W212 replacement steering column cowling

[JuJigsaw]

Not sure if anyone else has come across this but the Magic Tree car fresheners I've been using which I've hung round the right hand stalk have melted the plastic steering column cowling and welded themselves to it.

I need to replace the steering column cowling and wondered if anyone else had done this on a W212 and what the cost of the plastics was and how easy is the job?

 

[Red C220]

The danger of air fresheners

 

[JuJigsaw]

The danger of air fresheners

Yeah, wish I'd known this beforehand.

Now had a quote from the lease company of £353!! Surely that's a windup!? My concern is that it's a one-piece cowling and needs the steering wheels removed to fit. Anyone have any experience of this?

 

[Druk]

Yeah, wish I'd known this beforehand.

Now had a quote from the lease company of £353!! Surely that's a windup!? My concern is that it's a one-piece cowling and needs the steering wheels removed to fit. Anyone have any experience of this?

Yes the wheel needs to come off and the price reflects that it's probably a complete unit including all the stalks and the canbus controls. ie. it's not a simple shroud like in the 'old days'. That's progress

Does your model have the gearchange lever on the column?

 

[JuJigsaw]

Yes the wheel needs to come off and the price reflects that it's probably a complete unit including all the stalks and the canbus controls. ie. it's not a simple shroud like in the 'old days'. That's progress

Does your model have the gearchange lever on the column?

Yes it does. I'm horrified that what is a tiny interior blemish (size of the end of a finger) is going to cost so much to sort. Especially when I've kept the car mint for three years and they couldn't find another single thing wrong with it they could pull it on. Not sure how much progress this is though.

 

[Druk]

Yes it does.

First dibs on the old unit please . I'm looking to modify the one on mine and need an old one to experiment on. Thanks.

 

[JuJigsaw]

First dibs on the old unit please . I'm looking to modify the one on mine and need an old one to experiment on. Thanks.

No probs, I'll sell it you for £352!!... Seriously though, it may well be up sale if I can't some how smooth out the imperfection to hide it enough for them to let it through.

 

[Chris mbsca]

You cant buy just the plastic cover separatly. A used one is you best option.