Thanks guys for trying to figuer out what year, location it was made. As you know, I am new to mercedes and I am a second owner. The previous owners didn't take good care of this car and I had to pick up the pieces.

Is there any way I can find more info on your discussion?

 

Yes, this is another problem, the center console armrest seems to not like sweat. It gets gummy and gooey on the driver side. I guess the previous owner was running around with short sleeve. I had to use armor all to remove the nasty sweat that is eating the rubber.

Somehow, the soft rubber used for this car doesn't hold up. Whatever contact it gets with sweat or liquid, it ends up turning to goo or gummy over time.

I am surprise the seats haven't turn gooey yet. Speaking of seats, what is a good way to keep it from cracking or wear out? I notice the driver side is starting to have a line forming.

 

The steering wheel control knobs are sprayed with a mineral impregnated PVA paint.

 

The armrest can be cleaned. Though it will never be right again, it really isn't that bad in my car. I don't have soft rubber problems..

The seats will outlast the car. You should condition the seating surfaces (of at least the front two seats) with leather conditioner because your car should have leather inserts. The rear seats and all parts of the front seats aside from seating surface is MB-Tex. The stuff is highly durable. I use leather care, UV blocker on all the interior panels of my car and it is aging extremely well.

 

Would you mind naming some brands you use?

Sorry.. i don't want to do a trial and error thing.

 

I use Blue Magic leather cleaner and conditioner, ArmorAll leather cream conditioner, Turtle Wax F1 UV blocker, Tuff Stuff interior foam cleaner, Resolve Carpet Stain remover..

I also use a Crest SpinBrush Pro electric toothbrush for interior polishing. I use alcohol pads for cleaning glass surfaces.

 

I wonder if the former owner used lots of chemicals like makeup or something that could have degraded the parts over time.

 

I don't now, but i beg to wonder what they did to the car.

On a side note, the car had a lot of interior clean up when I got it. Got some kinda spill in the center console and had seep through the cup holder and ashtry and such. I had a hard time cleaning that mess but was able do the best I can. Seems as though they went to a lot of parties.

 

I have a 2002 C240, no problems with the armrests, steering wheel controls, climate knobs or vent controls. The car is SoCal sold and driven since 2002.

I've used leather foam cleaner/conditioner by Meguiar's. Also used Quality Care foaming Bathroom Cleaner from the dollar store/99cent store/ACE hardware etc to clean scuff marks off the plastic door trim, also marks off the ceiling (coincidentally excellent for getting scuff marks off painted walls)

Hope you bought the car cheap, if they took so little care of the car think how the drove it!?

 

I only use Meguiar's Rich Leather Cleaner Conditioner or Auto Glym on my full leather. I use a very small amount of household detergeant & a damp cloth on dash, console & door plastics. Keep chemicals & car deodorisers away from finishes. Use rubbing alcohol to remove stuborn marks on plastics.

Paint done with Auto Armor new - Never polished - good as new - not even a clear coat swirl. About to redo Auto Armor at 7 years.

 

Damn Glyn your interior is perfect, better condition than mine. Then again I'm pretty sure my car has over 2x the use of your car.

 

Glyn I just have to say I hate you
I wish I could keep my car that clean that is just ridiculous it looks like the day it came out of the factory. But my car does have 149k on it and I know you have less than like 50k lol. BTW did you ever get your clear mirror lights put on. you promised me to retake the picture by your home with them installed

I also like your door locks i need to get a set like that

 

Yeah Glyn has less than 50,000 miles on his car, IIRC. Seems like I saw him post 65k km. You and I have significantly more usage.

 

Yes Trey - My clear mirror lights are on - just need to take another pic.

 

well get on it

 

Do you guys know any trick to take out the two buttons of climate knobs (the one for climate digital control)? I would like to take them off to clean and try to quit the gummy appearance but I am afraid to break these knobs in the process. i have tried to extract them with a small screwdriver but they do not move. Thanks for your advices.