Under dash panels for 230SL RHD

[Merc_Girl]

Hi folks
Does anyone happen to have any templates for the under dash panels for a right hand drive 230SL, or perhaps knows who sells these in UK?

Happy to make myself but have nothing to work off

Many thanks

Katie

[mrfatboy]

The templates for the LHD are in the tech manual. Maybe you can start there and mirror them🤷‍♂️ Or at least make some tweaks to them.

[Garry]

Katie,


I am also in the same boat and need under dash covers as well..  I am not sure mirroring them works as the setup is not identical on either side.  Maybe if someone with a RHD has them out at the moment they can give all the measurements to try to reproduce.


Garry

[Merc_Girl]

Thanks ‘mrfatboy-slim’!!

Looked at the tech manual and only has the discussion on the panels. All the links and images no longer appear or seem to work

[mrfatboy]

Thanks ‘mrfatboy-slim’!!

Looked at the tech manual and only has the discussion on the panels. All the links and images no longer appear or seem to work

The links work just fine. I just tested them. What type of problem did you have? You should be able to download the 3 pdf files.

[JamesL]

I made mine but had the old ones to go from.

I bought the board material from SLS and backed it with a packaging foam using contact adhesive. Not a tough job (if I can do it) with the old ones

Did the panels change 230-280?

[Paul & Dolly]

Katie,

Have you now got your car to run properly ? I remember you were having problems a while ago.

These pictures may help your underpanel RHD search , I dimensioned my rather battered drivers panel a couple of years ago.

The picture of the set I think came from James L, he made some.

Keep well

Paul

[mrfatboy]

Those pictures look very close to the LHD panels but mirrored. I would suggest downloading the template PDF’s from the tech manual and cut the panels out of cardboard to start 

Try to fit them and make changes as needed. Once you are satisfied with the fit recut them with your finished material.

A good DYI weekend project that should not be to difficult if you are somewhat handy.

If you do go this route it would be great if you published any changes to the templates for future members 👍


Edit:

Like mentioned above I do remember that there all small changers between the 230 and 280 and at lest the center panel will have to be cut to fit to the 230 steering wheel(or visa versa on 280). The templates have a cut out mark for this change.

[JamesL]

If you’d like me to take mine out I can trace around them onto some paper for you to cut your own
Mine is a280 auto

[Pawel66]

I think there are differences between 230SL and 280SL.

I cannot bloody believe the SL Shop do not sell them RHD....

[Merc_Girl]

The links work just fine. I just tested them. What type of problem did you have? You should be able to download the 3 pdf files.

Sorry still can’t find, could you send me the link by any chance?

[Merc_Girl]

Katie,

Have you now got your car to run properly ? I remember you were having problems a while ago.

These pictures may help your underpanel RHD search , I dimensioned my rather battered drivers panel a couple of years ago.

The picture of the set I think came from James L, he made some.

Keep well

Paul

Thanks Paul

‘Bessy’ needs a new fuel injector pump so waiting for the workshop to have time to fit it!
Panel pictures helpful, I’ll try and create some cardboard templates before going for the real thing

SL SHop said not enough demand for these RHD under dashboard panels to spend time creating the templates and then finding someone to manufacture
Katie

[Merc_Girl]

If you’d like me to take mine out I can trace around them onto some paper for you to cut your own
Mine is a280 auto

James that’s so kind of you but don’t want you destroy your car just for me!

[JamesL]

Why is your Fuel Injection Pump being replaced ?

And if ido take the panels out, I’ll template a couple of times and see what I can do to help others - albeit for later cars/auto/rhd

[mrfatboy]

Sorry still can’t find, could you send me the link by any chance?

They are in the premium section. PM sent.

https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Restricted/UnderdashAndTrunkPanelTemplates

[Merc_Girl]

They are in the premium section. PM sent.

https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Restricted/UnderdashAndTrunkPanelTemplates

You’re a genius, thank you!! Didn’t know there was a ‘premium section’ 😁

[Garry]

James,


I would be interested in the drawings for the templates.  I am pretty certain this has come up before some years back that there are differences from left to right handed cars and it is not as simple as mirroring the LHD template otherwise some commercial company would have done them.

After 16,000 km driving around the states mine have pretty much broken up and some bits missing.

Garry

[JamesL]

Leave it with me

[Paul & Dolly]

James,

If you do generously remove them for template, I found them much easier to refit, after I notched the screw holes in the forward end of the panels. Its very dark and inaccessible down there, so I fitted the forward screws, and then could slide the
 notched panel in.

Keep well

Paul

[mrfatboy]

I would like to note when making the under dash panels that back side foam is NOT the same shape as the panel itself.

In certain places on each of the boards the foam sticks out beyond the perimeter. This was designed to make snug fits to outside walls and to seal gaps from the foot pedal controls. Also the foam does NOT cover the panel in all place. Specially where it attaches to the dash.

Most likely the extended foam on the original panels has deteriorated or broken off so it would be easy to miss when making new ones.

The original foam was a 10mm and greenish/grayish color. I believe you can still buy from a dealer or you can buy foam off ebay or such.

[mrfatboy]

I found some photos of a friends original manual 260 sl driver side panel to illustrate the back side foam. Similar for the other two panels in the applicable areas.

[John Betsch - "SADIE"]

Once again, a posting has got me thinking about another project.

 I see notes about suppliers of the "cardboard" for the panels which appear to be  in Europe.  Does anyone know of a US supplier of the "cardboard" where I can purchase supplies to remake mine (I have the beat-up ones for pattern.) Mine are a darker tan color

merci

jb

[mrfatboy]

Once again, a posting has got me thinking about another project.

 I see notes about suppliers of the "cardboard" for the panels which appear to be  in Europe.  Does anyone know of a US supplier of the "cardboard" where I can purchase supplies to remake mine (I have the beat-up ones for pattern.) Mine are a darker tan color

merci

jb

It will be interesting if anyone knows of one. I ended up covering the panels with matching MBtex to my seats. I was very happy with the results.

[JamesL]

Mine from SLS were a very thin fibreboard/ hardboard with a slight texture (like a leather grain) on one side, in black . But no foam.

[mrfatboy]

I saw these at PagodaFest. I thought they were good quality. The driver side and center panels would have to be cut to accommodate the type of steering column and manual/auto pedals.

 https://vintageeuroparts.com/index.php/new-under-dash-covering-early-pagoda.html

https://vintageeuroparts.com/index.php/new-under-dash-covering-late-style-pagoda.html