I'm sure this has been re hashed to death but my searching didn't find it :

I replaced one of the dash speakers and it's great (I bought new speakers from The Classic Center) .

My problem is typical : the far side of the plastic grille has a tab on it that's supposed to wedge into a slot in the dash, then you replace one long screw and it's golden .

I cannot get that darn tab to insert no matter what I try .

Is there a secret of method / tool here I need to know about ? .

TIA,

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

What has worked for me is inserting the tab first, and then the rest of the speaker cover followed by the screw. Though, I'm not so sure you can insert the tab first with the A pillar still attached... It's a pain trying to get the covers back on with the A pillar still attached, but I have done it a few times after some struggling. But it's quite easy with the A pillar removed if you want to go through the trouble. If not, you'll just have to try many angles until you get it to seat properly.

Good luck

I was afraid you'd say that ~

I did remove the A Pillar trip cover and I still can't get that tab to go into the slot.....

I'm sure there's some trick to how to hold or position it, I spent far too long fooling with it the other day, it bugs the heck out of me seeing it incorrectly installed .

? Anyone else have an idea ? I see many have read this.........

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Wish I could help you, but I haven't worked on a 123 dash. If it's any consolation the 126 dash speakers are a cakewalk with a stubby screwdriver

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Hi Nate, this should hopefully help you out.
https://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/12265/disc_2/program/Chassis/68-105.pdf

__________________
78 W116 300SD 'Desert Rose' new as of 01/26/2014
79 W116 300SD 'Stormcloud' RIP 04/11/2022

Well ;

In case my Brother's W126 ever gets new speakers that's good to know .

Alec : THANK YOU ! maybe I need to try inserting the cover at an angle per step # 2 .

Note than #4 says to hold the dashboard down a little bit, how to do this when the windshield prevents my fingers / screwdriver from reaching ? ...........

Maybe a brake spoon or other angled tip tool, I'll see what I can do and report back .

In any case, changing the actual speaker is dead easy ~ you just have to remember to lift the _inner_ edge of the speaker to unlock it , not the edge facing you .

No more buzz so I'm happy, I just get upset looking at the inner edge of the plastic grille standing proud by 9MM or so .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better