Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => W11x chassis cars => Topic started by: col320ce on April 10, 2020, 14:46:41

Title: W111 carpet types
Post by: col320ce on April 10, 2020, 14:46:41
What is the correct carpet type for my 65 250se coupe? I have a choice of velour or wilton wool.
If I have cognac leather seats, should the binding be the same on the carpet ie leather in cognac?
Thanks for any help!
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aaron h on April 10, 2020, 15:29:43
None of those are correct, but you'll have to choose one of them anyway.  Originally, your car had a low pile two tone wool carpeting.....and NOT wilton wool.  (see picture below).  Unfortunately, the original type is no longer made.  So you'll have to buy a two tone velour in Cognac. 

The binding was vinyl, not leather, and would have been a complementary color to the leather and carpeting. 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aaron h on April 10, 2020, 15:31:05
Carpet example.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: col320ce on April 10, 2020, 23:37:20
Thanks for the explanation.  In don't have any original carpet so I don't know what the colour should have been. I assume it was dark brown as that was the colour combination in the 113 (if I understand this correctly).  Did the w111 have the same "standard" colour combos?  My data card just gives the cognac leather seat colour.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: wwheeler on April 11, 2020, 02:14:38
The two tone carpet I see now has a darker color for the speckle color. Seems like was originally a dark red or maroon and is now brownish. I guess you get what you can. I agree, the type that is available now is not the same as original and still have that in my car.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: austinado16 on April 11, 2020, 02:57:33
Carpeting is on my short list as well.  Below are the 3 sample that I received from World Upholstery & Trim, for your reference.  I'm not sure I'll use what they sell (comes as a kit, pre-sewn at about $1,200 and change for the speckled Cognac).

@AaronH:  Where/who is your sample from?
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aaron h on April 11, 2020, 07:28:00
Thanks for the explanation.  In don't have any original carpet so I don't know what the colour should have been. I assume it was dark brown as that was the colour combination in the 113 (if I understand this correctly).  Did the w111 have the same "standard" colour combos?  My data card just gives the cognac leather seat colour.

No, the W111 was different.  The same colors were offered across the board, but a Pagoda from 1965/1966 would have had square weave, (Bouclee`) carpeting.  The interior trim code on your data card tells us MUCH more than the leather color on the seat.  Would you mind posting a picture of your data card, or at least telling us the interior trim code? 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: col320ce on April 11, 2020, 09:39:21
Hi Aaron
Here is the data card:
This I believe is the trim code 216 401
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aaron h on April 11, 2020, 13:10:43
Ok, so the interior trim code is just 216.  The 401 is an option code that deciphers to singe seats up front.  Before we get into the interior trim code, here is a deciphering of the option codes on your cars data card for for fun.

717  Papyrus white paint work
216 Cognac leather interior
401 Single seats up front
423 Power steering with Mercedes automatic transmission, column shift
461 Instrumentation in English
471 Special export version for bad road conditions with oil bath type air cleaner. ...this means stiffer springs are used that make the car sit higher than it should,
       and the air filter being the oil bath type means you only have to periodically clean the filter element (soak in gasoline), housing, and refill with clean oil to
       the mark on the air filter housing.
516 Becker Grand Prix Radio set, monaural.  (one speaker)
525 Shipped with 1kg of single stage paint
531 Electric/Automatic antenna
540 Seat adapter between the front seats (This cushion would have been covered in Cognac leather, and would be where the wood trey would usually be
      between the seats)
587 Folding arm rest on front seat
619 Halogen lighting units with bright light/dimmed light/fog light and headlamps and fog lamps and additional bright light, amber; asymmetrical headlamps for
      Left Hand Drive traffic, and rear blinker lamps in orange for Australia, Italy, and Great Britain.
668 Mode of packing VE II, and with styropor bumper rails. ( this is how the car was packed for shipping)


Under the heading "Wenig Gewunscht" (not commonly asked for options) you have code 243, which is "elimination of battery".  This means that the car was either to be shipped without a battery, or the battery was not placed upon special request due to subsequent modifications that were to be done to the car causing the location of the battery to be determined at a later time.  Likely the former.

With the completion date of December 23, 1965, the car should be titled and registered as a 1966, as the car would not have arrived in Australia until months later in 1966.

