My existing interior is that commonly seen tan/beige. I was having a hard time finding a good rear door at the boneyard that was any good and I bought a black one. I should've realized that there is some trim that is not nearly as easy to replace as the main door panel. It looks like it can come out, I just don't want to damage too much stuff in the process. I'll need to swap out the gray stuff on the new door (photo), with the stuff on the old door.

Anybody have any good suggestions?

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

You know what, I think I'm just going to spray paint it. I'll get a color that's close enough, mask it real well and paint. Looks like it'll be a major pain in the ass to remove and replace, and that's if I can do it in one piece. I practiced a little bit, it didn't turn out well, but I can fix it.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Painting it is a good call. I wanted to remove mine for painting to freshen up due to sun fade, but the plastic is super thin and after 37 years, very brittle. Masking and painting in place worked well.

I have an old thread on my experience with several products that have a good match to the MB Palomino color. May be worth a read, different products for different trim and materials.

Good luck

Great! Glad to hear it worked well. Paint might start to peel off a bit. But then it probably won't get a lot of wear, It's in the backseat.

So nice to get rid of that dented door.





While we're at it, I was thinking maybe hitting that with a rattle can, put some white paint over that black until I can get the rest of the bodywork done for a paint job. I already did all of the edges inside. My concern, I am not highly experienced with painting, is whether or not cheapo rattle can paint will hinder a decent final paint job.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

You should be able to find the correct paint color in a spray can. Several aftermarket online providers offer them. I suspect most are single stage enamel. Many have high quality spray tips allowing for a great wide fan spray pattern, worst case, if you get any runs or sags, you can wet sand to correct them. If you have a deft hand, you'll be able to do a nice job needing little paint correction. Get a quality paint.

If you want to practice and get a feel, use a white rattle can sandable primer spay. Great for toning down the black and a good base to build on with you top coat.

That seal is the only thing keeping it in place after you pull the trim screws in the sloped part of the door.


Wash the piece with Ivory dish washing liquid with a 20% or better dose of ammonia to remove the oil and wax buildup on the trim.


If there's a Finishmaster or any legitimate auto paint supplier in your area they will have SEM interior paint. If it doesn't stick it's your fault for not cleaning that plastic.


If you're fretting over SEM paint bonding to that piece you can buy some SEM rubber and plastic solution to ensure a bond. Imo, that's an upsale item to those who have no confidence in their ability to clean a part for paint.


You're going to spend $75-$100 on the SEM paint and a Harbor Freight trim sprayer. Any small compressor will produce enough air to shoot a part that small.


If you don't have the skills to spray paint then find someone who does but be there and be sure to do the cleaning with plenty of water to rinse the soap and ammonia off of the trim piece.


SEM has a paint which matches the original color of your trim. In this case it will not match the color of that 30+ year old door panel. The sun has bleached the paint on that panel next to the window but only a trained eye will see it.


Imo, the money spent on a spray gun and SEM Colorcoat paint will save the risk of shooting paint in places which you'll never get cleaned if you try and mask/paint it with a rattle can. The color will never match.


I apologize for being so aggressive but the solution to properly doing that job is simple. Spraying SEM on the interior of my car, after taking all the interior out of my car, is where I began to learn to spray paint with a paint gun.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic