So I got a quote from a dealer for how much it would cost to replace my burl walnut interior trim to the black ash trim.

Center Console = $620
Console Ashtray = $104
Front Door Insert = $274 x 2 = $548
Rear Door Inserts = 214 x 2 = $428

Total Parts = $1,700

Labor = $125 x 5 = $625

TOTAL COST = $2,325 + tax

That seems really high to me. Am I getting played? Has anyone else changed their trim to black ash in the United States?

If you think you're being played, call another dealer and ask them for a quote. But the reality is retrofitting parts in an already built car is not easy and is always expensive.

Yeah probably. That's what dealers do. Go to a normal quality service centre and ask them to lookup how much the parts cost. Then apply a normal rate for labour that a non-dealer charges and that should get you where you need to be.

Then sell your old stuff in an aftermarket and recoup what you can.

Sheesh I say just get it wrapped in some high quality 3M vinyl for 1/4 of the price.

Looks like this was discussed here: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...sole-trim.html

I got the quote from the other dealer.

Total Parts: $1918.70
Total Labor: 750.00
Total Cost: $2669 + tax... yeesh

I didn't realize that replacing the wood would be so expensive. I will contact dealers farther away, and see what they might charge and update with more quotes. I originally thought it may be $1,500, but looks like I was way too low. It is weird to see how two dealers just an hour away from each other give such different quotes.

The price of the parts will probably be the same no matter which dealer you call. An indy might discount parts pricing, but maybe not.


As I found when investigating having a Lexus repaired at an indy, they could save me some money on labor rates, and maybe negotiate the number of hours for the job, but since they had to buy the parts from Lexus there was no savings there. So, for a parts-intensive job like this, the savings won't save the day. It will still be costly to do.

For this money (almost 3K), you could have a very nice performance tune - if you're in to that of course!
Replacing the console should not cost more than the option when you CPO a new car, then add labor.
Note that the analogue clock is the most expensive here. I'm assuming they're not considering that (you actually have it?)

Oh well I would expect that it would be considerably more expensive to change the wood trim as compared to when customizing it since you're buying every part individually from Mercedes Benz and you can only buy it from them. What I'm not very happy with is not knowing how much of a markup the dealerships use to get those parts to them. It's obvious that Dealership #2 is marking up the parts by a significant amount because it doesn't make any sense why they would be $350 more otherwise. They also have a much more expensive labor cost. I will be calling a couple more dealerships around me to get quotes from. I will drive up to 3 hours if the quote warrants it, especially with gas so cheap at the moment.

I have the analog clock, and I'm quite sure that they're not factoring that into their parts since I have the burl walnut trim (comes with it).

I know you've got the clock already; just a theory to double check that they don't need to order another one.
In general, big/main dealers don't have markups on such parts; they just charge a "nominal" labor fee on top of the part price (they are not supposed to make profit from it).
Of course, if you have a good relation with your dealer, chances are higher to a get better pricing - Did you check with your dealer (where you actually acquired the car)? I read "a dealer", and "another dealer" - and of course, they owe you zero favor.

Oh the dealer that I purchased it at is across the country. lol I haven't been to any dealers around my area.

I may be interested in buying your old burr walnut trim if it is in good condition, this may offset your costs. Please contact me privatley if interested.

Sure! I will let you know once I figure everything out and the job is done.

I got a 3rd quote today from another dealer and it came out to $2,930. The $2,350 from the first one is looking better and better. lol

Damn $2k for something that costs just $325 to option when getting the car. Sheesh. My suggestion to get the trim wrapped still stands. I would rather spend $2k on wheels and tires or tires and an ECU tune.

So I got a quote from a 4th dealership and it's the best one yet! Here is the cost breakdown:

Center Console + Ashtray = $620
Front Door Inserts = $274 x 2 = $548
Rear Door Inserts = $214 x 2 = $428

Total Parts = $1596

Labor $147 for center console + ashtray
+ $243 for all four doors
= $390

TOTAL COST = $1986 + 10% tax on parts = $2145

The total cost including tax at this dealership is almost $200 cheaper than the previous cheapest quote I was able to get and that didn't even include any tax. I think this is the best quote that I will be able to get, but there are two more places that I'm waiting to get quotes from. Once I get those two quotes, I'll go with the most affordable option.

You must have a lot of money to spend that much on changing a bit of trim.

Oh I wouldn't say that I have a lot of money. I just have some disposable money, and also because I'm not in love with the burl walnut. I had to buy a car in May since I moved from NYC then and the only options in my area had the C Class in burl walnut. I really wanted the black ash trim to begin with, and since I'd have the car for another 4 1/2 years, I'd rather be in one that has a trim that I love rather than one that I just settled with.

Selling the burl walnut afterwards will help reduce the overall cost by several hundred as well. Thinking about how much it would cost per year to have a trim that I love, it's worth it.

Any dealership worth their salt could have found a C300 with ash, that is one of the most common dealer orders. Unless you absolutely had to leave with a car at that very moment I think a little waiting could've saved you a chunk of change. But at the end of the day, I know why you want the ash wood it really is quite nice.

Oh trust me, I tried searching for a C300 with black ash trim that sold at a good price. I specifically told dealers that I wanted black ash but almost all the quotes that I kept receiving was for burl walnut. I did have some few quotes with black ash, but they did not have other things that were absolutely mandatory (ex. multimedia package or panoramic roof).

I wish I could have waited, but I had to leave for grad school that started in June (where I am now), so I basically spent one week at my family's home and then was off to grad school.

After I get that done, I'll have to deal with the wind noise. Once that's fixed, then I'll get window tinting and be done with the cosmetics. I do have some rattling, engine piston pin problem, and other smaller stuff that needs to get addressed.

Hi....Can anyone tell me where I can find the center console replacement trim in Black Ash?
I want to replace the fingerprint and dust magnet console I have now.
I'm not interested in the Carbon Filter finish - just the black wood grain one.

THanis

I understand why you want the Black Ash. It just makes the car look so much better and classier. I have had two other MB with that plastic looking wood, and I never understood why they made it look look that. I don't understand why you didn't just order the car exactly the way you wanted it. That's what I did. If you were time constrained, you could have bought a clunker to use until your car arrived. I think it would have been worth it to get the car you really wanted. Just a thought...Good luck!