Ok, so interior trim code 216.  This tells us quite a bit!  In the picture below, you'll notice under column 216 that there are rows of funny German words with numbers.  The words are the color, and the numbers are the color code for the color.  Each row is explained below

-In the first row you see 1505 Cognac.  This is the leather color and the color code for the Cognac leather.  Bear in mind color codes and trim codes are not the same!

 -In the second row you see D 32 and Creme`.  This is the color code and color name for the headliner material and sun visors.

-In the third row you see 6419 Dunkel Beige Melliert.  This is the color code and color name for your wool carpeting, which is Mottled Dark Beige. (dark beige with darker colored flecking in the carpeting.....hence, 'Two tone")

-In the fourth row you see 2445 D braun.  This is the color code and color name for the ribbed rubber entrance rail coverings, which are to be dark brown.

-In the fifth row you see Macassar.  This is the species of wood normally paired with a Cognac interior....Macassar Ebony to be exact. Because there are no other option codes under the "Wenig Gewunscht" area would mean that the car should have Macassar Ebony on the dash and around the windshield. Sometimes people would specifically request a different species of wood instead of what Mercedes recommended.

-In the sixth and last row you see D 12 Graubeige.  This is the color code and color name of the seat webbing strap color if the car had seat belts.  Grey beige.

So you now know how your car left the factory.  Though, if the original slim faced Becker Grand Prix is missing that will be a costly part to procure, but there are plenty of them out there.  :)
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aaron h on April 11, 2020, 13:20:41
Carpeting is on my short list as well.  Below are the 3 sample that I received from World Upholstery & Trim, for your reference.  I'm not sure I'll use what they sell (comes as a kit, pre-sewn at about $1,200 and change for the speckled Cognac).

@AaronH:  Where/who is your sample from?

Todd, this is the same place I referred you to over on your own introductory post.  Putt Georgie LTD.  Go to the first page, and about three quarters of the way down in one of my comments you'll see a hyperlink that takes you to the website. 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: col320ce on April 11, 2020, 13:36:53
Hi Aaron

That is an amazing summary!! Thank you so much.  The car does still have the original radio and it's working reasonably well.  I'll re cap it and it should be perfect after that (capacitors on order).  Someone has put speakers in the back (and the original still is in the front) so I'll wire it up as one in the front and 2 in the back. I've bought a modern electric aerial (2050) as the original is long gone sadly.

Thanks again for an amazing answer
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aaron h on April 11, 2020, 13:52:38
The monaural radios can only drive two speakers.  I mean....your current set up will work, but the sound will be weak. 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: col320ce on April 11, 2020, 13:58:55
OK... I'll do a test with just the front and just the back speakers and see which sounds better.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: wwheeler on April 11, 2020, 18:13:54
The carpet from Putt Georgie looks like the right colors. I ended up with the carpet like the top piece from World. Not great but it will have to do now. :(

 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: austinado16 on April 12, 2020, 02:20:15
Thanks Aaron!  And the deciphering of the data card is fantastic!  Makes me want to spend money to order one from the Classics Center, since all of my car's documentation is long gone.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: wwheeler on April 12, 2020, 02:38:12
Todd, If you get the info from the Classic Center, you can then turn it into https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=30464.msg221418#msg221418

 A member here takes your correct information and puts it on a PDF document that looks exactly like the cards your car came with. The copy you get from the Classic Center will be rough at best.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aaron h on April 12, 2020, 03:59:33
I want to take this opportunity to share some facts about the early two piece monaural units.  Many of you will already know this, but some may not.  I'll be covering this in my series of youtube videos when I finally publish them.  For now a picture will have to do. In the picture below you'll see the rear of the power supply/amplifier where the speaker(s) connect to.  Notice there are a total of 4 holes.  (what looks like a hold in the middle is actually a brass rivet).  The two holes on the bottom running horizontally with the number 5 in between them are where you connect ONE speaker.  If you want to connect TWO speakers you have to run two separate speaker plugs to the amplifier.  These two plugs will plug into the two vertical placed holes that say 2.5 in between them.  The "5" and "2.5" are the wattage output ratings.  When two speakers are used the output has to be split.  Hence, the 2.5.   

