Interior roof trim

[marku]

Just cleaned the trim that lines the interior sides of the roof and it came up quite well without 43 years of grime. Trouble is it is now a really matt finish. Is that how it is supposed to be? Can't help thinking that it doesn't look quite finished. Satin or semi-gloss?

[marku]

As no one has an opinion on this I am going to do them with a satin finish. I think that it will look OK.

[floyd111]

satin-what? I presume you're talking about vinyl spray paint?

[ptashek]

satin-what? I presume you're talking about vinyl spray paint?

Satin finish a.k.a in "mid-sheen" a.k.a "not matt, but also not gleaming like polished gold"
I comes from a reference to the "satin" fabric: https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/24/146624-004-C7C51DD2.jpg

[UTn_boy]

When new, they were in between flat and satin, just like the dash was. 

[Squiggle Dog]

I'd avoid painting the vinyl if possible. I think that if you buffed them enough with something like 303 Aerospace Protectant (or maybe baby oil?) that it might bring a little of the shine back if they have gone flat from drying out or too harsh of a cleaner that's stripped out the oils.

I've noticed that the header panels in my 300SD are starting to warp from the extreme Arizona desert heat. I'm really hoping that applying some 303 Aerospace Protectant will help correct this.

[floyd111]

I wasn't sure, but you were indeed talking about vinyl paint. Would like to see how that turns out. I understand that an intense pre-cleaning and a specific adhesive spray-undercoat are the way to go? Anyone any experience with different brands?

[wbrian63]

I've used products by SEM with very good results. I once had a W140 and purchased a wrong-color center arm rest (it was black, the car interior was blue) off eBay.

Followed the instructions to clean, prime and paint.

I have very oily skin that typically will cause problems with most painted finishes given sufficient contact, and a center arm rest will certainly have "sufficient contact"

Owned the car for 3 years and 50k+ miles after that - not a hint of fading or failure of the top coat.

Recommend 100%

[daantjie]

I can recommend Leatherique products for cleaning, conditioning and dying leather.  Good price and easy to apply, holds up very well.  I supplied a swatch and they matched the 202 Blue perfectly.

[marku]

Certainly I intend "painting" some of the vinyl trim like the headrests and seat backs but for the headliner trim, by that I mean the hard trim surrounding the actual headliner, I am going to use Autoglym vinyl/rubber restorer. I used it on the centre console and dash top and it works very well. It cleans and will give it a shine. You can vary the shine from satin to gloss by spraying and wiping off to leaving on and buffing which will give you a gloss. Very easy and currently the dash top looks like new.

[Squiggle Dog]

I had good results using GAHH's vinyl paint to change a grey W126 armrest to bamboo and fit it in my W116. Great color match, but at some point it will probably peel off.