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Folks,
I just wanted to report some good news. I just got my faded wood recently replaced... a second time. The first time was in 2013, entire wood trim replaced under warranty, and it didn't take long for the wood to fade again.
BEFORE (sorry pretty bad pictures taken in low light in dark garage)
In this picture the ashtray door looks much better because it was recently replaced (problem closing)
This wood trim the tech noted was dated November 2012. The dash and center console area had it the worser than other areas.
AFTER
I was out of warranty. They replaced all of the wood trim. Luckily after working with a customer service and the local dealer, the repair was good-willed,
Last edited by mbuster25; Sep 3, 2017 at 07:50 PM.
Wow that's great it was replaced. Mine was done under initial warranty - if I remember right the original mfg had an issue with lack of UV resistance. The 2012 date seems to indicate that the first replacement batch may have also been within the defective range of mfg?
Good they replaced it for you.
Did you by any chance asked for a different style when replacing?
For me the SA rejected saying the fading wasn't faded enough to consider under warranty replacement, and now I'm on ELW.
Purchased used 2013 E350 with 12/12 build date. Can I assume if wood has not faded in 4 years It is unlikely to fade? Thank you in advance for any all responses
Wow, you got two replacements. They wouldn't even goodwill one replacement for me when car was 400 miles out of warranty.
Ya, I got the same crap from the dealer as well.
The dealer said he would talk to the regional manager. So I phone head office to find out if any of this has been logged anywhere because I complained. Wouldn't you know it, no complaint logged anywhere.
So I lodge a complaint with head office ! Shortly after that the dealer leaves a message on my vm saying they wouldn't provide a free replacement. Covering their fat asses more than anything else it seems.
Even Hyundai has better quality when it comes to wood trim. A real disappointment.
Good they replaced it for you.
Did you by any chance asked for a different style when replacing?
For me the SA rejected saying the fading wasn't faded enough to consider under warranty replacement, and now I'm on ELW.
I did not ask for a different wood trim in hindsight. If the problem is getting worse and it bothers you, you can argue that you did report it. Mine was past ELW.
Purchased used 2013 E350 with 12/12 build date. Can I assume if wood has not faded in 4 years It is unlikely to fade? Thank you in advance for any all responses
Car was probably kept in a garage. They all fade if exposed to the sun.
Purchased used 2013 E350 with 12/12 build date. Can I assume if wood has not faded in 4 years It is unlikely to fade? Thank you in advance for any all responses
Get your windows tinted. even a very light shade tint will block 99+% UV Which will prevent your interior from fading.
Get your windows tinted. even a very light shade tint will block 99+% UV Which will prevent your interior from fading.
Should help.
I actually replaced a dash pad in a 2014 S550 due to sun damage, the leather had shrunk and started to peel up, and all the wood in the car was turning grey. I have no idea where the car sits that it could bake like that so quickly, especially in an S class with the infrared blocking glass, but the car definitely did not have tint on the windows, which is unusual here in sunny south Florida.
Even Hyundai has better quality when it comes to wood trim. A real disappointment.
Youre funny....
the second replacement of the wood is very unlikely. Never heard of someone else having it done twice! The sun exposure must be immense for it to cause it i mean my car isnt garaged and is not parked under an overhang often at all at work. When i got the approval there was a wait time for them to make another batch, not send one over from stock or that was sitting around. Who knows maybe they replaced yours with a not-freshly created batch? I bet you they replaced it for you the second time cause they know =D ive heard of people having it denied even with warranty if not bad enough... they had some reason to hook you up, and im glad they did. the burl walnut is beautiful; all the pieces are made from one tree =D super cool stuff.
what are the other options for wood trim for W212 or 2014 especially.
I heard that the whole trim pieces will be replaced, not just the faded ones, is that correct?
If that is the case, I would like to ask for a different model trim. So, just wanted to check what other options are available for this model.
I currently have Burl wood, as in the pics from the OP. Only the dash trim got faded.