You can split the output the way Becker intended us to, or you can split the output aft of the 5 watt connection in the wiring.  However, splitting the 5 watt output three ways (1.66 watts to each speaker) will cause weak sound and an impedance mismatch if the speakers aren't rated to equal the total ohms the radio itself is capable of driving/overcoming.  The weak sound isn't harmful, but if the impedance mismatch can cause damage to the PNP AD 150 Germanium output transistors......seemingly unobtanium as of late.  Though, equivalents are out there, but they're not an exact match. And it won't happen immediately.  It'll happen over an undetermined amount of time. 

All this to say just be careful when trying to hook up more of a load than the radio can drive.  In more simplistic terms, it's kind of like trying to use a 6V battery to start a car that needs a 12V battery in that the radio is trying to overcome a load that it can't handle. That's a really poor comparison, but it may get the point across to those that may not thoroughly understand much better than the technical explanation. 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: austinado16 on April 12, 2020, 22:51:42
Todd, If you get the info from the Classic Center, you can then turn it into https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=30464.msg221418#msg221418

 A member here takes your correct information and puts it on a PDF document that looks exactly like the cards your car came with. The copy you get from the Classic Center will be rough at best.

I had previously stumbled upon that thread, so thanks for reminding me and providing a link to it!
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aussiesven on June 11, 2022, 07:28:31
Ok, so the interior trim code is just 216.  The 401 is an option code that deciphers to singe seats up front.  Before we get into the interior trim code, here is a deciphering of the option codes on your cars data card for for fun.

717  Papyrus white paint work
216 Cognac leather interior
401 Single seats up front
423 Power steering with Mercedes automatic transmission, column shift
461 Instrumentation in English
471 Special export version for bad road conditions with oil bath type air cleaner. ...this means stiffer springs are used that make the car sit higher than it should,
       and the air filter being the oil bath type means you only have to periodically clean the filter element (soak in gasoline), housing, and refill with clean oil to
       the mark on the air filter housing.
516 Becker Grand Prix Radio set, monaural.  (one speaker)
525 Shipped with 1kg of single stage paint
531 Electric/Automatic antenna
540 Seat adapter between the front seats (This cushion would have been covered in Cognac leather, and would be where the wood trey would usually be
      between the seats)
587 Folding arm rest on front seat
619 Halogen lighting units with bright light/dimmed light/fog light and headlamps and fog lamps and additional bright light, amber; asymmetrical headlamps for
      Left Hand Drive traffic, and rear blinker lamps in orange for Australia, Italy, and Great Britain.
668 Mode of packing VE II, and with styropor bumper rails. ( this is how the car was packed for shipping)


Under the heading "Wenig Gewunscht" (not commonly asked for options) you have code 243, which is "elimination of battery".  This means that the car was either to be shipped without a battery, or the battery was not placed upon special request due to subsequent modifications that were to be done to the car causing the location of the battery to be determined at a later time.  Likely the former.

With the completion date of December 23, 1965, the car should be titled and registered as a 1966, as the car would not have arrived in Australia until months later in 1966.

Ok, so interior trim code 216.  This tells us quite a bit!  In the picture below, you'll notice under column 216 that there are rows of funny German words with numbers.  The words are the color, and the numbers are the color code for the color.  Each row is explained below

-In the first row you see 1505 Cognac.  This is the leather color and the color code for the Cognac leather.  Bear in mind color codes and trim codes are not the same!

 -In the second row you see D 32 and Creme`.  This is the color code and color name for the headliner material and sun visors.

-In the third row you see 6419 Dunkel Beige Melliert.  This is the color code and color name for your wool carpeting, which is Mottled Dark Beige. (dark beige with darker colored flecking in the carpeting.....hence, 'Two tone")

-In the fourth row you see 2445 D braun.  This is the color code and color name for the ribbed rubber entrance rail coverings, which are to be dark brown.

-In the fifth row you see Macassar.  This is the species of wood normally paired with a Cognac interior....Macassar Ebony to be exact. Because there are no other option codes under the "Wenig Gewunscht" area would mean that the car should have Macassar Ebony on the dash and around the windshield. Sometimes people would specifically request a different species of wood instead of what Mercedes recommended.

-In the sixth and last row you see D 12 Graubeige.  This is the color code and color name of the seat webbing strap color if the car had seat belts.  Grey beige.

