Any way to rehydrate old fashioned plastic coated foam dash?

[marlinspike]

In the 80s, Mercedes used "padded" dashboards which were some kind of yellow foam covered in what seems to be a thin layer of plastic. Over time, that top layer dries out and shrinks, causing it to crack and then revealing the yellow foam below. Is there anything that can be applied to combat this?

 

[GearHead_1]

The only thing to apply once it's cracked is a new dash pad. Assuming one is even available.

Many 70's - 80's cars had dashes that would split like this. Some would try to have them re-upholstered. It never worked out in a way that a person could be proud of it. Even back in the early 80's dash pads cost a small fortune. I remember paying $350 for a 70 Mach 1 dash pad. That was a lot of money at the time.

 

[PPLd]

Try M40 or Opt Protectant Plus.
They work fine for me.

 

[marlinspike]

Well in this case it hasn't cracked yet, just want to keep it from becoming another casualty.

 

[marlinspike]

Try M40 or Opt Protectant Plus.
They work fine for me.

On Amazon reviews some people say the M40 is glossy others say it is matte. The people on this forum can be trusted - I would like a product that does not add shine. M40, Opt Protectant Plus, or something else?

 

[Old Pirate]

I go with what GeadHead has wrote, but to help you try 303 Aerospace Protectant, which for years had provided protection against the sun UV rays and the hard cold weather.