MB Sprinter – Insulate the driver’s cab

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Updated - November 6, 2024

Insulating the cab of the MB Sprinter is not a challenge, but, as always, knowing how makes it easier.

Therefore, below is a brief guide on how to proceed.

For all other surfaces in the cargo area, floor, ceiling and side walls, as well as the sliding side door and rear doors: trace the contours using packing paper, trace with a marker, cut out, adjust again and correct. Then transfer the perfectly(!) fitting template to the packaging cardboard (e.g. the Armaflex packaging) and cut out cleanly with the cutter knife. Adjust again and correct if necessary.

Place this template on the Armaflex material and - without applying pressure - cut through in several, even strokes to achieve a clean cut edge. We achieved our mammoth insulation with a total of five cutter knives.

Dismantling the cladding

First, the two Torx screws of the grab handle on the driver and passenger side must be loosened.

The sun visors are then swung to the side, parallel to the side windows. The bracket that is now free has a screw on each one, as does the holding side. After loosening the four Torx screws, the respective sun visor can be removed from the bracket by swung horizontally.

The coat hooks on the B-pillar are pulled upwards. Underneath, a metal holder is visible, attached with a small Torx screw, after which the B-pillar panel can be pulled out of the holder at the top.

Now the entire side plastic panel can be levered off by pulling it boldly away from the B-pillar so that the roof panel can be pulled out vertically from behind it. In doing so, part of the rubber lip above the driver's door also exposes part of the edge of the roof panel. The rest of the rubber lip running around the sides can be easily grasped and the two remaining sides of the roof panel can be exposed.

The entire paneling can now be lowered to headrest height, making the sheet metal inside the driver's cab accessible from all sides.

Installation insulation

Armaflex AF is the insulation of choice and is easy to process, has an antibacterial coating and can be cut to size with a utility knife.

When cutting, always make sure the knife is at the smallest possible angle and glide over the material several times, almost in flight, without applying any pressure: this produces a very clean cutting surface, even with thick material, which will not fray or tear. The blunter the knife, the more often you have to cut.

For curves, only use new, sharp blades, or "pre-cut" the material vertically and then cut through the material using a jigsaw tactic, piercing the backing film vertically. This also ultimately results in a relatively clean cut surface.

Complex cutting patterns can be implemented by making a template, first using wrapping paper, then transferring it to packaging cardboard (e.g. the Armaflex packaging) and placing this cardboard template on the Armaflex for cutting.

The side insulation of the cab roof (but also of all other surfaces of the loading area) can be cleanly produced in this way.

Finally, the cut pieces for the straight roof surface are manufactured and glued on, taking into account the cutout for the antenna and any other accessory roof penetrations.

Installation of the cladding

The roof panel “floating” above the headlining is lifted up, aligned precisely, levered over the B-pillar panel and lowered behind it into its original position.

The side rubber lip is lifted back over the roof panel, then the sun visor and grab handle unit is attached on the driver and passenger sides, and the sun visor is hung in and screwed back in place.

Finally, the metal brackets of the coat hook are screwed to the B-pillar and the plastic hook is placed on top of it.