Author Topic: Proper footwell covering for 230 SL (Read 16704 times)

Chad · « **on:** December 09, 2007, 18:20:30 »

Should a 230 SL have the square weave carpeting in the footwell (floor) area of the cabin, or should there be rubber/vinyl footwell mats instead (the grey/black ones)?

If the rubber or vinyl mats are correct, should they be on top of square weave carpet or should the mats be on the floor itself (or whatever the correct sound deadening application)?

I somehow think that these mats are available. Just looking to return the car to basically the original type of look. It is a 1967.

1967 230SL

Paddy_Crow · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2007, 19:22:50 »

Mats on the floor, no carpet on my 1966. But I'm going to put carpet in.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

thelews · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2007, 19:23:16 »

To my understanding, it would be the grey rubber mats in front of each seat, judging from my early '67 250 SL. Carpet on the tunnel, door sills, rear shelf and well. The mats originally were on top of a jute pad, which now can be mimicked with the proper thickness of quality felt. (Don't know what that thickness is for sure)

John Lewenauer
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual

Chad · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2007, 19:32:56 »

Thanks guys. That's what I wanted to know.

Would substitution of an insulator or sound deadener under the mats be useful in your opinions?

1967 230SL

Paddy_Crow · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2007, 07:28:51 »

Unless I hear of something better, I'm probably going to use Dynamat under the carpet in my car (I'm in the process of replacing it). I'm leaning toward their 1/4" Dynaliner. It is a peel and stick product.

Haven't figured out what to use to glue the carpet to the Dynamat yet...

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

gugel · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2007, 13:51:31 »

My green/cognac 1965 Euro 230SL has the original light tan rubber mats in front, essentially matching the interior color. I use Coco mats on top of them for normal driving, and usually for shows I put in the square weave carpets that match the other carpets, as shown in the photo. Not absolutely correct, but I like the way they look and only once did a judge remark on them.

Chris

Download Attachment:

Interior.JPG
62.23 KB

J. Huber · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2007, 14:11:09 »

Did someboday say these rubber mats were still available? Where praytell?

I would be inclined to do what Chris does -- rubber with carpet on top.

James
63 230SL

Paddy_Crow · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2007, 14:42:10 »

World Upholstry advertises them.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

J. Huber · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2007, 15:02:16 »

Thanks Paddy. Has anyone asked for a price on the rubber mats? (or did I miss it there?). Also, has anyone tried their (World's) doorskins? Just wondered about quality, fit, etc. and whether the arm rests & hard pockets are included?

James
63 230SL

Chad · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2007, 15:08:24 »

Any personal experience with the quality of these mats from World UPH?
I used them for some interior carpets, seats for an old Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider and the workmanship was very wanting. I eventually returned them. I would not use World UPH again, but thats just one experience.

I bet that these are available at the dealer, or SLS, and Dan Caron can probably find them with no problem.

I like the idea of the rubber mats on the floor too.
Any pics of the mats in a car out there?

quote:
Originally posted by Paddy_Crow

World Upholstry advertises them.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

1967 230SL

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2007, 17:54:46 »

If I can get anything at all they would only be black ones.
I use a peel and stick material for all my floor insulation. It really won't stay glued down so I heat it with a propane torch or a hot air gun until it starts to melt slightly. This mimics the original stuff reasonably well and does a pretty good job of it.

Note:
Don't glue the center carpet to the tunnel or you will soon reget that you did. Ever try and pull the carpet back up to fix some sort of shifter bushing problem or and other sevice work and end up pulling the carpet apart? Place it in the car WITHOUT any glue so it can be removed just like the factory did.

Dan Caron's
SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
slbarn.mbz.org
1 877 661 6061

66andBlue · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2007, 19:10:44 »

Chad,
I am pretty sure that the floor covering on my 230SL (August 1966 built) was original when I stripped it. First there was a 1/4" thick tar (bitumen) layer melted to the floor panel (this layer was not as thick over the tunnel and the vertical walls) and on top of it a 5/8 thick felt pad where the feet rest. The square weave carpet was glued to the side walls and the tunnel but NOT on the right side where you need access, as the Doktor described. Over the carpet were black rubber mats held down on 4 corners by bottle shaped pins that were screwed into the floor panels. See attached picture for details.

