Author Topic: Upholstering photos (Read 5638 times)

col320ce · « **on:** January 05, 2021, 09:48:23 »

My interior is not original so it's hard to reverse engineer as I re do the interior. In my 250se it was important to copy exactly where foam was and wasn't below the leather to make it all fit together.
So... Has someone got photos of the interior as they've stripped it so I can see where foam was and wasn't and how the dash is done?
Thanks!!

Francis Abate · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2021, 23:20:02 »

I have a kit with which I am reupholstering seats and armrests of a W109 car, if photos of this would help I'd gladly send them. I'm guessing you are making the new covers from scratch? And I do not have any SL seat projects to share

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2021, 01:03:34 »

There may be photos (perhaps other Members may provide them), in our Technical Manual there has been quite a lot written about it. Perhaps get yourself a cup of coffee or Tee

and have a look, perhaps there is some help there for you. Some of the links lead to some photos. Good Luck.

Dieter

---> https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Interior/Seats#SeatCushionReplacement

col320ce · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2021, 02:15:52 »

Thanks Dieter and Francis
I think the seats I will be OK with... It's more the dash. On the w111 I have just done there was padding but not all over the dash (and thicker and shaped in some areas) . I'm worried that if I put foam where it shouldn't be then it will be hard to fit (the w111 fitted together really easily). I haven't taken the leather off yet and it may be obvious when I do this where the foam was. I'm assuming that the rear panels hasd foam covering them under the leather too?
I'll go back through the technical manual and see what I can find there but didn't think it had what I was looking for.

col320ce · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2021, 05:12:30 »

It looks as though most trim gets a 2-3mm foam covering however I'm still unsure about some pieces:

- What is the correct foam thickness and shape for the top of the dash? I assume there is some thicker molded foam at the front (as there was on the W111)
- Is the instrument cluster top covered in foam first? I can't see any evidence that it has been.
- Bottom dash looks like it is simply covered in foam?

Thanks everyone

Garry · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2021, 09:04:28 »

Col,

I don’t think my dash top and instruments nor window pillar have any foam underneath. They are hard without any give in the 230sl

Garry

Charles 230SL · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2021, 14:35:02 »

Quote from: Garry on February 21, 2021, 09:04:28

..I don’t think my dash top and instruments nor window pillar have any foam underneath. They are hard without any give in the 230sl..

Same here Col, no foam on top or bottom of the dash on my 230.

450sl · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2021, 16:32:22 »

As well no foam overhere.

66andBlue · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2021, 20:00:53 »

Garry and Charles,
there was foam for sure on my 1966 230SL, however, much of it had turned into dust and probably fooled you.
Here are some pix, you be the judge. I replaced it with a 2mm foam sheet.
The window wood moulding had some black felt.

col320ce · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2021, 20:18:51 »

Did you reuse the foam strip at the front of the dash? I assumed my strip was replaced but looks similar to yours.

When I did the 250SE everything other than the footwell side panels had (disintegrated) foam on them so I've made a few assumptions about the 230sl. There was no covered wood however on the w111 and the foam on the leading edge of the dash is constructed differently. Everything was original on the w111.

66andBlue · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2021, 20:27:05 »

I did not because there was no alternative available at the time. Also I used leather for the restoration.

I know nothing about W111 and it would be less confusing if we don't conflate too many types here.

Garry · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2021, 22:09:42 »

i am really surprised Alfred. i have gone out again and felt it. It is as rigid as though there is no padding or foam behind other than the front facing interior being softer to press as per your photo of the front facing passenger strip.
I just recoloured the dash for the second time. The foam must have broken down a long time ago.

So your 230SL is soft to touch on the top of the dash and instruments?

66andBlue · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2021, 01:29:16 »

Garry, the photos show my blue 1966 230SL, my current 1964 230SL has leather from the factory and I don't intend to change that.
Anyway, yes when you press the top part next to the wood it is hard but I believe that there is no foam left to speak off, just dust.
I encountered the same on the folding top compartment lid. It was hard to the touch because the foam underneath the vinyl was in crumbles.

