choochoo

I just picked up a new to me 1993 E320/300CE cabrio with 117K miles. Overall good condition but there are a few trim pieces that I need. If anybody has parts you would be willing to give up please contact me. Or if you know of a MB recycler who I can contact I would appreciate it.

1. Surround pieces around convertible top handles - MB part #124-690-87-8F30 (left) and #124-690-88-30-8F30 (right).

2. Interior trim pieces that fits just below the bottom of the rear window - attaches to the interior base of the convertible top with 4-5 small screws MB part #124-770-02-80. This part is not available new.

3. Left front seat adjuster switch (I have the knobs).

4. Center storage compartment that fits between the front seats - I need a burlwood color shutter (wood rolling door). I can use the entire piece but all I really need is the rolling door - the one on my car has been replaced with the wrong color).

5. Owners manual - electronic or hard copy - my car did not come with one and I'm still trying to figure everything out. I particularly need information on the fluids and recommended service intervals as none of the local parts stores seem to have any of that information. I got only a very short service history (about the last 5K miles as the previous owner did not have it very long).

6. Took kit (or information on what was in the tool kit). My car did not have either a jack or a took kit but I have ordered a jack off eBay.

Thank you and have a great day

klobbr

Congrats on your Cabrio purchase.
You have several options for sourcing interior parts for your cabriolet.

1.) Contact Tom Hanson at the MB Classic Center in Irvine CA for those pieces. http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/contact_us/overview
2.) This is such a rare part that I and others are considering fabricating it. The Classic Center cant help, and these cars are rarely found in the pick and pulls so there is really no way that I have found to get one. Ive been searching for years.
3, 4, 5.) Ebay. There you can definitely find the center console in all sorts of conditions and colors, the seat switch and used manuals for the cab.
6.) Keep looking on ebay or Tom may be able to procure one.

On the condition of your "#2: Fabric Retaining Bow" I wonder if your part still has the very outside ends on it still. They are thin rounded tabs and I am trying to get a good photo reference of them in order to fabricate the part as close to original as possible. The only reference I have is the clean spot on the interior fabric liner from where the part used to be. If you can take a few photos that would be great.

Good luck and enjoy your cabriolet. Post some pics of it, we are all very big fans of them here.

Best,
Bob

stormtigers

Oh dear another one with a case of "klobbr's disease" !

klobbr

Soon enough he will stop talking about the interior bits and you can help him find some rare wheels to put on. Its only a matter of time.

like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ORIGINAL-MERCEDES-OZ-RACING-ALLOY-WHEELS-5x112-7x15-W107-W123-W124-W202-/200825714396?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec22536dc&vxp=mtr

Kestas

I just repaired that piece in my car with JB Weld. While repairing it, I found the failure mechanism is that the piece shrinks as it ages. After glueing it back together, the holes didn't line up. Same problem with the trim piece on the trunk lid above the license plate.

klobbr

I ordered one from them about a year ago, so I think you may be able to still get one. I don't remember being told that they were rare.

Thanks for the heads up on the JB weld attempt. That was a great try.

sammydnaz2

Bob,

I am interested in your comment regarding fabricating a Fabric Retaining Bow. I recently purchased a 1995 Cabriolet and mine is both cracked and partially missing. Would be very interested in going in on having one fabricated if this is something you are still looking into. Thanks.

Sam

klobbr

Hi Sam, sorry for the long gap in my response.
I am trying to get a spec on the part before I take it off the car. Its going to come off in several pieces and the potential for it to b warped when I re assemble it is pretty high. (Note the jb weld attempt further up the post.)

I will again start my campaign with the Classic center to see what kind of help they can be. Since these cars are in the Young Classic category I am thinking they are going to be getting these into the shop in the next 5 or 10 years due to their hand built rarity. My fingers aren't crossed tho.

I keep looking for a salvage piece to work with but still no luck there either.

I'll let you know if we go to fabrication on this for sure.
Best,
Bob

Floobydust

I have been looking into 3D printing - literally printing a plastic (or other material in some cases) from a 3D CAD drawing. With this technology it is possible to reproduce many different parts. Mercedes is excellent about keeping supply available for even some of their oldest cars, but there are some parts - like the rear bow cover - that are not. For some of my British car interests, interior parts are simply made of unobtainium.

Strangely, this issue for me is the input or digitzation part of the process. The 3D printer I'm looking at can easily "print" large parts like the rear bow cover or even small parts like the little covers that hide the mounting screw on the sun visors. The problem is getting the "shape" into digital format. Still working on that one.

Bow Tubes - The design of this system is really problematic because the tubes deteriorate and then the headliner keeps falling down. It was happening on my W124 and my R129. I have designed a set of top bow tube "helper" clips that that help the bow tubes hold onto the top bows. Unfortunately the shape is a huge PITA to make manually, but it is something that could be cranked out easily on a 3D printer.

