Custom Interior
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 509
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From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
Custom Interior
Could anybody that has a custom interior post some pictures? I am trying to figure out what to do to my extremely cracked wood trim. i've seen a couple of pictures on this forum but none of them are that current. I know that painting and overlays are the 2 most popular ways of covering the wood. Any ideas? or any problems you had would be helpful too. Thanks.
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From: REHOBOTH BEACH DE
88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
Could anybody that has a custom interior post some pictures? I am trying to figure out what to do to my extremely cracked wood trim. i've seen a couple of pictures on this forum but none of them are that current. I know that painting and overlays are the 2 most popular ways of covering the wood. Any ideas? or any problems you had would be helpful too. Thanks.
More then likely your "woods" aren't cracked.
What you normally see is not damage to the veneer, but a clouding and cracking of the clear coat.
I removed my woods and had them refinished to concours standard by Heritage.
Cost about $350.00
Whether you are going to attempt a DIY refinish, you'll still have to deal with the ""cracked" clear finish.
You can sand, but difficult to get the hairline cracks out, or use a chemical stripper which is harsh to the veneer.
Try heating the parts ( ashtray door and surround are good to test the method) in an oven, starting at about 150 degrees and increase the heat until the clear coat softens and begins to separate and peel off.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
well the wood itself practically never cracks. but the clear coat itself makes it look that way. basically, I want to get rid of the wood interior look and get a flat black or flat silver look that would match my leather. i think it would add a lot of character to my car. along with a momo or similar steering wheel and some pedals of some type.
I think I think I have the same head unit you have. And just FYI your shift knob is on backwards. the grip is facing the wrong way.
I think I think I have the same head unit you have. And just FYI your shift knob is on backwards. the grip is facing the wrong way.
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From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
no, the wood gives the interior character. Very very few cars have/had real wood interiors, so to cover it up is a crime. Just have it sent out to get refinished and have them put a black or charcoal stain on it.
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From: Seattle
1990 300ce
ha ha
I agree about the wood. Here's my view on the subject... This is a mercedes. I have seen many different attempts at trying to make the interior look more sporty by adding shift ****, pedals, steering wheels, silver trim to everything, etc. I've seen fake carbon fiber over-lays on the wood trim and I've seen people straight paint over the wood with silver spray paint.
All of these mods look completely out of place in the car. The interior is not designed to be sporty. It's designed to be luxurious and practical. Unless you do a major remodel of the interior, it's just going to look like you slapped some mods on without thinking about the overall motif of the car.
A moderate solution may be to strip the trim and use a dark gray/charcoal trim as myfirstbenz said. It might actually look pretty good if you have the zebrano trim like above... the super straight grains might look cool in a dark stain like that.
Is your interior black or light gray?
I agree about the wood. Here's my view on the subject... This is a mercedes. I have seen many different attempts at trying to make the interior look more sporty by adding shift ****, pedals, steering wheels, silver trim to everything, etc. I've seen fake carbon fiber over-lays on the wood trim and I've seen people straight paint over the wood with silver spray paint.
All of these mods look completely out of place in the car. The interior is not designed to be sporty. It's designed to be luxurious and practical. Unless you do a major remodel of the interior, it's just going to look like you slapped some mods on without thinking about the overall motif of the car.
A moderate solution may be to strip the trim and use a dark gray/charcoal trim as myfirstbenz said. It might actually look pretty good if you have the zebrano trim like above... the super straight grains might look cool in a dark stain like that.
Is your interior black or light gray?
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From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
I tried finding the link, but a guy on mbnz.org refinished his wood by using new laminate of birch burl or something like that, then he did a black/gray stain with the gray interior. It looked stunning.
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From: REHOBOTH BEACH DE
88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
Shift knob intentionally installed backwards.
Heel of my hand fits in the depression for better upshift.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: REHOBOTH BEACH DE
88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
Yes Sir....
Andrews , NC
http://www.heritagewoodworks.com/
Drew Tibcken is the owner and he is well respected in the world of auto wood refinishing.
Andrews , NC
http://www.heritagewoodworks.com/
Drew Tibcken is the owner and he is well respected in the world of auto wood refinishing.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 509
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From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
yeah, we have the same head unit. very good choice. great sound.
i personally think that pedals, shift knobs, etc. add a lot to an otherwise very bland, outdated interior. The clear coat is so cracked in my car that it makes the car look a lot worse. i don't really have 350 or 400 right now to refinish so i was looking for a cheaper alternative. if you re-do the entire interior (including pedals, steering wheel, etc.) to make it look sporty, then it will. there is nothing explicit prohibiting that in the interior of the w124. it's just a personal taste thing.
ZorroAMG's interior is awesome in my opinion, and he has an aftermarket steering wheel, black wood, and aluminum pedals and i think it looks fantastic.
my interior is gray leather with light gray everything else.
i personally think that pedals, shift knobs, etc. add a lot to an otherwise very bland, outdated interior. The clear coat is so cracked in my car that it makes the car look a lot worse. i don't really have 350 or 400 right now to refinish so i was looking for a cheaper alternative. if you re-do the entire interior (including pedals, steering wheel, etc.) to make it look sporty, then it will. there is nothing explicit prohibiting that in the interior of the w124. it's just a personal taste thing.
ZorroAMG's interior is awesome in my opinion, and he has an aftermarket steering wheel, black wood, and aluminum pedals and i think it looks fantastic.
my interior is gray leather with light gray everything else.
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From: Houston, Texas
Dora the Explorer
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From: Seattle
1990 300ce
I think you're thinking of the user by the name of "joef" on benzworld.org (at least that's where I think I've seen it, or else it was on here). He re-did the veneer with birdseye maple and stained it dark gray. I think it looks good on gray and black interiors. Not so much for cream beige, saddle, etc.
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From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
yeah, we have the same head unit. very good choice. great sound.
i personally think that pedals, shift knobs, etc. add a lot to an otherwise very bland, outdated interior. The clear coat is so cracked in my car that it makes the car look a lot worse. i don't really have 350 or 400 right now to refinish so i was looking for a cheaper alternative. if you re-do the entire interior (including pedals, steering wheel, etc.) to make it look sporty, then it will. there is nothing explicit prohibiting that in the interior of the w124. it's just a personal taste thing.
ZorroAMG's interior is awesome in my opinion, and he has an aftermarket steering wheel, black wood, and aluminum pedals and i think it looks fantastic.
my interior is gray leather with light gray everything else.
i personally think that pedals, shift knobs, etc. add a lot to an otherwise very bland, outdated interior. The clear coat is so cracked in my car that it makes the car look a lot worse. i don't really have 350 or 400 right now to refinish so i was looking for a cheaper alternative. if you re-do the entire interior (including pedals, steering wheel, etc.) to make it look sporty, then it will. there is nothing explicit prohibiting that in the interior of the w124. it's just a personal taste thing.
ZorroAMG's interior is awesome in my opinion, and he has an aftermarket steering wheel, black wood, and aluminum pedals and i think it looks fantastic.
my interior is gray leather with light gray everything else.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 261
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From: Atlanta
1983 240D, 1989 300E
I am going to let the wood finishing shop right across the street from the MB dealership in Buckhead work on a piece of trial wood for me. They said they can do it. And it is almost right across the street from my house too. I will let you know how they do and price.
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From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
Removing/covering the wood from the interior is the wrong way to go.
