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280 SE interior makeover

Started by carl888, 29 December 2007, 07:55 AM

carl888

Okie, one last item to fix in my interior is really annoying ME!!!!!!!

I have a bent glovebox lid, the cause of which seems to be narrowed down to the switch for the lamp inside pressing on one side of the lid.

Question................has anyone tried to straighten theirs?  I am terrified of cracking the timber, the thought of matching the veneer doesn't bear thinking about, short of replacing the whole lot....

I am thinking of disassembling the lid and somehow stregthening it from behind. Any thoughts?

Thanks for any information.

Regards,

Carl.



wbrian63

seeing as how this problem has crept up over several decades, and believing that the infrastructure of the door is actually plastic, you don't stand much of a chance at winning the battle at this stage.

Many MB's seem to suffer this fate eventually. My '92 300SE had this problem, and even my '02 S55 is showing the same signs.

Only thing I could suggest is to provide a more solid stop on the corner opposite the light switch, that will force the lid square when closed. Then you'll need to tighten up the clearance on the latch so the lid will be flush when closed.

Who knows, maybe the door is still available at a reasonable cost from MB?

EPC seems to indicate the parts are the same for LH versus RH drive cars, but there's a split at VIN #'s. Older cars use part 1166890183, newer use 1166890583 or 1166890683.

I'll ask Tom Hanson if these parts are still available when the sun comes up on the west coast.
W. Brian Fogarty

'12 S550 (W221)
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #521
'02 S55 AMG (W220) - sold
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #1164 - parted out

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people, and most of them seemed to come from Texas..." Casino Royale, Chapter V

wbrian63

Heard from Tom - sadly, all three variations of the glove box door are NLA.

Oh well - c'est la vie.
W. Brian Fogarty

'12 S550 (W221)
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #521
'02 S55 AMG (W220) - sold
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #1164 - parted out

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people, and most of them seemed to come from Texas..." Casino Royale, Chapter V

carl888

Thanks a bundle for looking Brian,

Regards,

Carl.


koan

What does the door look like with finger pressure on the left opposing the switch spring?

Mine is warped but it is looks OK, passable with the above pressure.

Possibly a non-OEM switch with out the strong spring and adjustment of the latch and hinges (the door can slide up and down the hinges).

koan
Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Amen!

carl888

Hi Koan,

The door straightens somewhat if I apply pressure from the opposing side.  I'll have a look at doing something with the switch.  What ever I do, I'm just scared of damaging the veneer.

Sometimes I wish the car was not so nice, then I'd just enjoy it, instead of trying to fix everything....

Looking forward to getting back into it in January.

Regards,

Carl.


silentprophet

Wow. Just. Wow. It doesn't even look like that car has been outside!! Exquisite!
1980 W116 300SD, black/black, US specs   <3 !!!!

carl888

Well, I just dug this up from 5 years ago, I am going to have a go at straightening the glovebox door.  Since my last post, has anyone performed:

1. A successful straightening of the door?

2. Broken it!!??

I really don't wish to break it  ;D

s class

I would think the only reasonably safe approach would be to disassemble it before trying to straighten it. 


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

hagar24

Quote from: carl888 on 13 January 2008, 06:56 AM
Well, was a bit pushed for time this weekend but managed to FINALLY get some stuff back into the console instead of ripping it out..

Cleaned up the fan/air con control knobs and managed to repaint the silver stripes on the bezel with a spray can of silver enamel of all things (Heavily masked of course :)



I was too smart for my own good with the self made bracket to support the radio and ventilation controls.  The top section fouled the bottom of the air con control thermostat at the rear of the switch...very annoying as I only found this out when I went to fit the switch...grrrr!

So I had to remove the centre section as per the pic below:



Anyway, the controls really fit nicely now and don't wobble like they did before:



The gear lever surround and ventilation controls are fixed and secured in their final position.  The radio and ash tray (Missing it's frame) are sitting unattached just to see what they look like for the photo.  I am very happy so far.








I am restoring my 116 also, can you tell me what you seed on he floor before you put the mat down please, and did you have your dash restored?
Thanks

carl888

I was very lucky and managed to find a W116 that had 1. Been garaged all its life, and 2. had 92,000kms on it when it came to me.  I never touched the floor or the dash, that's as it was when I bought it.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but I have no reason to suggest the dash or the floor has ever been replaced.


carl888

Quote from: s class on 09 December 2015, 03:12 AM
I would think the only reasonably safe approach would be to disassemble it before trying to straighten it.

Indeed!


hagar24

Quote from: carl888 on 10 December 2015, 03:21 AM
I was very lucky and managed to find a W116 that had 1. Been garaged all its life, and 2. had 92,000kms on it when it came to me.  I never touched the floor or the dash, that's as it was when I bought it.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but I have no reason to suggest the dash or the floor has ever been replaced.

Thanks for the info just the same, Nice work