Plastic primer is usually elastomer primer so your hypothesis is logical along with your investigation. My guess is that the top matt coating flashes off trapping solvent between the top skin of the matt and the elastomer primer and this slowly dissolves and leeches back through the top coat over time aided by the heater vent proximity and the sealed nature of the cluster. Id smell the lightly sanded surface to see if there is a petrochemical scent to it, even faint.
Very interesting! My W126 instrument clusters have the same disease - some more than others. I live in a humid climate. Now to progress to a solution ... (I once tried clove oil, which is a great anti-mould treatment, but it did nothing notable to the dots and left an ineradicable stain of its own.) If only we could find a NOS stash from somewhere arid!
I just did the cluster on the W123. A magic eraser removed all the old matte paint. For the moment I've left it bare. Shall monitor and see how it goes...
In my country Malaysia, every W124 and W126 I saw have this white spot. I never met one which is spotless. Strangely this spot thing only happen to Mercedes, all other make mostly doesn't have this issue. I always ask to myself, what kind of wax Mercedes put on causing all this mess? I have clean mine throughly, then in a year, man, those spot slowly coming back. Anyone who got a solution to this, hope u advise.
it seems to only happen to this era mercedes cluster in humid environments. I think the only permanent solution is to strip all the old paint and primer out and redo with modern plastic primer and matt black paint. It is a big job
Me too also have this problem. Interestingly, i only use "Stoner Trim Shine", the cluster shine black already. Several months already there is no white on the cluster. For me the dot appeared on the face of speedometer, fuel and rpm
theres a few people that refurb them now, the hardest part is removing the clear front plastic without breaking. It is simply a case then of stripping all original paint and the gooey primer, cleaning and repainting with modern plastic compatible paints as far as im aware.
@@gcgj1540 Im in Victoria so more south than Perth for sure, approx 700klm further south from the equator. Different water conditions though migh also make Perth more humid
I never found a method to remove those. But tried with several things by myself and found that bleaching liquid works fine. Now only i got to know that it's a treatment to remove those. Thanks ✌
The car was so space age when it was launched they included a star field in the instrument cluster
Plastic primer is usually elastomer primer so your hypothesis is logical along with your investigation.
My guess is that the top matt coating flashes off trapping solvent between the top skin of the matt and the elastomer primer and this slowly dissolves and leeches back through the top coat over time aided by the heater vent proximity and the sealed nature of the cluster.
Id smell the lightly sanded surface to see if there is a petrochemical scent to it, even faint.
Very interesting! My W126 instrument clusters have the same disease - some more than others. I live in a humid climate. Now to progress to a solution ... (I once tried clove oil, which is a great anti-mould treatment, but it did nothing notable to the dots and left an ineradicable stain of its own.)
If only we could find a NOS stash from somewhere arid!
My W140 has this, I always assumed it was some factory texture finish hahahaha
I just did the cluster on the W123. A magic eraser removed all the old matte paint. For the moment I've left it bare. Shall monitor and see how it goes...
I bought a 210 gauge cluster from the east coast us, it had this. My west coast gauge didn't. Maybe related to humidity?
You are a good man.
Fascinating! Mine has same issue.
Interesting. They use metal particles in the paint in order to colorize. Maybe the degradation/oxidation of those particles is what we are seeing?
did you achieve a fine result correcting these dots❓will you post a video consisting of your solution sir ❓ thanx in advance
In my country Malaysia, every W124 and W126 I saw have this white spot. I never met one which is spotless.
Strangely this spot thing only happen to Mercedes, all other make mostly doesn't have this issue. I always ask to myself, what kind of wax Mercedes put on causing all this mess?
I have clean mine throughly, then in a year, man, those spot slowly coming back. Anyone who got a solution to this, hope u advise.
it seems to only happen to this era mercedes cluster in humid environments. I think the only permanent solution is to strip all the old paint and primer out and redo with modern plastic primer and matt black paint. It is a big job
@@MMWA-DAVE paint will not last too..
Me too also have this problem. Interestingly, i only use "Stoner Trim Shine", the cluster shine black already. Several months already there is no white on the cluster. For me the dot appeared on the face of speedometer, fuel and rpm
Perhaps the people at MBCluster know how to fix this?
theres a few people that refurb them now, the hardest part is removing the clear front plastic without breaking. It is simply a case then of stripping all original paint and the gooey primer, cleaning and repainting with modern plastic compatible paints as far as im aware.
@@MMWA-DAVE good to know
You learn new things everyday maybe the car it was fitted in has been throw a chemical event or some sort of gas because this is rare
seems to be caused by humidity, may never happen in dry environments
I've not seen this before, have you been able to determine if this is more common in very hot climatic conditions like yours?
it seems to be humidity that starts and accelerates this degradation
I think you're dead on with it being a primer issue. Benz had primer issues in other places back then as well. Like the M103/M104 valve covers.
what if you use CLR to remove it?
Salt stains?
Never seen this before! My W126 is mark free
What country ?
@@gcgj1540 MMWA and I are both in Australia
@@ka130258 are you in a low air humidity place ? Perth might be more humid.
@@gcgj1540 Im in Victoria so more south than Perth for sure, approx 700klm further south from the equator. Different water conditions though migh also make Perth more humid
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FBI Office Australia 👌👍
AFP in Australia.
Probably! First time I see that!
I never found a method to remove those. But tried with several things by myself and found that bleaching liquid works fine. Now only i got to know that it's a treatment to remove those. Thanks ✌
before i seen in my w124 than i tested like salt
Just open that cluster meter, then wipe it with clothes and wd40.