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2021, 03:54:49 »

Col,

I don’t know if it is any help for your dash or not there is a PDF file in our Technical Manual in our Pagoda Notes Volume 13 Issue 3 it was published by Jon B. After his visit to the upolstary shop near the Palm Springs CA Airport after his visit there. They might know about your foam question. Anyway have a look at the link. As Jon mentioned in his PDF file they ship all over the world.

There Web Site ——- https://www.heritagetrim.com/mercedes/w113-pagoda-roadster/

PN13-3 ——- https://www.sl113.org/wiki/uploads/Restricted/PNv13i3.pdf

Dieter

col320ce · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2021, 22:06:56 »

Great idea Rolf.. I've emailed heritage trim so I'll post back when I have an answer. I also learned a lot just by looking at the finished pieces in their videos.

col320ce · « **Reply #15 on:** July 19, 2021, 02:56:34 »

Alfred
Do you remember if the leather Coverd panels under the dash had foam too?
Thanks again for those photos of your top dash!

Nicolas Aristodemou · « **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2021, 04:44:00 »

Col my advise to you would be to send all trim parts to specialists such as Heritage in US or KHM cabrio in Germany. They would clean them up professionally add foam if required - they know best - trim and skive the leather as required and cover the trim pieces. You will look at them and say wow......

Trim is such an important part of the car’s appearance that is worth paying little bit more to real professionals than trying to do it yourself or through trimmers without experience in these cars. Needless to say that in the end you pay more and get less if you go on your own.

Nicolas

col320ce · « **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2021, 03:10:44 »

Hi Nicolas

I trimmed my W111 and I'm pretty happy with the results. I had to get a trimmer involved to sew something as KHM made a mistake and sent me out something unfinished and he was pretty impressed with what I had done. I'll post photos some time but the car is somewhere else to make room for me to put this one back together.

66andBlue · « **Reply #18 on:** July 21, 2021, 17:35:19 »

Quote from: col320ce on July 19, 2021, 02:56:34

Alfred
Do you remember if the leather Coverd panels under the dash had foam too?
Thanks again for those photos of your top dash!

Col,
I believe you extrapolated my previous reply to Garry a bit too far. 🤔
The under-dash panels were never covered in leather including in my 1964 230SL, it was some kind of vinyl, different from the material used for seats, etc. They did have a thin foam layer, though. I believe the details on these under-dash panels were discussed already.

col320ce · « **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2021, 21:08:36 »

Hi Alfred

I meant these 3 panels....

Nicolas Aristodemou · « **Reply #20 on:** July 22, 2021, 18:26:47 »

Quote from: col320ce on July 21, 2021, 03:10:44

Hi Nicolas

I trimmed my W111 and I'm pretty happy with the results. I had to get a trimmer involved to sew something as KHM made a mistake and sent me out something unfinished and he was pretty impressed with what I had done. I'll post photos some time but the car is somewhere else to make room for me to put this one back together.

Good Col if you feel you have the skills and the right people around you then go ahead.

Attached is a photo of my car with all pieces precut and prepared by KHM and fitted by a skilled trimmer in Cyprus.

col320ce · « **Reply #21 on:** July 24, 2021, 06:55:12 »

Has someone got a photo of how this area is finished off?
Is one of the lower dash bits, near the glovebox.
Thanks!

Charles 230SL · « **Reply #22 on:** July 24, 2021, 12:35:46 »

Col, here's a couple of my LHD 230. Bud's trimmed my interior 7 yrs ago and this is how they did it.

col320ce · « **Reply #23 on:** July 25, 2021, 00:08:53 »

Awesome!
Thanks Charles
I'm really happy with it so far.

News:

Author Topic: Upholstering photos (Read 5638 times)