95 SL320 interior

[shaq]

the lid covers on the interior door panels have broken off. I can't find anyone to repair them. dealer said that I would have to purchase new door panels for $1200 each. I still have the lid covers. Any ideas?

[tecqboy]

This happens because the plastic studs which hold the door togerther behind the hinge get brittle with age and break. There is a lot of strain because of pulling here to close the doors. It's very common on the 129's with age. I've repaired mine by re-attaching them from behind with screws throught the places where the plastic studs are. Essentiallly, you drill through the plastic studs and add put in long screw / bolts #8-24 attached with a washer and nut from behind. The down side of this is that the heads of the screws are visible. I have a black interior and used black head screws and if you don't point it out, no one notices. You need to take the door panel off to really understand whats required to make the repair. Once you see whats in there, you can decide if you'd rather buy new panels or look at a few screw heads.

To remove door panel 1991 300SL.


1. Carefully remove the door lock knob by pulling outward ( parallel ) to release.
2. Using extreme care, remove the wood trim behind the door release handle by lifting outward with a panel removal tool.
3. Extract the single screw securing the metal trim behind the door release handle.
4. Remove the single 10mm bolt securing the door latch assembly to the door.
5. Carefully remove the seat control assembly and wood trim on the door panel using a panel removal tool and prying outward on the outside edge.
6. Remove 1 screw from inside the door pocket on the outside edge of the door in the pocket hinge assembly.
7. Remove the single very small screw from inside the pocket on the inside edge of the pocket securing a piece of plastic molding. Remove the molding and extract 1 large screw securing the door pull handle and panel to the door.
8. Extract 1 screw securing the black trim piece around the door latch. Lift up from the bottom to remove.
9. Extract 3 small screws securing the chrome trim on the top of the outside edge of the door panel and remove trim.
10. Remove the courtesy lamp assembly at the bottom of the door panel by snapping it out with a panel removal tool.
11. Using a panel removal tool, carefully release the “pop” fasteners from around the perimeter of the door panel. Lift up on the door panel to release the metal clips from the top edge of the door panel.
12. Slide off the vacuum hoses from the connectors near the panel bottom.
13. You are now holding the free door panel.

Reverse steps for installation.

[matthias08]

we did the exact same thing (screws) on our 91 300SL, but unfortunately it had tan interior...