So you now know how your car left the factory.  Though, if the original slim faced Becker Grand Prix is missing that will be a costly part to procure, but there are plenty of them out there.  :)

G’day guys. I know this post is 2 years old, but I am wondering whether anyone know the one item that Aaron overlooked in his excellent description of the colour codes above:

He accidentally skips over line 3 in the photo attached … what is it???

Line 1 is the leather colour code
2 is the headliner colour code

What is line 3???

Line 4 is the carpet colour
Line 5 the sill plate colour
Line 6 the wood type
Line 7 the seatbelt colour

My coupe has interior 214 and I am keen to find out what line 3 - 6415 dark beige refers to!   Anyone?

Sven
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on July 29, 2022, 00:22:04
Todd, this is the same place I referred you to over on your own introductory post.  Putt Georgie LTD.  Go to the first page, and about three quarters of the way down in one of my comments you'll see a hyperlink that takes you to the website.

Link to the 2-tone carpet for anyone interested in the cognac color (like me):  http://www.aro2000.com/2_tone_velour_carpet.htm (http://www.aro2000.com/2_tone_velour_carpet.htm)
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 16, 2022, 00:12:52
I've received the 3 "cognac" colored carpet samples and wanted to post them in case it helps anyone decide, or speeds up the selection process.  It was very hard to get a photo that ACURATELY showed the colors, but I think these two photos represent the samples well.

The large piece is from GAHH in North Hollywood, CA.  They make a kit for you, at somewhere in the $1,200 range.  It appears to be very good quality.  I like it, and it looks great sitting in the car, but I think it might be too "cinnamon" and sort of too dark.

The upper small piece is from World Upholstery & Trim, also in CA.  Similar pricing for a kit.  I didn't like this one at all.  It just doesn't look "correct" or even "trying to be correct" to me.  If it were all that was available, that would be a different story.

The lower small piece is from Putt Georgi LTD in NY.   Putt doesn't make a kit, so you have to purchase the carpet and have that done.  This one is my favorite, and not surprising as it was recommended by AaronH, who I guess is no longer contributing here.  It has some reddish flecking in it.  There is no one left in my area, that I'd trust to make a kit, so I'm trying to talk someone that Putt recommended, into doing the job.  I really only need the 4 floor mats, and transmission tunnel piece made.  The remainder of the pieces I can cut and glue to the body, and they don't need any edge banding.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: wwheeler on August 16, 2022, 17:21:32
Monitor color can vary a lot, so hard to tell. I agree, the second color in the World piece looks too brown. The large piece from GAHH does look better. The second color on my original carpet is more red and less brown than what was available when I was looking. My kit came from German Auto Tops which GAHH owns now. Probably the same as what GAHH uses. The one from Putt looks too pale and not really attractive to me. Looks like their base carpet color is too light and should be a bit darker. The second accent color looks about right though on the Putt.     

The picture from Aaron is exactly what my original looks like and is soooo nice. I think the GAHH is close enough and will just have to do.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 16, 2022, 18:05:20
I almost included the picture from the Putt website, which AaronH used, because it is much closer to what the sample looks like in person...just the right amount of color to go with the cognac leather, and that touch of red works really well.  The GAHH version is really nice, and I really like the color, but I think an entire floor full of it would be to overpowering to the leather and wood.....but I still think it would be an excellent choice.

UPDATE:  I set all 3 samples on the transmission tunnel, forward of the shift lever, and drove around in the sun, with the sunroof open.  I wanted to have a better idea of what they look like, sort of "out in the real world."

Observations:
-The Putt carpet sparkles from whatever the red is made out of.  I really don't like it.  It makes it look plastic and gives it a pink hue.  I was very shocked, because I was going to order it today.
-The GAHH looks really good in direct sunlight because it is "flat" and doesn't have any shine.  So it's just nice and stable, and shows it's colors well.  It still "feels" a bit too dark or maybe too rich to me.
-The World carpet actually looks pretty good in the direct sun.  It sort of loses it's "leopard speckle" look and just looks sort of vintage and good.

I wound up placing an order for the GAHH version at $1,400 and change, and it will take a couple weeks for them to get to me.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 22, 2022, 00:13:07
The GAHH kit arrived just 4 days after ordering it.  I set in the 6 easy pieces just to see how it looks installed, and will do the side rails, rear tunnels, and areas under the rear seat, this week.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aussiesven on August 22, 2022, 00:23:16
That does look quite nice.  As you said: maybe a tad dark, but I think you will get used to it. 

