Getting ready for paint - W126 rear bumper and cladding removal? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

czwbkx · #1 08-15-2003, 02:38 PM

1988 300SEL W126. Getting ready for paint early next week, but can't get teh rear bumper or body cladding off. Forum search didn't turn up anything - can anyone help with instructions?

mike690003 · #2 08-15-2003, 10:04 PM

Open the door and you will see that there are screws that hold the moldings down. Remove the screws and then slide the moldings off.

Hope this helps

czwbkx · #3 08-16-2003, 01:27 PM

That's a W124. I need info on W126.

mbtjc · #4 08-19-2003, 05:53 PM

This is for an 86-up W126, but I'm sure that it's the same procedure despite the different style cladding.

The cladding that is not attached to the doors (the small pieces on the quarter panels) just pull off. Pull out on the bottom and then pull down.

The ones on the doors: Open the doors and you have to pull out some of the rubber door seal. Right there across from the top right portion of the panel. You'll see a hole, there is a single plastic nut in there, unscrew it. Then, from the top right towards the top left, unpop the fasteners. Be careful not to bend the chrome trim in the process!!!! Don't ask me how I know. You won't be able to unpop the entire top side, since the top left corner is a slide in clip. Just leave it there for the time being. Then from the bottom left, unpop the fasteners from left to right. Again, the bottom right is a slide in clip. So now the only thing that should holding the panel on is a slide clip on the lower right and upper left. At this point take the panel and push it to the left, unclipping the right side first, then you should be able to unclip the top left side.

Tips and warnings: If you have some sort of a plastic prying device that will not scratch the paint, it will make unpopping the fasteners much easier and will make it less likely that you will bend the chrome. This chrome piece is about $70 at the dealer...you don't wanna bend it. Since this panel has probably not been off before, some of these fasteners are IN THERE...so some will take some persuasion...again, be careful not to mess anything up. Also, a lot of these fasteners will break, so you will have to buy new ones from MB. They can get really expensive once they start to add up. I think I have some extras left over. If you end up needing any, I might be able to hook you up with a few. I'll have to look though.

Good luck and if you need any clarifications or have any questions just ask.

mbtjc · #5 08-19-2003, 05:56 PM

Sorry, misread, yours is an 86-up too. Then definitely the same!

Are you taking rocker panels off too? Just unscrew the bottom and unpop the fasteners.

Rear bumper: Mine is a euro so it might be different, but for mine there are 4 nuts that you can only access through the trunk. Once those 4 nuts are unscrewed it slides right off.