Glove box details

[66andBlue]

...
The only other item on the interior is that the glove box light on\off button does not have the small metal surround fitted.

Hi Garry,
that "small metal surround" is actually the nut that holds the switch to the dash but you cannot see it because it is hidden under the leather/MB-tex material.
I have circled it in the first photo from the MotoringInvestment advert. In the second photo you can see the same glovebox before the restoration where the switch is also hidden. In that photo the two rubber bumpers (yellow arrow) are still present but usually what happens is the dried out rubber tail behind breaks when you take the glovebox out. These rubber bumpers are NLA for a long time and probably even Hjeltnes couldn't come up with a reproduction/replica.
The third photo shows the box in my 1966 230SL after I restored it. Originally the switch was also hidden by the MB-tex. I bought the complete leather set from a company Germany and the box lining had a notch where the switch is located. Now you can see it. I also used the empty bumper holes for another pair of sheetmetal screws to press the box against the frame and covered the screw heads with different bumper disks.
Why Mercedes made this strange decision to hide the switch in W113 cars under the lining is not clear to me but it is correct. Brian has many original cars on his website showing that detail, including his "holy grail" car.
Now in W111 coupes and cabs the switch is mounted above the leather and you can see it!

My favorite theory is that the MB cabin designers did it that way to give a horde of critics and judges years later a great opportunity to show off their knowledge.  🤣

[Garry]

Alfred,


So the light switch was fitted in production before the glove box was lined and then fitted, but not the rubber stoppers?


Was ti KHM that provided the glove box lining kit.  I tried to do it myself but not so well that I am satisfied and would do it again if I can get a decent kit. I think the leather needs to be skivvied a lot to work.

[66andBlue]

Hi Garry,
it is highly likely that the rubber bumpers were pressed through the holes during the installation of the box once it was fixed in place by the sheet metal screws in the top and the bottom.  SLS sells a bumper but people who bought it found the head to be too thick and interfering with the lid alignment. Also the neck part is apparently too short. However, I have not tried to install one and others may have tried it and got it to work.
I bought the 230SL leather set from Werner-Interieurs in Germany and for the 280SL from GAT. I skived some leather pieces using a belt sander as was mentioned in this discussion here: https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=11853.0;all
It worked well with normal leather but not with the "oldtimer leather" that I bought recently from GAT for the red 230SL; had difficulty getting the "fleece" of on the back.

[Garry]

I have some leather left over from interior fitout so will try using a belt sander to skivy some of the leather and see how i go. 

[Sead]

Hi Garry,
it is highly likely that the rubber bumpers were pressed through the holes during the installation of the box once it was fixed in place by the sheet metal screws in the top and the bottom.  SLS sells a bumper but people who bought it found the head to be too thick and interfering with the lid alignment. Also the neck part is apparently too short. However, I have not tried to install one and others may have tried it and got it to work.
I bought the 230SL leather set from Werner-Interieurs in Germany and for the 280SL from GAT. I skived some leather pieces using a belt sander as was mentioned in this discussion here: https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=11853.0;all
It worked well with normal leather but not with the "oldtimer leather" that I bought recently from GAT for the red 230SL; had difficulty getting the "fleece" of on the back.

Hello Alfred,

these rubber bumpers are still available original from Mercedes! Will post pics later.
Other thing... Have you noticed that actually evrery single glove box has wrong screws which hold box to the bottom of the dash panel!?
I mean wrong when you compare to what is stated in parts list(s)! You once made long post about this. Cant find it now.
According to spare part list there must be 4 pcs of DIN 7981 !!! srews without any washers at all! But instead all cars have DIN 7983 icl. countersunk washers.. Im now at the point to decide how to proceeed further .

[66andBlue]

Hello Sead,
attached is a copy of the spare parts list that you probably had in mind.
The problem is that the lists show a total of eight ( screws per box:
DIN 7981:  4 each 4.2x9.5 mm + 2 each 3.9x13 mm
DIN 7982:  2 each 4.2x13 mm
The four 13mm long screws are chrome plated (DBL 8454) whereas the shorter 9.5mm screws are "high-polish galvanized-iridescent passivated" (DBL 8451-21).
The clip nuts for the different screws (p/n 0009940445 replaced by 0009943345) are for 4.2 mm sheetmetal screws. Have not found a 3.9 clip nut only 2.9; another puzzle.
 
However, there are only six screw holes in the box, four on the bottom and two on the top.
Do you know how to put eight screws into six holes? 
I don't and I have given up long time ago to make sense of it.
Use whatever you like best.

But I am really interested to see the rubber buffer that you bought from Mercedes.

