I have some minor dash cracking around the passenger airbag and defroster vents on a back 97 e420. The car has always been garaged, so I think this is pretty lame on the part of MB for a 6 year old car.
Anyway, the dealer wants $1400 to replace the whole dash pad. Any ideas on subsitutes --- other than those silly looking carpets? Anyone else have dash repair stories/pics they could share?
Yes, but for a car that cost nearly $60,000, I think it's unacceptable. I've contacted a dash repair place locally, but I'm pretty worried about the quality of a repair. They'll fix the crack for about $150
Does anyone know if the dash is difficult to remove? I could probably order the OEM part myself if that were a reasonable DIY job.
My '97 E320 dash has several cracks and I also would like to replace the dash myself. My dealer quoted about 1400 as well, 800 for part and 6 hours labor. The only problem doing myself is how? I have been looking for service manuals but no luck thus far. I assume that the Mercedes service manual(s) would cover this task.
DSP,
You are not the only one! My 97 E420 also have cracks in the dash and I am just...
DSP,
You are not the only one! My 97 E420 also have cracks in the dash and I am just trying to bear with as I rather spend the money to fix it on other mods to my car. Besides the crack in dash, my car also have the popular seat popping noise as well.
Since my car is out of warrenty, I just have to bear with them until one day MB is willing to do a recall on these 2 factory defects.
I am definitely kind of disappointed at MB for this kind of quality on a $60000 car. My wife's 95 Lexus LS400 with 110,000 miles still doesn't have any problem! But My E420 is definitely a car that more fun to drive than the boring LS400.
Has anybody spoke to MBUSA about the cracks? If everyone has these problems, has there be...
Has anybody spoke to MBUSA about the cracks? If everyone has these problems, has there been any concession at all from MB?
I wonder if I'm going to make things worse by taking it to a vinyl repair specialist? I spoke to a repair place that specializes in dashes and they said they'd make it look "almost invisible" for a few hundred dollars.
I had the same issue on my 98 E320, cracked around the defroster and the airbag seam was cracking as well, I took it to my MB dealer, the Service rep said "that is was a known problem" They replaced for free for me !
They called it a goodwill replacement.
In anycase they (MBUSA) knew about the potential for the cracks !
Just before the 50,000 mile warranty was up on 99 E320 the dealer replaced my dash, rebuilt my transmission, replaced the oil pressure sending unit, fuel cap and filler tube, and replaced the seals on the rear end and power steering pump. I brought the car for it's "B" service and the dealer did these repairs without my request and provided a loaner E320 for 4 days while the work was performed. I always work with the same service writer whenever I bring my car and so far he has done quite well in my opinion.
My Ml was in so often I used to wander around the dealership, I was shoked to see all the dashes near the dumpster. I was told it was a very common issue on 210s (craking in the corners). I watch mine daily, does not look like a easy DY.
My service advisor (Gunther) pointed out a small crack in my 1999 E430 dash right before my warranty expired (49K miles) and replaced it under warranty. I never even noticed it prior to him showing me.
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