strife

I bit an expensive bullet and I bought a NIB trim set for my car at approximately 30% of list price. Although I've read that just because it's "new" (the date code on my new trim is 2016) doesn't mean that it won't fade; I wouldn't have done this had I not made an observation that the back seat trim on the doors is noticeably less faded than the front. I also noticed that the rear windows on my E350 are very, very slightly factory tinted. I'm sure that MBUSA made certain that all sold cars would meet USDOT and state regulations, and there are many states that have no -front- tinting of any kind permitted.

I'm not in such a state, and I intend to get "somewhat dark", but not "approach the car with guns drawn" tinting on my car. The tint available today is not what kids were buying from Pep Boys 20 years ago; It's ceramic coated, with UV (AND) IR blockers, and has surprisingly long guarantees. I was also surprised that it is possible to obtain a film for the windshield that is (by legal definition) OK for the windshield in visible light but effective in UV and IR. This will not be cheap for me to get installed, but it's cheaper than another set of trim (if this works).

My hope is that the fading can be held off for ~10 years, which is how long I intend to keep my low-mileage W212. We shall see! In the meantime, I will have some (hopefully) physically perfect, but faded trim to learn how to wrap with.

So far, I've replaced the dash components and vents; tomorrow, I'll replace the console wood and maybe do a little preventative maintenance (the lid spring problem, and the COMAND knob plastic breaking problem). The videos on Youtube concerning CarPlay installation (which I had done earlier), instrument cluster installation, and COMAND knob repair have been invaluable, as have documents from ASRA; but even those don't really get into the nuts and bolts of moving components (vents, switches, wiring) from one set of trim to the other. Fortunately, I haven't broken a single tab yet, knock on wood (so to speak).

If anyone is thinking about doing this (particularly on an earlier car), keep in mind that the car's plastic is getting older, and more and more brittle with time. It may be very difficult to do W212's 5-10 years from now without breaking the trim OR other stuff, even assuming that trim is available.

strife

Today, I did the console, and am pleased with it. This was IMO not a project for the faint of heart. The only think I would add to any other thread on this subject is that I would definitely clean and relube (with lithium grease, a TINY amount) the tracks for the console lid components before doing anything drastic with springs and cables. I was fully prepared to re-tension the springs but I though I'd give cleaning and re-greasing a try. Works great, hopefully, for another 8 or 9 years. I'm not sure if available time and weather will allow me to do at least the front door trim before the winter but we will see. I'd especially want to do the front.

Pics or it didn't happen, so, pics.



Comparison between old and new from Mercedes box (date code 2016) front dash trim, pre-facelift W212

Installed trim, doors still not complete.

LH front seat comparison between old/new trim

Left Coast Geek

FWIW, even highly restrictive California allows a 70% transmssion, 30% blocking tint on the front windows, and this is what most factory front window tints approximate.

Left Coast Geek

annnnd I finally dug up my old light meter... I think I'm reading 2 f/stop difference between the north clear late afternoon sky and the same light through the front windows, so thats 25% transmission, 75% blocking, definitely NOT legal in California. This car came from New Mexico where dark tints are OK.

ghlkal

Nice work. That's a dramatic difference between new and old trim.

Some of us have decided to "treat" the trim (eg, aerospace 303, etc) with the thought that it might prevent UV damage. I don't know if it'll work, and some of my trim was already faded a bit when I bought my E550, but it doesn't seem to hurt.

BenzV12

That's a good job indeed , thanks for sharing

DFWdude

If it were me, I would just get the 30% tint, and keep the purchase receipt in the glove box as proof if ever pulled over. Factory glass does indeed block some light (3-5%) in addition, but any reasonable LEO will not hold that against you when your receipt shows a good faith effort to adhere to the regs.

Left Coast Geek

ah, I found my BETTER light meter, put new batts in it... vintage Pentax Spotmeter V to the rescue.

it reads 1-2/3 stop difference, which is just about 30% transmission, or 70% block.

Senecat

Tint is a secondary offense in Florida, like texting. They can notice it, but then have to tail you until you violate some other law that rises to the level of probable cause necessary to detain you, THEN they can add on those offenses. Can they pull you over for tint? No. Will they? Yes. Do they? Rarely if ever. Crap shoot. Not something worth planning for. Just run whatever tint you want.

Senecat

Oh and nice job on the trim. I dread dealing with anything dash component related, I'll just end up breaking everything. When you say "NIB", do you mean New In Box, or is NIB the manufacturer of the kit? I couldn't readily find anything searching "NIB". Got a link to your kit?

strife

No, I meant "New In Box". The date code on the parts was August 2016, but who knows how often MB has runs of these made. I suspect that the previous owner bought the set to install but sold his or her car before it was installed. To the best of my knowledge no one other than MB makes replacements or even "refurbishes" them (although I intend to try my hand at wrapping my old set). I would put the degree of difficulty at medium on the dash, but fairly high on the console. YouTube videos on subjects involving the console, dash, and door panels are invaluable help but don't go into everything.

I wonder how many MB technicians broke something on "their first set". The care and planning I put into doing this was proportional to the relative financial pain I would feel in screwing up, which would be, "a lot".

Senecat

Cool, thanks. WIS/EPC ebay. That should have all the disassembly instructions for all that stuff should you run into any snags.