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I recently purchased a 1988 420SEL which has cracked and poor looking zebrano wood throughout the interior. New replacement wood is hard to find, and expensive if you do. I have also found that professional restoration can be quite pricey (I was quoted $500.00 to strip and refinish), and therefore, I am going to attempt to restore the existing zebrano pieces myself. I will document all costs and approximate time required to complete each step as I progress, as well as provide a photo log here in this thread. I) To begin, I removed the center console section (20-25 minutes): 1) Removed the ashtray (Took out inside tray, unscrewed 2 screws holding frame body in, and slid out assembly. Note: I moved the shifter to gain clearance to remove). 2) Removed the coin cup below the ashtray, by pulling up gently on the front while sliding toward the front of the car. 3) Released console wood panel by sliding forward and then pulling up gently AFTER plastic tabs cleared on the underside. 4) Unplugged electrical connections (CAREFULLY, to avoid damaging the underside plastic panel that the switches snap into) for window switches, window lock, mirror control, and stereo fader. 5) Removed the console wood. 6) One by one, removed each switch from the panel (prying GENTLY outward with a tiny jewelers flathead screwdriver on the tabs holding it in), and plugged them back into their electrical connection so that I could keep track of where they went. This seemed like a good time to clean all the gunk off and out of the switches, so I took advantage. I used a can of Staples 'multi-purpose antistatic cleaner' which I had on hand (normally used to clean my PC and components), spraying it on a rag and wiping each switch and housing. CONSOLE WOOD SECTION, UPON REMOVAL: II) Prepped the panel prior to start of refinishing (10-15 minutes): After removing, I detached the plastic on the bottom of the panel which the switches all snap into, the two plastic tabs which hold the panel down, and the trim for the gear shift area. This is delicate work! The panel I am working on is 20 years old, and the plastic is somewhat brittle. 1) Removed the "plastic switch plate" by using two tiny jewelers flathead screwdrivers, and very delicately prying up under the CENTER of each staple to slowly free it from the panel. Mine has several cracked areas (but seems to be complete and intact, whew!). I will epoxy this plate later where it has cracked to strengthen it for switch re-installation. I am hoping to re-install this piece later using the exsisting staples and staple holes as a guide, and using epoxy to attach it. PLASTIC SWITCH PLATE, UPON REMOVAL: 2) Removed the plastic tabs which hold the panel down in the car by lightly wiggling them and pulling gently. Again, I will be using the existing staples and staple holes to guide them back into position upon re-installation, using epoxy to attach them. 3) Removed the shifter area trim, by very lightly working at the edge (at as flat an angle as possible all along the underside edge of the trim with a tiny jewelers flathead screwdriver), and very lightly prying up to free it. This was so brittle that a small piece broke off, and it is cracked and separating in places. I will have to either find a new one, or epoxy this one back together. SHIFTER AREA TRIM, UPON REMOVAL: CONSOLE PANEL, PREPPED FOR START OF REFINISHING: As this is a very thin zebrano wood veneer, I have read that sanding is NOT a good way to remove the old, cracked, worn out finish. You would run the risk of sanding through the veneer, or having strands of this unique wood grain peeling up. Instead, I made a trip to ACE Hardware, and will be using a chemical semi-paste stripper (applied with a brush, wearing solvent-resistant gloves), plastic putty knife, denatured alcohol and rags. To refinish the pieces, I chose a minwax stain, and a thick, self-leveling pour-on high gloss finish. [size
< Message edited by 420sel88 -- 2/15/2008 10:39:54 PM >
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CURRENT VEHICLES:
1988 Mercedes Benz 420SEL
1992 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe
PAST MBZ OWNED:
1980 Mercedes Benz 240D (Sold)
1976 Mercedes Benz 240D (Wrecked by girlfriend - D'oh!)
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Printable Version
1988 420SEL W126 Interior Wood Refinishing Project - 
RE: 1988 420SEL W126 Interior Wood Refinishing Project - 
Not sure what the coating is, but it's durable. Tried several strippers to no avail. Anybody out there have luck with anything? I'm trying to refinish my Zebrano in 380SL. Same problems, finish cracked and discolored but basically intact.
