83 240D How do I remove the inside door panels without damaging them?
 

I am troubleshooting my Vacuum Lock System.
Does anyone know how to remove the inside door panels without damaging them?
Are there any fitting's that can be damaged?
I am anxious because on other cars I haved one this and the plasic nubs that hold them on inevitably get damaged.

One of the many things that I love about the 123's is how well they come apart and go back together. On these cars this does not stop at the door panels. There are many cars, including other MB's on which taking off the door panels risks total destruction of them.

To remove a 123 door panel:

Remove the lock button.
Remove the two screws for the chrome trim at the striker plate and then the plate.
Pry loose the black plastic trim behind the door handle.
Remove the one phillips screw behind that black plastic trim.
Remove the large phillips screws at the bottom of the armrest.
Pry loose the chrome trim at the top of the arm rest handle.
Remove the large phillips screw behind that chrome trim plate.
The whole arm rest should now come off.
Look around for anything else that may hold the panel in place in case I have forgotten something.
Push a screwdriver between the panel and door sheetmetal around the bottom and pry loose the pop on fasteners.
Once the panel is loose at the bottom and feels like it is "hinged" at the very top, grab the bottom of the panel and pull up to loosen the top of the panel from the top of the door.
Be careful as possible to keep the plastic underliner intact. You will only have to pry up the lower rear corner on each door to access the vacuum diaphragms.

For replacement, start the panel over the lock rod and hook it on the top of the door front to rear.
Start the lock button in place to hold the lock rod, so you don't lose it.
Reverse the order of the disassembly steps.

Good luck,

Larry,
great explanation but I have one question.
Now granted I have a 115 body but I think they are the same. How do you remove the upper fastener (bolt I assume) on the passenger door handle? The lower section is held with two screws just as the drivers side but the top of the door pull is still fastened.
Is the bolt that holds that section accessable only from behind the door panel so you get to it from the inside of the door? I have stared at this one for some time now and still not figured it out.
I'm ready to just pull what I can and then streatch and reach around in there but I figure there is probably some very simple way of removing it.
Thanks in advance.

It's been 15 years since I had a 115/114 car apart. As I remember, however, it is as I described for Carrameow. You pull down the chrome piece at the top of that upholstered handle that extends up from the armrest. Once you pull that down there will be either a large Phillips, or a 10MM hex bolt.

Good luck,

Thank you sir, much appreciated...