- FD

sammydnaz2

Bob,


Thanks for the update. I am trying what I can at my end too about this part. If I come across anything worthy, will definitely post here.


Sam

rwmacnab

ChooChoo....how did you finish up with regards to items 1 & 2.....were you able to source them??....I have an identical model and wouldn't mind obtaining the same parts

I'm living in Australia and the whilst the MB parts scene is very active, I literally need oxygen each time I price an item on my wish list

joef

Hi Fella's, I'm back again on the cabrio scene. Although I'm hoping for the same out come in terms of driving pleasure as the last, the initial starting point has its challenges.
I still have some parts left over from my partout which should allow me to play with replicating what many seem to be after.
Item #2 in the initial post will be the first item to tackle. Mine too is cracked and needs attention. As soon as I can find a spot to put the car to start playing around I'll pull the piece off and attach it to my old roof and make a mold of it. I figure this should be the safest way to replicate the unit and maintain the correct shape.

sammydnaz2

Hello all. I have an update regarding the elusive Fabric Retaining Bow. Have been in contact with Tom Hanson with the Mercedes Classic Center, he has been very helpful. He put me in touch with a plastics fabricating company in Indiana. I spoke with them yesterday. Without having an actual part (or even partial one) to look at, they estimate that it could cost from $50 to $60 dollars to produce the part one a mold is made using a process called vacuum forming. The vacuum forming initial costs could run from $1,000 to $4,000. The process involves producing a from being made from either wood (least expensive) or aluminum (more costly). Once the form is made, a sheet of hot plastic would then be laid onto the form to mold the part. The holes for the screws would then be added. The upfront cost could be manageable if a number of us went in together. This company has made other parts for the Classic Center. Also, Tom was able to find the specs on the part and I have those. They are in German (of course) and not that easy to read. The plastics company was not able to use them. Would like to hear feedback from you guys. Thanks.

NobleTruths

I would be interested, depending upon final cost.

sammydnaz2

NobleTruths, what condition is yours in? Mine has a couple of cracks and a small section is missing.

NobleTruths

A through-and-through crack mid-way, and the passenger side end is missing up to the first screw.

klobbr

I reached out to an ex MB engineer who was a CAD designer in Europe. My guess is if you got some kind of files from Germany this could have been before they were rendering on the computer.

I too have heard from fabricators that they would be best suited to create a 3D scan of the part and then render that into a CNC or 3D Printer in order to make the buck, then create a mold, and you know the rest.

Mine is in miserable condition. Both ends are broken off at the last outboard screws, and the bow is cracked in both of the inboard screw areas as well. One side is splitting to the point that i can see some shiny metal underneath.

If we can kick this off somehow I will invest in the effort. i would be tempted to go the CNC route and fab this out of aluminum and anodize it black.

At least there is something happening with the Classic Center, I never got that far with them.

Best,
Bob

klobbr

To put it into perspective, the part was listed for around 190 bucks in the dealer database, but as you know, none exist.

I would be willing to pay 2 or 3X for a very near perfect, high quality material, great fitting replica. In a few more years I will probably even go higher than that.

nuckman

I don't know if you are still looking for the window trim pieces for your E320 but don't let that rubber gasket strip underneath the trim get away from you. My dealer priced that part at over $320.00. Just bought those two window trim pieces myself for my 95 and they don't seem to match the original at all. I hope you have solved your problem. I anticipate having the same troubles.

amorriso

Came across this thread looking for info on the fabric retaining bow for my 1995 E320 cab. Any new info on a reproduction coming available?

ricardiac

I would be very interested in the 3D printing route.. and in fact am researching the tech scanners and printers and if anyone has insight please share.

I have a few in the collection and the NLA answer to a part inquiry is never fun, and I depending upon the economics, would consider collaborating on with others who might want to consider buying the equipment to scan/print and to build a database of NLA parts...

Curious as to the interest in such a collaboration?

Maxicab

Has anyone tried these? Is everything included, including the end pieces mentioned above?
https://westcoastamgreproductionnetw...ric-bow-cover/

Tall B

In case you have not found:
2. Interior trim pieces that fits just below the bottom of the rear window - attaches to the interior base of the convertible top with 4-5 small screws MB part #124-770-02-80. This part is not available new.

You should look at https://octoclassic.com. They use 3-D printing to reproduce various parts. I ordered and installed the very part you are/were looking for. Fit perfectly!

Cliff Johnson

If you still have your Cab...
http://classictrimparts.com

has a small growing collection of 3D-printed parts for the Cab. I bought a top-pull handle and 2 visor trims in grey. They matched perfectly and fitted well.

nuckman

Thank for replying. I really appreciate it.