quick interior facelift !

[anyweb]

hi all, i was so impressed by the job i just did (well, rather by the results than the job) that I thought i'd mention it to you in case some of you want to try the same,

my car is a 1995 merc 220 (second hand) and the dashboard instrument panel (speedo etc) has been annoying me since i got it due to the amount of 'fog' or 'dust' that had built up on the inside of the clear plastic (most likely gets in through the two twiddly knobs for resetting miles driven/rheostat for light strength in the panel and adjusting the time)

anyway, to cut a long story short, I removed the instrument panel very easily (keys OUT OF THE IGNITION, steering wheel pointing the wheels straight forward - if really nervous disconnect the battery before doing this)

it was easy becuase i bought the two mercedes removal tools (approx 14 quid) so i inserted them on the right hand corner and left hand corner, got some grip and pulled out gently

then i took the panel inside, layed it out on the table and using two small flat knives, gently prised the tabs apart two at a time to loose the front from the back, after doing that to all tabs, they separate very easily.

next i washed the inside plastic with warm water and some washing liquid, then rinsed three times being careful to keep the water on the plastic glass and not getting it in the bulb holder sections... (black holes etc)

once done, i gently dried it by shaking and using a very soft cloth (well ok, a baby's hat, but a clean soft tee shirt should do the same)

finally i verified that all marks/dust/etc were gone by viewing from both sides, then i proceed to clean the four or so PINS on the speedo/temp/rev guages plus their associated arms with a cotton bud to remove any build up of grease/contaminents

after that i clicked front and back together, re-attached the two power/electrical IO cables and pushed it back into the dashboard. Then I started the car with the lights on,

WOW what a difference it made, looks like a new instrument panel !!

try it yourself and see


if you want photos i'm glad to put them together as i missed one small spot of dust behind the battery charge lamp so i have to pull it out again.
cheers
anyweb

[jberks]

Nice job anyweb.
When I used to get older cars I would always strip the dash and replace the bulbs. They age over the years and new ones make such a difference for the minimal cost. Its amazing how simple diy jobs can make things like new again.

[anyweb]

thanks Jberks

heres a before

http://anyweb.kicks-ass.net/personal...005%20028.html

and after shot

http://anyweb.homedns.org/car/car_in...006%20089.html

unfortunately the 'before' shot doesnt really show how crappy the instrument panel looked (especially when the sun shone on it), but you can make out some of the 'ghosting dust' around the two dials in it.

either way, i'm glad i cleaned it looks like new now (apart from the mileage )

cheers
anyweb

[television]

Any Web you are going round in circles, and I can understand why, the car you have is basically very nice, its a car that you know and love, why not get some quotes, and ask what kind of guarantees they will give. the other way is to run the car into the ground without caring what it looks like, if you do not have much money, and that is normal with a young family,keep it, fixing a few things here and there as you go. although nice to have a new car, its not the end of the world. before your kids have grown up its value will have plumited to almost zero
I tried to make arangments when I was over there to see you but the time just went.

From the pictures it looks good. I like the lake where you take your photo's

malcolm

[anyweb]

heh malcolm you are right (ps i think you responded to the wrong post)

it would have been nice to meet up, but maybe next time dude

make sure to let me know how to paypal you, i still owe you for the t-cut !

great stuff it is too, works wonders on minor scratches

cheers
anyweb

[Stuart_Hayes]

Originally Posted by anyweb

.......................
then i took the panel inside, layed it out on the table and using two small flat knives, gently prised the tabs apart two at a time to loose the front from the back, after doing that to all tabs, they separate very easily.

Things must have got easier with more modern Cars.

I have just taken out the Instrument cluster to fit White Dials on my W126 500SEL. These five clips referred to on the CD are small tabs which I found tended to snap off. Left with two on the underside I was presented with a front that just would not budge and i did not want to damage the lower two clips which I could not fathom how they were menat to be pryed. Fortunately, scratching my head I discovered I did not need to take off the front facia.

Putting white dials in situ is not easy and sadly the job had to be a little botched. Fact is, that it was not possible to remove the Needle on the Speedo, so I did not attempt it with the other dials.

With my eyesight the job is a satisfactory accomplishment but perhaps not what perfectionists would be happy with. If anyone wants further info I'll post a photo and advice on process. Dials only cost a fiver a set!

Was able to wipe dust from rear inside the holes where instruments removed - actually had no dust in my own cluster after twenty years!

[Inky]

Originally Posted by anyweb

thanks Jberks

heres a before

http://anyweb.kicks-ass.net/personal...005%20028.html

and after shot

http://anyweb.homedns.org/car/car_in...006%20089.html

unfortunately the 'before' shot doesnt really show how crappy the instrument panel looked (especially when the sun shone on it), but you can make out some of the 'ghosting dust' around the two dials in it.

either way, i'm glad i cleaned it looks like new now (apart from the mileage )

cheers
anyweb

Hmmmm they look like 2 different dashboards, with 20Km difference in them ?

[anyweb]

they are the exact same ones, i just upped the mileage over the last two years,

here is details of how i removed the cluster itself (with the correct tools from mercedes, approx 20 quid)

http://www.blauertacho.de/doc/merced...sport_w202.htm

cheers
anyweb

[mioba]

good job, its nice when you can do such a job and makes such a big difference, most of all your chuffed to bits, so thats all that matters0