I have now used Dynamat-Extreme (about 4mm thick) fo replace the tar layer. It rolls on easy and doesn't come of the floor.

Download Attachment:

Floor covering.jpg
68.3 KB

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

J. Huber · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2007, 19:28:36 »

Hi Alfred. Are you saying that the rubber carpet was on top of the squareweave carpet? If so, were those pin thingamajigs poking up through the carpet (and then holding the rubber?)

One reason I ask is, with my "newer" carpet set (not with the rubber floor but carpeted one), my driver's slide slips and slides when I drive. So I went ahead and poked that pin through it. I am thinking of putting a grommet of some sort in the hole for reinforcement.

Also, I believe I replaced "original" carpet and I am pretty sure it was carpet not rubber. Maybe the rubber was there originally but vanished.

James
63 230SL

Chad · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2007, 20:02:44 »

To me sounds like Alfred means the rubber mats were buttoned down *on top of* the square weave carpet. To quote him.
There seems to be a small debate regarding this question brewing up. To quote his posting:

"Over the carpet were black rubber mats held down on 4 corners by bottle shaped pins that were screwed into the floor panels."

I have had some cars from the 50s and 60s before. The ones that had rubber mats never had carpet in the same place these mats were, either above or below the rubber. But they were Italian and British cars and didn't have the comfort level of the w113 models, so having no original knowledge myself I guess that all iterations are possible. Anyone own the car from new and can shed light on it? Achim often provides a definitive resolution to these questions, I believe?

It is a bit of trivia. I will eventually replace the carpeted floors with rubber mats which seem to be the correct use from what everyone says.

1967 230SL

thelews · « **Reply #14 on:** December 10, 2007, 20:54:42 »

quote:
Originally posted by J. Huber

Hi Alfred. Are you saying that the rubber carpet was on top of the squareweave carpet? If so, were those pin thingamajigs poking up through the carpet (and then holding the rubber?)

One reason I ask is, with my "newer" carpet set (not with the rubber floor but carpeted one), my driver's slide slips and slides when I drive. So I went ahead and poked that pin through it. I am thinking of putting a grommet of some sort in the hole for reinforcement.

Also, I believe I replaced "original" carpet and I am pretty sure it was carpet not rubber. Maybe the rubber was there originally but vanished.

James
63 230SL

I'm pretty sure he's saying the square weave carpet was on the door sills (running to the firewall) and the tunnel. The rubber mat was on the floor on top of the felt (I think it was jute originally) which was on top of the tar layer. This is how my early 250 SL is, but the rotten jute is replaced with felt. There is no square weave carpet under my mat.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2122/2102525330_101d1d6df9_o.jpg

My 190 SL, the prior model to the 113, was all rubber mats on the sills, tunnel and floor. The 113 was an "upgrade."

John Lewenauer
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual

tuultyme · « **Reply #15 on:** December 10, 2007, 21:43:21 »

I glued down the dynamat but made cutouts for the transmission access panels. Made smaller pieces for the center of each access panel. I fastened the tunnel carpet with velcro strips on each side of the shift lever; the front is sandwich between the floor and the heater box. I put additional silver backed insulation under the carpet. Originally the carpet was held with snapes. The male portion of the snape was screwed into the floor using spacers to get it at the right height. After making some floor repairs I did not want to make new holes in the floors and with the extra insulation I needed addition height. I found some L brackets (3 for each Carpet)that I screwed into the front seat rail and the side rail near the front. I used small bolts to fasten the snape to the L-bracket. Three snapes keep the carpet from moving.

Bruce; 268Blaugrun(green) 1970 280SL; IL

sjiatrou · « **Reply #16 on:** December 10, 2007, 21:47:05 »

My '64 (Jan 64) came with rubber mats over the soundproofing (i.e., no carpet underneath.) It was anchored with those "pins" at each corner.

