Can anyone explain to me how to remove the...

[Clemson88]

plastic part which mounts just below the trunk opening and has the trunk button mounted through it? It's an '85 300SE w126.

This is my first time not being able to comprehend the factory service manual. I followed the in instructions to the letter but I never found the 'release,' for the tag light. I don't believe the light release mechanism is the issue here, good folks.

[greazzer]

On a W123 there are two plastic rivets

[Clemson88]

I wonder how a bolt could flex the way I've twisted and pulled at that piece.

I'm about to prime the body with 2K epoxy and I don't want tape edges anywhere on the car without having windlace or some other covering.

Yes, I have it stripped to the bone.

[Clemson88]

After following the FSM there seems to be one more step in removing the housing.


The circle-clip holds the locking cylinder onto the mechanical part which hold trunk lid closed.


I pulled the tag housing away from the body and twisted it downward. It challenges the spring but that's the only way to access the circlip which frustrates all efforts to separate the housing and the part inside the cavity between the inside of the trunk and the outside of the body.

If you notice the metal cylinder sticking up just behind that tag light housing you'll notice the groove where the circlip goes.


In the photo you can see where I taped that tiny circlip on the housing so it wouldn't get lost.


I'm still in the market to buying a tag light housing so if anyone wants to sell one just remove the six nuts which hold all that together pull the circlip and cut the tag light wiring.



If you're very near G'ville SC I will drive over and remove it and bring cash with me. All at your convenience.