Greetings,

I'm having difficulty reinstalling the moulding / rocker (not sure what it's referred to) that runs along the bottom of the doors on my 85 TD. At salvage yards, I have seen these little white rectangular clips that appear to slide into the moulding, and then snap into the holes on the door. Yet, when doing a search on the forums, I have heard people refer to small red pieces with a flange that must also be used. I am not quite sure what to think. I have found a few threads that refer to rocker panel and moulding installation, but have not seen any photos of this trim piece or the associated clips. In addition, my piece has two non-plastic pieces on it. It has a threaded piece of hardware on the rearward end (Photo 5) and a rusty metal clip on the forward end (Photo 6, next post). I wonder if these are original material, or a rig-job made by the PO.

I think part of my problem is my ignorance of the proper terminology. I have taken several photos of the panel and assorted clips that might be used.

Photo 1: The location of the missing moulding piece.
Photo 2: The moulding piece.
Photo 3: Two possible clips, white and red.
Photo 4: White clip inserted into the groove.
Photo 5: Threaded hardware, at rearward side of moulding.
Photo 6: Metal clip at frontward side of moulding (next post).

I'd appreciate some input on (a) clarifying the proper terminology, (b) indicating the correct clips that are necessary, and (c) recommending a proper installation procedure. I want to clean up the rust and reinstall this panel before winter gets really bad -- snow is already falling here in Cleveland, as you can see...

Thanks.

Attached Thumbnails

         

__________________
-1985 300TD - 324k mi on chassis. MB "Tauschaggregat" 617 motor + 4-speed conversion
Alaska Roadtrip 2009
-2002 E320 Wagon - 197k mi
-1998 E320 Wagon - 310k mi - retired

Photo 6, as promised.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
-1985 300TD - 324k mi on chassis. MB "Tauschaggregat" 617 motor + 4-speed conversion
Alaska Roadtrip 2009
-2002 E320 Wagon - 197k mi
-1998 E320 Wagon - 310k mi - retired

First. The little red, the new ones are white, buttons go into the holes in the metal. The mating piece in the molding just presses into the button. Slide the male piece in the molding to line up with the body button, or what ever you want to call it.
The rusty piece in the molding slides into a slot with a plastic piece. Place the rusty hook into the slot and with a rubber mallet or your hand force the hook in the direction needed to make it hang on. This should line up the bolt hole on the other end from the hook. The bolt is the last thing to install.
Making sure the male parts in the molding line up with the body buttons hammer the molding on. Try a little grease to all the parts, makes the installation easier and you may have to remove the molding again.
If an old body button is stuck onto the molding male piece pry it off with two flat tip screw drivers.

__________________
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Thanks for your reply. While experimenting with these bits, I tried to get the white molding clip to snap into the flange-end of the body button, but to no avail. I guess it must take a hit from a rubber mallet, as you indicated, to snap the white clip through.

I found additional red buttons on All Parts Express, but cannot seem to find additional white molding clips or the plastic slot for the hook end. Any idea where those can be purchased? Are they dealer-only items?

Thanks.

__________________
-1985 300TD - 324k mi on chassis. MB "Tauschaggregat" 617 motor + 4-speed conversion
Alaska Roadtrip 2009
-2002 E320 Wagon - 197k mi
-1998 E320 Wagon - 310k mi - retired

Yes, this is right. But on my 123, the clips are rectangular.

__________________
Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

Hi
You need the white trim clips shown in your picture. The dealer and different fastener companies sell them. One brand is Au-ve-co products of Cold Springs KY 41076. - MOLDING CLIPS part# 13142 (000-990-21-92) Mercedes-Benz. 25 pcs. per box

When new, the clip has the white pin sticking out of it. You install it by pushing the clip into place and lock it by pushing the pin in.

The rusty metal clip on the molding slips into door slot at the front most edge of the door and the bolt goes into the round hole at the rear most edge of the door.

Then, with the white clips all in place, you push or tap (rubber mallet) the molding onto the white clips until they catch.

Then you put the nut on the bolt and you're done.

Junkyard moldings are sometimes too stiff to go over the clips and catch.
Some folks have used a heat gun to warm up the molding to make them easier to snap on.

Good Luck,
Joseph

Thanks for your response.

This looks like the same clip offered by AllPartsExpress here. Ziegler Part # MBZ005560. Is that correct?

So as you indicate, the pin on the opposite side of the clip is meant to press against the slot in the molding, thereby preventing it from sliding around. However, when I place the current clip I have (without the pin) into the groove, it rests flush against the back slot of the molding. Look again at Photo #4 in my original post. The clip still slides around in the groove, but I don't see how the pin can possibly fit in there. Perhaps there is a difference in the clips used between different w123 model years?

__________________
-1985 300TD - 324k mi on chassis. MB "Tauschaggregat" 617 motor + 4-speed conversion
Alaska Roadtrip 2009
-2002 E320 Wagon - 197k mi
-1998 E320 Wagon - 310k mi - retired

Did this ever get solved?

Do the red pieces get pushed into the center of the white pieces OR do the red pieces go into the door and the white pieces get pushed into them?

Last, is there any place to buy the metal clip at the rear - the one with the post on it?

Thanks
Doug

I bought replacement parts for my 201 and used them, but found they wouldnt hold in the enlarged (rusty) holes meant for them.

I took copper flashing and cut squares the right size, and then centered a small bolt in the square and bolted my moldings on that way. You can arch copper up, and then flatten it into the molding for a tight fit. Works good. Not recommended for everyone, however.

Both the red and white pieces mount in the door.
The trim snaps on the white.
The trim should have black pins sliding in a slot, these align with the red receptacle clips and snap into place.



.

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Picture #3.
* The white piece is MB# 0009902192
* The red piece is MB# 1239901750

The white piece plugs into the door hole, then you drive the protruding pin in level with the clip face = it forces the fingers to expand = locks this to the door.

The red piece mounts in the door, there should be two BLACK sliding pins on the trim that punch into the red piece = it forces the fingers to expand = locks this to the door.

* Slide the trim HOOK into place.
* Align the bolt into the hole.
* Have a large rubber mallet at hand.
* Align the BLACK pins with the red receivers.
* Going from front to back.
* Hit the trim hard enough to seat the clips into door and/or trim.


IF; any of the BLACK sliding pins on the trim are damaged or missing = the trim must be replaced.

I take it we are talking about mounting the upper molding and the lower molding in the same discussion? The black studs are in the upper molding, which uses the red buttons in to mount into on the car.

The lower trim uses the white clips which are mounted on the door by driving the center pin in, and then the hook, and bolt come into play.

The problem I am having is no matter how hard I hit the stupid trim it will NOT snap onto the clips. I'm afraid of denting the door, or bending the trim if I hit if any harder. The trim is in good shape, and with the trim off the clips just slide right and and stay put pretty easy. What is the trick here?

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

I ran into this problem working on my 107 decades ago.

Two things caused problems with trim installations. The easy fix was that the clips needed to be replaced. They weren't in good enough shape to hold the piece in place.

Now for the rocker panel on the car. On mine, the metal and chip guard combination used to repair the rocker panel was just too thick for the clips to snap into place. The previous owner's body shop placed a lot of chip guard on the rockers to substitute for a proper repair. I had to re-repair the rocker panel. To get the molding to fit, I ended up having to file around the mounting holes, removing much of the chip gaurd, to get the rockers thin enough to allow the clips to fasten. It was a royal pain, but eventually the metal around the holes was thin enough for the clips to engage.

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