Steve
Seaside, CA
1964 230sl roadster
White (050)/Black (116)

66andBlue · « **Reply #17 on:** December 10, 2007, 23:22:34 »

quote:
Originally posted by thelews

Quote
Originally posted by J. Huber

.. I'm pretty sure he's saying the square weave carpet was on the door sills (running to the firewall) and the tunnel. The rubber mat was on the floor on top of the felt (I think it was jute originally) which was on top of the tar layer. This is how my early 250 SL is, but the rotten jute is replaced with felt. There is no square weave carpet under my mat.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2122/2102525330_101d1d6df9_o.jpg

Hi John,
you are correct, that's what I wanted to convey. Looking at your picture it looks just what mine looked like except you have a loop carpet and I had a square weave - as all 230SLs had. Where was the jute/felt pad in your car, under the loop carpet? Or did you put that carpet in?
Anyway, when I ripped my carpet out - above the felt and the below the rubber mats I still could see the number that the installer wrote on it before gluing it down on the floor panel. So I do know that the square weave carpet was original.

James,
the screws, NOT the short pins, went through the carpet and the tar layer , they were pressing down onto the carpet. The longer pins had been pushed through the carpet and the thicker tar pad but I don't know whether that happened over time or was intentional.

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

thelews · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2007, 07:15:58 »

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by 66andBlue
Hi John,
Looking at your picture it looks just what mine looked like except you have a loop carpet and I had a square weave - as all 230SLs had. Where was the jute/felt pad in your car, under the loop carpet? Or did you put that carpet in?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Actually, the carpet you are seeing in my car is square weave, it's just that the wool threads are mixed up rather than one color per square. What you are seeing on the tunnel is the original carpet to the car. It has not been replaced. The sills were replaced with identical to factory original carpet in wool. The newer felt pads (replacing deteriorated jute) are under the rubber mats. I can't say what's under the tunnel and the ring in the carpet around the stick is vulcanized to the boot (the way it was done from the factory).

John Lewenauer
1967 Early 250 SL Red/Caviar, Manual

Paddy_Crow · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2007, 07:52:13 »

Same here. I left out the jute pad and soundproofing. The jute in my car was covered with mildew (but the floor underneath is free of rust). Also, the rubber mats were dry and cracked, so there really was nothing holding them down. I'll keep an eye out for those pins when I get back to work on it...

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

Chad · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2007, 19:19:49 »

Those pins are available at the SLS german site.

1967 230SL

perry113 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 11, 2007, 21:53:22 »

Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 14:51:31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My green/cognac 1965 Euro 230SL has the original light tan rubber mats in front, essentially matching the interior color. I use Coco mats on top of them for normal driving, and usually for shows I put in the square weave carpets that match the other carpets, as shown in the photo. Not absolutely correct, but I like the way they look and only once did a judge remark on them.

Chris

Download Attachment: Interior.JPG

Chris,
I wanted to comment on how nice your car looks. What a stricking color combination. I would love to see more pictures of your car. It's a real looker.
For all forum members I recommend going to the below website as a reference for great pictures that document correct 113's. Brian Peter's website.

www.motoringinvestments.com

perry113 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2007, 21:54:40 »

My green/cognac 1965 Euro 230SL has the original light tan rubber mats in front, essentially matching the interior color. I use Coco mats on top of them for normal driving, and usually for shows I put in the square weave carpets that match the other carpets, as shown in the photo. Not absolutely correct, but I like the way they look and only once did a judge remark on them.

Chris

Download Attachment: Interior.JPG
62.23 KB

Chad · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2007, 22:04:25 »

I really like the look of those rubber mats as depicted in the picture John posted. They look great to me.

1967 230SL

gugel · « **Reply #24 on:** December 12, 2007, 16:53:44 »

quote:
Originally posted by perry113

Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 14:51:31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chris,
I wanted to comment on how nice your car looks. What a stricking color combination. I would love to see more pictures of your car. It's a real looker.

Perry,

Thanks for the compliment. There are more photos of my car on this site in the thread http://sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=2585 and (with some overlap) on my website at http://home.earthlink.net/~cearnest2/Mercedes/

Chris

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Author Topic: Proper footwell covering for 230 SL (Read 16704 times)

Chad

Paddy_Crow

Chad

Paddy_Crow

Paddy_Crow

Chad

Chad

tuultyme

sjiatrou

Paddy_Crow

Chad

Chad