Could be wrong but:
black ash wood ( no uv issues i know of )
poplar brown ( could be wrong on the name, but some earlier models i bleieve offerred the lighter blonde wood as well; from the older E class w211s. these had uv issues too)
the burl walnut (the biggest issue is with these)
piano black ( definitely no uv issues )
i think aluminum was only offerred on the coupes? but i think the 204 facelift interior pieces can fit too...
I was told any warranty replacement will only be the same trim pieces that came on your car. You might haveto pay or just get really lucky for them to approve any alterations. I was told out of warranty, or without the trim selected from the factory, the black piano is 4k parts/install. So =D may just wanna go with burl.
what are the other options for wood trim for W212 or 2014 especially.
I heard that the whole trim pieces will be replaced, not just the faded ones, is that correct?
If that is the case, I would like to ask for a different model trim. So, just wanted to check what other options are available for this model.
I currently have Burl wood, as in the pics from the OP. Only the dash trim got faded.
Raja,
When i mentioned to dealer i only had several pieces affected, both dealer and corporate insisted that ALL wood pieces be replaced and that customers have complained when there was a mismatch due to incomplete replacement. I don't know if MB would allow you to change to different wood trim but it can't hurt to ask? Good luck
The problem is that the wood is walnut. A lot of woods, like cherry and mahogany, turn darker and richer looking with light exposure. But walnut, which starts out that rich brown color, fades to an ugly greenish gold. If you go into an antique store you can see all sorts of old furniture that has that very unattractive color. But they use it because walnut trees develop a lot of burls (basically a tumor), so it's common, and they have pretty grain. But MB must have gotten a manufacturer who took shortcuts and did not stabilize the color. I don't think even a UV coating would be enough long-term. When I build furniture from walnut I use aniline dye of the same color. Looks exactly the same, but won't fade.
I just bought a used e350 2012 in a really really good condition inside out, and was probably garage kept. I am currently parking it outside, and am wondering if applying a wax coat would protect it from fading?
I just bought a used e350 2012 in a really really good condition inside out, and was probably garage kept. I am currently parking it outside, and am wondering if applying a wax coat would protect it from fading?
Only if the wax has a UV protectant. I believe the problem was that they didn't use enough in the wood so that's why it fades. I don't think too many have put something on to protect it. I'm not sure if a clear coat finish with UV protectant will work over the existing clear finish.
Only if the wax has a UV protectant. I believe the problem was that they didn't use enough in the wood so that's why it fades. I don't think too many have put something on to protect it. I'm not sure if a clear coat finish with UV protectant will work over the existing clear finish.
For some reason I'd been under the impression that facelift 212s had wood trim that was more resistant to fading. However, in the past couple of weeks it's appeared to me that the burl walnut trim on the passenger's side of my car's dash has begun to fade, particularly in comparison to the door trim but also compared to the trim on the driver's side of the dash and the console area. The car has a light tint (35% IIRC; dealer installed so I'm not certain) all around other than on the windshield, so that may be a factor in the door trim looking as new.
Over the weekend I bought a bottle of Howard SunShield outdoor furniture wax and applied it to my car's burl walnut trim:
This beeswax and orange oil product supposedly contains UV protectants. I'll step outside and snap a photo of my dash trim as a reference point. When I do I'll update this post.
edit: I'm going to try to upload images of the passenger side trim on my car's dash and the console trim. With the naked eye I think I'm seeing some fading along the top 1/3 of the dash trim (near the burls just above and to the left of the glovebox latch that my family refers to as "the bear's head" from their shape) as well as on the area of the console surrounding the COMAND knob. The rest of the console wood trim is usually pushed back and out of direct sunlight in order to access the cup holders and 12V lighter outlet. I've applied SunShield wax to both the dash and the console wood trim but have yet to apply it to the door trim.
Not sure why these images aren't appearing? Let's give it another try.
Last edited by crater64; Jun 21, 2018 at 02:51 PM.
Reason: add images
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Fading wood question
Will wax protect the trim?
