PaulArthur

So my new car arrives this week. It was a pre built model so I don't get a choice about the options on it and it comes with the piano black centre console and the aluminium door inserts.

Does anyone know if the black wood veneer trim is available as a spare part and how to change them over?

It might be something I do straight away as I don't really want a fingerprint and scratch magnet.

Many thanks

vic viper

Yes you can fit the wood panels, but you also need the analog clock and that is very expensive.

DBOC205

The question was raised before, but doesn't look like anyone came up with an answer.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...side-trim.html

Maybe Vic can chime in with some part numbers for you to consider ...(edit) Haha, looks like he beat me to it whilst typing

PaulArthur

What sort of prices, Vic?

vic viper

The center panel alone cost around €600 and the clock is €450 , then you also need to build a custom wiring harness to make the clock work.

PaulArthur

So in other news, I've suddenly come to really like piano black on the centre console...

vic viper

But I couldnt agree with you more, in the W204 series the black glossy panels were only available in the cheaper classic base models, I cannot Believe why they have choosen this route with the W205, is very unpractical.


Mayby the count on all customers adding that extra buck for the wood panels option?

Mr Enigma

In the US isn't the black wood trim a free upgrade? I think I saw that online when I was doing some pricing.

It's a shame we have to pay for it - albeit not so much.

dr-sbaitso

At least through MBUSA, it's a $325 add-on. Even with the sport package. Dealerships seem to be ordering a lot of the gloss black + aluminum, I know mine tried to offer me several cars with the gloss trim while we were tracking down a suitable build for my car.

eaglehorn

I agree 100%, it is beyond me why they would do go with a piano black glossy surface.

When I was in the ordering process of my Car I was in exactly the same dialog with the sales guy - I didn't like that glossy look because of how I foresaw it would collect dust and fingerprints and easily scratch - So I actually negotiated for him to have it wrapped in a matte vinyl wrap - He got an offer from a local dealer who could easily do this for about 130 euro - Maybe that's an alternative that will work for you - It is my understanding that you can get vinyl wraps in just about any color and texture these days (even carbon fibre!) -> Hello AMG

Anyway, I ended opting for the black wood instead, because I wanted to keep the car original.

Mr Enigma

Apologies, I stand corrected.

Waynezworld

Would definitely like to know more about this too. I got a great deal on my car but it had the gloss black so I took it. I would love to be able to replace it with the open pore black ash wood instead. Worst part is I don't know how I missed that the gloss doesn't have a clock either.

Mr Enigma

I suppose the cheapest option would be a wrap on the trim. Avoids having to fiddle with the wiring and harness to get the clock working?

Waynezworld

Excuse my ignorance but I don't know anything about wrapping. Any links or idea of cost? I also emailed my dealer to see what he would tell me about doing the interior trim swap.

Mr Enigma

I'm not the best person to ask as I've never done it but effectively you would put on a vinyl layer on top of your existing trim to make it look different. You can get various finishes and colours - pretty much any option or design available. Not sure about costs but someone should be able to chime in.

DBOC205

Have you seen that advertising thread on page 1 (about half way down) for Don Nguyen? - appears to be a vinyl wrap specialist. Maybe get in touch with him to get ideas on options and pricing.

PaulArthur

Vic,

Do you have the part numbers? I guess you need to replace the button cluster around the clock too?

Thanks

vic viper

A2228270300 Clock unit
A2056804601 Center panel, Black Wood Ash without ambience illumination
A2059052701 Switch panel for Clock


Remember that there could always be local variations, dont take these part numbers too seriously unless a authorised dealer in your area has confirmed the SA codes for each part.

DBOC205

Vic, can you offer some advice on how significant the work is to change the door and console panels? The reason I ask is because my car is about 2 weeks out from delivery and when I did an online VIN check, it came back as being configured with the gloss lime wood instead of the open pore. I'm still hoping my anxiety is unfounded and it's just an error in the VIN lookup, but if it does turn out to be the wrong trim, I'd like to know what's involved in changing everything over. I'm not real keen on having the car pulled apart if it's a major operation to change things ..

vic viper

Replacing the center console is a breeze, not sure about the door panels, by the looks of it it seems like it is possible to pull them out.

DBOC205

Thanks for your thoughts and advice Vic. Spoke to dealer today and they confirmed that the car has been built with incorrect trim. I'll find out next week what can be done.

Cmersu

Her are few videoas how to remove door panels.

DBOC205

Yea I've seen those glass videos before - which was actually what worried me. You can see how much has to be removed to get the door panels out. Do that on all four doors, by someone who's probably never done so, and you're just adding risk of introducing rattles, errors, damage etc .. don't know. It's also unclear how the wooden panels are fitted to the door skins - they might be glued on, so then there's a question of whether they get pried off or whether the whole inner door panel needs to be replaced. My mind is doing cartwheels at the moment in terms of what's involved. Changing the interior trim then also means the car is out of sync with the spec against the VIN.

At this stage I'm having trouble weighing up whether to just accept the car with the gloss wood as is (+ some form of compensation), or run the risk of replacing interior panels, or scrap the order entirely. I've had 4+ months of being in an information vacuum courtesy of the dealer and it's only because of my own checks that the error has come to light. It's really deflated the whole joy of ordering a Merc for the first time I have to say.

vic viper

Do not worry, it takes 30 seconds to remove a single door panel, you do not need to remove the door module to access the trim as it is located in the door panel.


Like I said above I do not know how the trim is fastened in the door panel, but by looking in EPC it looks like it is possible to pull the out without even removing the door panel, however I need to confirm this.

ManiacGT

Don't let one thing ruin the car for you. See what it looks like and if you like it take compo. It's not worth the risk of damage or rattles etc as I took that route due to issues and my car has all sorts of noises over rough roads.