I have been looking at GAHH as well for my W111 Coupe - mine has press studs on all four corners of each of the four floor mats.  Do GAHH offer the mats with studs as well, or would they need to be added later (not a big deal either…).
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 22, 2022, 01:06:23
Welcome to the forums AussieSeven!  Looking forward to hearing more about your car.

My car has never had correct carpets, and as you can see by the side rails, what was in it, was disgusting/embarrassing.  The GAHH kit, while "not correct" either in color or material (Wilton Wool, not velour) looks really good.  While I'm excited to see the car look more presentable, I'm not very happy with the quality of their kit:  I specifically asked to have a side pad in vinyl, next to the accelerator pedal.  I was told by the sales rep, that she'd take care of it.  She didn't.  So that's a phone call for tomorrow.  The piping is a replica of the Congnac leather, and while it looks nice, I would have preferred a solid color, which may have originally matched the brown color of the long rubber mats at the door thresholds.  They didn't mention piping color choices, so there I was assuming that with their reputation and all their listings for specific W111 models, they were working hard to make their kits as OEM correct as currently possible.  The piece for the center console is cut too large by about 1/4", so once set down into the console, the piping catches, and puckers the carpet upward, creating a low bubble shape.  That's pretty frustrating.  Basically they cut the carpet to the precise dimension of the console, and didn't account for the piping making it wider.  Novice mistake, and for $1400+ I simply expect better.  Again, it's another topic for a call tomorrow.  The floor mats fit similarly.  Literally so tight that they have to be forced down, almost won't just set flat because they want to buckle.  The tunnel piece doesn't travel toward the firewall far enough to make it more forward then the floor mats, so that it's side edges are hidden by the mats, so there's a slight air gap there.  Again, c'mon...how many of these have they done, to not have this really dialed in.  It's going to be interesting to see how the side rails and rear tunnel fit.  The pieces under the rear seat aren't visible, so I don't really care about them.

As far as how they mount, no, there are no snaps, or metal rings to fit over studs in the floor.  That said, as I mentioned, the floor mats fit so tight, I doubt they will ever move.  They come with what appears to be a closed cell, gray, foam, glued to the backs of the 4 floor mats.

Overall, I'm very happy to see the car look better, however, it's more like a $500 kit, or one of the kits that pops up on ebay, and not like a kit that was sort of "custom made from patterns and questions about whether the car had A/C, and did it have a floor shifter."   I didn't ask for the order to be rushed, and that appears to be what happened.  Frustrating, because I wasn't looking for "wham-bam, crank it out."  Nor was I wanting to pay cheap, and wind up with cheap results.  You'd think that if a company is selling restoration carpet for a high end car brand (Mercedes Benz), they would acknowledge that the customer is doing significant restoration work, on an expensive vintage car.

A note about the Putt Geogie Ltd carpet.  I was not able to get it to photograph, but it shined as if I'd just wiped it with cooking oil or baby oil, and became very pink looking.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Aussiesven on August 22, 2022, 01:25:08
Ouch,

That does sound a lot worse than the pictures show… I agree that for good money you want to get a set that fits and looks right.  I agree, they should have done enough to get it right.

Had the same issue with my front carpet for a Citroen Safari… too narrow! Twice!  The car width remains 1250mm, so how can they get the width wrong by 15mm, then 10mm?  After sending we a LHD version first for a RHD car…

Third time it fit!  So GAHH may have to remake some of the carpets…
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Leester on August 22, 2022, 14:57:27
After I finish up my 280SL (which is taking forever) I'll go back to my W111 and carpet is on the list so this has been very enlightening.  The transmission tunnel carpet I have doesn't fit very well. The tunnel changes shape just forward of the floor shifter so the carpet there doesn't conform to the tunnel shape. My 280SL has the same issue. 

