like the previous owner did the same, I have the distinct feeling he was impatient and needed to replace the panel quickly. You'd probably also have more luck down in SoCal, if you ever go there.
My guess is the panel being reupholstered should cost you no more than $200 with materials, since all they're doing is pulling the old stuff off and gluing the new material on the panel.
By the by, another solution that would make more sense in your case would be to troll the local junkyards and pick-and-pulls to just get the whole door panel, oem color and all, off a junked car that's been rear-ended or something. My guess is that any C-class sedan will do, since I doubt there are any differences in the door panels of the C230, C240, C320, C32, and C55. I don't know how much junkyards charge for something like that, but about $500-700 would be my guess. Even one that has had the airbag deployed might be salvageable with a bit of needlework at an upholstery shop. Though it seems like the previous owner did the same, I have the distinct feeling he was impatient and needed to replace the panel quickly. You'd probably also have more luck down in SoCal, if you ever go there.
