I'm still learning. The side trim can be pulled off carefully with a plastic wedge. The 'red berries' and side trim can be found on ebay. The trunk trim pieces either bolts on or pulls off - just look inside the trunk lid. The bumpers are detailed on this forum and I've not yet pulled mine. The black trim over the aluminum drip rail is removed by unscrewing starting under the hood - then it lifts off. The black fin insert at the rear has releasing tabs and can be removed and replaced. I've done mine more than once to make sure the roof drain was clear. The aluminum drip edge can also be removed with a plastic wedge pushing up from the leading edge. I took off one side and put it back chipping the old paint. I think it may have to be left on and masked for the spray. Door handle removal is also on this forum and looks straight forward. I'm debating if I want to have a pro remove and install the front and rear windshields and put in new seals. My window trim (next to the glass) looks bad and it can be removed. Unless I can find better pieces to go back with, I'll probably have is masked off rather than risk damaging a piece I can not replace.

I hope there are others with more experience following this thread that will weigh in and give us some advice.

Would that be these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190202793622

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__________________
1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

They haven't arrived yet and I'll actually end up with two sets as I just ordered a complete 8 piece trim set that includes the berries. Most of mine were pretty weathered on the black areas.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370012916782&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123

Looked like a good buy.

Charles

Just to be extra-clear (I'm new at all this) I should be able to remove and replace my current trim, right? I mean, the trim looks fine, I'd only remove it to get a better paint job. I'm willing to drop $25 on berries but don't want to have to buy a new set of trim.

__________________
1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

In theory - yes. However mine has been baking in the Texas sun for 25 years so the black is badly pitted. A couple of the studs snapped off when I removed the trim so go slowly and apply pressure out closely to the stud. Good luck.

What sort of plastic wedge did you use? Is it something you bought that's made for removing trim, or did you just take a piece of plastic from something?

Does this apply to the trim along the bottom edge of the car as well (specifically, above the front jack tubes)?

__________________
1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

It looks like a plastic putty knife but the blade tapers. I think I got it in the paint section of the hardware store. The lower panels pop off except for those on the doors. You should be able to open the door and remove a plug at the back edge of the door to access a nut. Remove that. Pop off the others from the rear going forward (except the one that is on the leading edge of the door. It slides to the rear after the others are out.) A plastic wedge for removing door panels might work but may have a less sharp edge and harder to start. It's desiged to wedge to either side of a fastener and that's probably the best way to avoid bending the trim.

A screwdriver will probably leave another paint nick to repair before you paint.
Where I needed to remove a door panel for other reasons, I pushed the fasteners I could see from the inside.

TIP: Go to a local u pull it salvage yard and practice!

There are a set of three plastic wedges that I bought some time ago that are supposed to be clones of the MB tool set, made of vinyl(!). The set was around $30, and I wondered why I just spent $30 for some pieces of plastic. But these really work - I've removed window trim, door trim, stuffed weatherstripping, popped off trim, etc with no damage (and with the shop manual and a lot of care). I actually broke the end of one but I sanded it to new. These are not thin bladed tools, they are pretty thick, maybe 1/2" at the fat end of the largest of the set.

__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

I got a $3 paint edging tool at Home Depot. It's plastic so it shouldn't cause any damage, though I'm not sure it's thick enough to do the job. It was the most appropriate thing I could find there.
The welder isn't calling me back right now so I guess I've got time to try it out.

__________________
1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

That was a great write up with excellent pictures. Thanks. It's good to know what goes into a good paint job even if youre paying someone else to do the work.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

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