interior falling apart
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: 3rd rock from the sun
C230 SC 2002 White 1992 Toyota Hilux 225,000 miles, 2017 Subaru STI
interior falling apart
Ok, the cubby hole below the radio started to tear and come apart today. The AC knobs also have peeling issues. The headliner is beginning to separate from the structure. The back of the front headrests plastic covers have completely snapped off. The back of the front seats cloth covering also is separating from the underlying structure. WTF?
The car is garaged and covered in said garage. Less than 50000 miles. The car is rarely driven and has spent it's entire life in Florida. An economy beater that is driven hard with no care given, than I could expect it, but a Benz that is babied, no freaking way. I will soon be in the market for one if not two new cars. MB will not be on my list due to quality issues.
The car is garaged and covered in said garage. Less than 50000 miles. The car is rarely driven and has spent it's entire life in Florida. An economy beater that is driven hard with no care given, than I could expect it, but a Benz that is babied, no freaking way. I will soon be in the market for one if not two new cars. MB will not be on my list due to quality issues.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
That's happening on my 2002 as well, and the coupe I saw this past week. Hopefully, it makes you feel better that you're not alone. I do think that quality has only improved since our cars, but that doesn't get me warm and fuzzy about the marque in general, either.
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From: New Jersey
SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550
Erik
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From: 3rd rock from the sun
C230 SC 2002 White 1992 Toyota Hilux 225,000 miles, 2017 Subaru STI
Mine has been garaged since I bought it off the showroom floor in 2002. Almost 90% of the miles are long distance highway miles. Never any stop and go. No kids either to do damage.
Just priced the dash cubby hole on ebay a used one was up for $95 and new at the dealer is $40. No brainer.
Just priced the dash cubby hole on ebay a used one was up for $95 and new at the dealer is $40. No brainer.
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Mine has been garaged since I bought it off the showroom floor in 2002. Almost 90% of the miles are long distance highway miles. Never any stop and go. No kids either to do damage.
Just priced the dash cubby hole on ebay a used one was up for $95 and new at the dealer is $40. No brainer.
Just priced the dash cubby hole on ebay a used one was up for $95 and new at the dealer is $40. No brainer.
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C230 SC 2002 White 1992 Toyota Hilux 225,000 miles, 2017 Subaru STI
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From: 3rd rock from the sun
C230 SC 2002 White 1992 Toyota Hilux 225,000 miles, 2017 Subaru STI
Still the headliner and cloth backing to the seats should not come apart. The car looks like a 1987 Chevy impala. I have a 92 Toyota pickup that never sees the garage and that thing is pristine on the inside. No problems whatsoever. Really disappointed at materials used by MB.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Benz went through a bad patch with quality in 2000, 01, 02, It was luck of the draw. This has been well publicised. W203 C Class & W211 E class were worst affected. By 2003 this was sorted on C, took a little longer on E (later launch date).
Sticky knobs were common especially in hot climates. (PVA painted parts). Dash & glove box issues were not common. Where was your car built? If Brazil it might explain it. Local content.
Sticky knobs were common especially in hot climates. (PVA painted parts). Dash & glove box issues were not common. Where was your car built? If Brazil it might explain it. Local content.
Member
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Miami, FL
2002 Miata
My 02 coupe has the same problem. It really does make it feel like a lower quality interior. My rsx never had any problem like this. However, my neighbors 01 dodge caravan had a similar problem with the headliner. His was a lot worse and with only 40k miles
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Junior Member
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From: 3rd rock from the sun
C230 SC 2002 White 1992 Toyota Hilux 225,000 miles, 2017 Subaru STI
01 dodge caravan had a similar problem with the headliner.
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From: New Jersey
SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
It's an Italian car - that's a part of its charm. 
The thing I'm most concerned about on the interior of my car is the seat belts not retracting anymore, which is a serious pain in the ***, and I've had two speaker covers go to heaven because of it.
I know that Honda warranties the seatbelts for the life of the car (lots of crx owners have taken their cars to the dealers this past year to get the work done, if you can believe that - great of Honda to do so) - I guess it would be expecting too much to have Mercedes have the same kind of warranty?
The thing I'm most concerned about on the interior of my car is the seat belts not retracting anymore, which is a serious pain in the ***, and I've had two speaker covers go to heaven because of it.
I know that Honda warranties the seatbelts for the life of the car (lots of crx owners have taken their cars to the dealers this past year to get the work done, if you can believe that - great of Honda to do so) - I guess it would be expecting too much to have Mercedes have the same kind of warranty?
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From: New Jersey
SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550
It's an Italian car - that's a part of its charm.
The thing I'm most concerned about on the interior of my car is the seat belts not retracting anymore, which is a serious pain in the ***, and I've had two speaker covers go to heaven because of it. I know that Honda warranties the seatbelts for the life of the car (lots of crx owners have taken their cars to the dealers this past year to get the work done, if you can believe that - great of Honda to do so) - I guess it would be expecting too much to have Mercedes have the same kind of warranty?
The thing I'm most concerned about on the interior of my car is the seat belts not retracting anymore, which is a serious pain in the ***, and I've had two speaker covers go to heaven because of it.
I know that Honda warranties the seatbelts for the life of the car (lots of crx owners have taken their cars to the dealers this past year to get the work done, if you can believe that - great of Honda to do so) - I guess it would be expecting too much to have Mercedes have the same kind of warranty?Erik
Member
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Houston, Tx, USA
2002 c240
My '02 c240, which has spent it's entire life in Houston, hasn't had any interior damages, other than some cracked leather on the steering wheel. When it's not sitting in the garage, it's sitting in a parking lot. Silver ex., black int., tinted windows(though that was done on like December 27th of 2011)
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Toronto, ON
2002 C230 Coupe & 2010 C300 Sport
My 2002 coupe is no different. I've got the trim around the A pillar separating although the headliner looks to be alright. After 376,xxx km, I guess that's pretty good. I am planning on re-upholstering the pillar trim and headliner this summer anyway (mainly because it's very dirty) so no big loss.
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
Interesting. I guess it is all in how you approach things too. My 2002 Coupe, in Atlanta, so similar heat and humidity had very few of these issues. After about 125,000 miles I did notice the cloth on the A-pillars starting to loosen, but I actually got that fixed before it became too bad. Headliner hadn't had a problem as of last week. Mine spent pretty much every working day spent in the sun with the windows up.
Tommy - my passenger side was doing the same thing. I found a service bulletin somewhere that mentioned cleaning the part that it slides through on the B-pillar with soap and water and cleaning the belt itself. The problem appears to usually be a light buildup of dirt and grime there that sticks and slows the belt. I tried it on mine and it seemed to do the trick.
Tommy - my passenger side was doing the same thing. I found a service bulletin somewhere that mentioned cleaning the part that it slides through on the B-pillar with soap and water and cleaning the belt itself. The problem appears to usually be a light buildup of dirt and grime there that sticks and slows the belt. I tried it on mine and it seemed to do the trick.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 506
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From: Argyle, TX
10 Tahoe LT, 07 Silverado Z71, 99 BMW R1100RT
How about those interior door pulls that come apart? 
Then again, I guess it's part of the MB charm since my 83 500SE had them come loose, too. 
Took about 25 years, though, and not 7 like on my daughter's 05 W203.
Then again, I guess it's part of the MB charm since my 83 500SE had them come loose, too. Took about 25 years, though, and not 7 like on my daughter's 05 W203.