All that said, there is an extremely thick layer of sound deadening stuff - looks similar to horsehair but its not - over the transmission tunnel on my W111. I wonder if GAAH's tunnel carpet envisioned a thicker layer of insulation between the transmission tunnel and the carpet. If so, it might explain why its too big.  Just a thought.  Lee
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 22, 2022, 15:53:16
Hi Leester,
At least in the case of my carpet kit from GAHH, my front transmission tunnel piece fits fine, but it's not "long enough" to touch the firewall.  It falls short of the firewall on both sides, and that leaves a gap between the trans tunnel carpet, and the front floor mats.  My car does have the original factory molded foam insulation for that front transmission tunnel area, and I can add to that, by spray gluing more batting, or even foam, to areas where the carpet doesn't look like it's "filled out" underneath.

I have a call in to GAHH, and am waiting to hear back.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: wwheeler on August 22, 2022, 15:54:22
looks nice. I also notice your door sill mats are brown. My understanding is that with cognac, that is the mat color. I only found one place that sells a full range of colored mats and was in Germany. I ended up using a caramel color because the brown they had was too much on the purple side. The caramel seemed to click nicely with base color with the cognac leather and carpet.   https://ok-gummiwerk.de/produkt/en-turschwellerauflage-fur-klassische-mercedes-benz-fahrzeuge/?lang=en

My W111 also has the thick foam pad on the trans tunnel. Without that, the carpet wouldn't fit very well.

Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Garry on August 22, 2022, 22:05:23
About a month ago, i ordered a complete carpet for my 114 280ce from GAHH.  After getting the invoice i have waited a month and no further communication from them so i emailed them last night and got a reply this morning that they have been out of stock for several months, don’t know when they will get more and do i wish to proceed.  Oh, and sorry for not informing you.  I think i might try Caberio.de or see if there is another supplier in USA.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: GM on August 23, 2022, 01:01:03
For an exercise, it might be fun to see what German Auto Tops (now owned by GAHH) has any availability.
It wouldn't be the first time that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing... 8)
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Garry on August 23, 2022, 01:18:09
I have hijacked this thread a bit but will asked the question.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 23, 2022, 01:51:11
Did the "real" installation today, and have included a few photos.  IMO, it looks great, and I'm still not very impressed with the size and fit of the pieces.  It's so close to being "really good," and I just wish they would have taken it that extra step since they were building from scratch.  For example, not asking me about piping color, or not providing piping in a carmel color, to match the rubber sill mats, and the plastic trim covers that snap onto the rear legs of the front seats.  I'm nit picking, for sure, but it's details like this that are fun to pull off, and help make the restoration and look of the car just a little bit more dialed.  I'm not trying to take my rusted heap of crap to concourse level, over a set of carpets, but since I paid full boat, vs. going cheap, I just wish it was a bit more dialed in.  I feel like when I call and talk to anyone at World, I get someone who's all about, "So a coupe with cognac would have had........" and that's the kind of conversation I want to have.  If I choose to veer from that, it's on me, but at least we start with a base conversation of:  "Here's what would have been correct.  Here's what we sell and do, which is as close as we can get to what's available.  Is that okay with you?  Do YOU want to make changes to that?"

I called GAHH first thing this morning and left a message with the sales associate who sold me the kit.  Did not hear back from her at all.  That doesn't give a warm-fuzzy, so I will call again tomorrow, and ramp things up a bit.

@wwheeler, thanks for the link to the mat material.  I soaked my existing mats with a vinyl rubber cleaner/paint prep about 2 weeks ago, because I was just going to paint them for now, and as soon as that product soaked in, the mats returned to their correct brown-hint-of-purple color.  So I got to see what they originally looked like.  I shot them with a clear coat of vinyl paint and they've held the majority of that color that retuned.  Certainly better looking that the chalk white that they were prior.  I've been planning on replacing them, just couldn't find anything I liked.  I just ordered a pair, 201 Euros, shipped.

@Garry   No problem climbing in on the conversation.  IMO, it helps the thread stay current, and will hopefully help others make a more informed choice.  I'm sorry you had such a bad transaction with GAHH.  Does World not have the German Square Weave (or whatever your car is supposed to have)?   I've had great luck with them.  I just didn't like their version of cognac, or I definitely would have used them for the carpet.  Ultimately, I will purchase cognac leather seat kits from them.  I have a half hide from them that I've been using for my door and rear panel top caps, and the top of the dash.  Have enough of it left to do the lower bolster on the dash, and maybe the flat panels of the door panels.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: wwheeler on August 23, 2022, 04:30:35
You know about skivving the leather for the dash? If you use standard thickness, you will have fitting issues. Skivving makes the leather about half the thickness. Good for tight corners, binnacle etc. The door panel caps may also need to be skivved, not sure. I know GAHH will take their leather and skive it for you for under $50. They do a max of 16" wide and can do around 48" long. The width is the constraining dimension.