[Sead]

I will do a mix as any combo isnt wrong.
See attached photos of original rubber used for glowe box compared to wrong ones SLS sells.

[66andBlue]

Sead, did you install the rubber buffers already? How do they fit?

[Sead]

Sead, did you install the rubber buffers already? How do they fit?

Perfect fit of both, rubber buffers and glove box door.

[Charles 230SL]

beautiful!

[zak]

I am jealous of how your glovebox door fits, Sead. Very nicely done.

jz

[66andBlue]

Perfect fit of both, rubber buffers and glove box door.

Perfect Sead! 👍 👏👏

Now I have to go back and install a pair on my glovebox.

[Sead]

one more:

[kampala]

Sead,

Thanks for the photos and details.  It looks like you did not wrap the leather around to the back but instead trimmed it off on the edge.  Is that the trick to get it to fit so nicely?

I have wrapped my leather over the edge and around the back but have not reinstalled the glove box yet — I may do it like yours if I have difficulty with thickness even though the leather is skived (thinned). 

[Sead]

Sead,

Thanks for the photos and details.  It looks like you did not wrap the leather around to the back but instead trimmed it off on the edge.  Is that the trick to get it to fit so nicely?

I have wrapped my leather over the edge and around the back but have not reinstalled the glove box yet — I may do it like yours if I have difficulty with thickness even though the leather is skived (thinned).

Try to fit it as it is now.  If it doesnt fit well, remove leather from the back. My original leather was done this way. See photo.
My leather is skived too, it has to be. Same with the part of leather glued to the dash.

Good luck
Sead

[66andBlue]

...  these rubber bumpers are still available original from Mercedes! ...

Hello Sead,
you are very lucky that you have access to the right sources!
Just learned from the MB dealer that the part is no longer available here and was replaced by part number 000 987 18 40.
This replacement part is much to thick: https://www.authenticclassics.com/Rubber-Bumper-Buffer-Plug-10mm-Head-Dia-p/auth-003526.htm
--
Has anyone been able to buy Sead's correct rubber buffer (p/n 110 987 05 39) from a dealer here? Perhaps from the Classic Center in Irvine?

[Rahul]

I bought them from the Classic Center in Irvine about a year ago, if that helps at all.

[dirkbalter]

Working on my glove box, I have a question to the experts here. I am about to remove the two rivets on the bottom, holding the chrome hinge to the body. Where did you find replacement rivets like that?

[66andBlue]

Working on my glove box, I have a question to the experts here. I am about to remove the two rivets on the bottom, holding the chrome hinge to the body. Where did you find replacement rivets like that?

Hi Dirk,
I used tubular rivets from this company: https://www.hansonrivet.com/rivets/tubular-rivets/
I had asked for help to select a similar rivet and a very friendly employee there send me a a few to try. Also pointed me to a Youtube video showing a homemade rivet clincher.
Can't expect a better service!

I bought them from the Classic Center in Irvine about a year ago, if that helps at all.

Thank you, Rahul! I'll contact them.

[dirkbalter]

Alfred,
great, thank you.

[Charles 230SL]

..Thank you, Rahul! I'll contact them.

hello Alfred, any luck with the Classic Centre having those rubber bumpers (110 987 05 39)? I've been using the ones I got from Auth. Classics and they're a bit too thick. thanks,,,charles

[66andBlue]

No luck. I had asked why the CC or MBUSA prefers to sell a non-fitting part here although there is stock in Germany. This is the last reply I received 12 days ago:
"I understand exactly the issue.
The original part number is not available to us in the USA. The system automatically subs it to the new number and we cannot get the original number.
I will forward this to my parts manager for further info. Please wait for his reply
 
Kind regards, / Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Colby
Parts Advisor"

I don't expect a better answer if any at all.

[dirkbalter]

Well, I have the SLS bumpers and these are approx 4mm thick. What thickness are they supposed to be?

[66andBlue]

About 1 mm. Here is a photo that Sead posted previously. As you can see it is about the same as the leather and the sheet metal.
Also the diameter of the head on my old remnant is about 11 mm.

[Charles 230SL]

No luck. I had asked why the CC or MBUSA prefers to sell a non-fitting part here although there is stock in Germany. This is the last reply I received 12 days ago:
"I understand exactly the issue.
The original part number is not available to us in the USA. The system automatically subs it to the new number and we cannot get the original number.
I will forward this to my parts manager for further info. Please wait for his reply
Kind regards, / Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Colby
Parts Advisor"
I don't expect a better answer if any at all.

Ok, thanks Alfred, and thanks for the quick response. vr, Charles