Also be sure to use the "Old Timers" leather. There is (or was) a standard grade which I found to be pretty low quality. The Old timer range is far better and the cognac color is pretty close. The color of cognac with the standard was depressing. Most have the Old timer line.
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 23, 2022, 06:04:27
I learned about skivving from AaronH (on this forum) a couple years ago.  Had never heard of it prior to that.  I didn't know that GAHH sold leather, or could do the skivving.  Haven't heard of the old timers, so maybe you can supply a link?

I ordered a half hide from World, and have been using that.  Personally, I think it looks fine, even though I know it's not "correct."  It's what I used on the door and rear panel caps, and it did those fine, without being skivved, and doesn't look incorrect, in terms of being too thick looking.  The front kick panels, door panels, and rear panels, and the strip across the bottom of the rear seat are still in their original cognac, so I have some examples of what the original stuff looked like.  Of course the World version is not identical, but it's also 56yrs later and so I don't expect to find anything really perfect.  Maybe I'm wrong in thinking that way.  I used the World hide also on the dash top (my instrument binnacle is wood covered) pieces.  I was able to get it to do the left curve piece fine, but the right curve was really tough, and I wound up with some wrinkles, as you've seen in my photos.  Not the greatest outcome, but I'm learning, AND, it looks so much better than the crispy, busted apart, leather that was on the dash.  I know it's not perfect, but for now, it's fine.  I will do the lower dash bolster next, and hopefully my skill will be better for the corners.  This is my first time working with leather, and my first time doing this level of upholstery work.  I don't have the money to take it somewhere and drop it off, and around here, there's no longer anyone that I would trust. 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Garry on August 23, 2022, 07:38:31
Todd,


New carpets in your car are looking pretty good.


I messaged World and had a response within two hours. Unfortunately they are also out of the carpet and the order for more is booked out with new orders at this point so will have to wait on GAHH at this point. 


I wouldn't say I had a bad experience, they were just not great at communicating that there would be some months delay.


Garry
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 23, 2022, 13:56:17
Hi Garry,
Thanks, I'm happy with the overall look.  It's difficult to photograph it because the cell phone camera wants to wash it out and blur the carpet texture, so I have to make adjustments to color/contrast/etc prior to posting photos here.  But to walk up and look into the car, or sit in it, it looks and feels very good.

Sorry to hear that about the carpet.  Maybe try the Putt Georgie Ltd site, in New York?  He doesn't make kits, but maybe you could at least purchase the bulk and have World, or GAHH make a kit, or have someone local make it?
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Leester on August 23, 2022, 23:05:15
Todd, I think you have done an excellent job. I left 280SL pieces with a trim a trim shop over two months ago. Guy does great work and works on BMW and Porsche but never quite got around to my time pieces. Picked them up today.  I'm doing vinyl so I'm going to buy some cheap vinyl and try a few pieces myself based partly on your experience. I think vinyl is a little more forgiving than leather and I don't believe that skiving is necessary although I did thin out the door cards a little around the edges. If I can make it work with the cheap stuff on a couple of pieces, then I'll try it with the real stuff. 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: Todd on August 24, 2022, 00:48:05
Thanks for the kind words.  My daughter(23) and I drove the car to a popular local coffee place this morning.  We had to try out our new "no spill Mercedes mugs," of course ;)   It was the first chance to see the carpet out in normal driving and parked conditions.  It looks great.  The color is very stable, and always looks excellent, whether in direct sunlight coming down through the sunroof opening, or and shade, late in the afternoon, or at night.  It looked "correct" and very nice this morning.  The car was very well received when we pulled up in front of the place.

Vinyl is very forgiving because it stretches so nicely.  I think you'll have excellent results. 
Title: Re: W111 carpet types
Post by: JHDG on November 15, 2022, 05:07:18
Hey all...i just got new carpets (grey) for my '68 250se. Does anyone know how the kickdown button behind the gas pedal works with the floor mats. Do you just cut a hole for it? Seems wrong to have the matt over the button.

Jeff

1968 250SE Convertible
1970 280SL