1988 420 sel Door Panel Removal
 

My 1988 420 SELs passenger side rear window does not go up. The motor works, and the window goes down halfway, but does not go up. When the motor reachers the window, you can hear clicks, but the motor does not catch the window. (If anyone can tell me how to remove the door panel. that would be nice.

I'm going to try out my old memory. If I forget something, someone chime in.

Remove the chrome piece at the door latch area (2 screws)
Remove the door lock button (manual button ) it just unscrews.
Pry out the little cover under the inside door handle.
Remove the screw holding the metle piece under the inside door handle.
Slide this piece down the armrest upper mounting area and remove the big screw you will see under it. It holds the upper part of the arm rest.
Remove 2 screws holding the lower part of the arm rest. Big screws up under the arm rest.
At the upper left of the pannel, a small piece of trim runs from the door pannel to the top of the window and is held on by 3 small screws coming in from window frame. Remove these screws and make note that the top one is slightly shorter then the other 2. It must go back in the top.
At this point, you should be able to move the panel UP about an inch or so to "unhook" it from the door.
Inside the door panel, unhook the light in the very bottom of the door panel, the lighter/ashtray wiring, and the window switch.
Remove carefully the plastic vapor shield for reuse.

Be very careful working inside the door as there are sharp edges and big window reguator arms that can hurt you very badly (don't ask how I know)

You should be able to see the problem.

If I missed something, I'm sorry. Let us know how it goes and if you have any problems with it maybe we can help.

My husband is "in" the drivers rear window as we speak, last week the window went up, and at the very top, made an errie grinding sound, I rolled it back down about 4" and back up with the same sound, rolled it all the way down, and it refused to ever go up again. ONce he opened the panel and removed the moter the cable wire all popped out at him, don't know what step or frustration he is at as of now, but any detailed how to tips would be most needed, any with a drawing or diagram would be awesome, but I know I'm probably asking way too much there!!

Will be waiting......... if you have time to call we'd love to hear from you NOW!!! 9498557875, we can call back if it's a long distance call for you.

do a search
 

If you do a search, there is a detailed list here, somewhere, that tells you the exact steps to follow. I used the list and it was very good.

If my memory serves me correctly, the first step is to use a butter knife to pry out the black plastic piece behind the silver inside door handle. Next is the removal of the gold screw, that is now exposed.... etc. You have to get the arm pull off first.

The only thing the list did not have is: for the front doors disconnect the door light, and for the rear doors, disconnect the door light and cigarette lighter.

Be careful, follow the instructions precisely because you could easily break some of the plastic parts around the switches. Crazy glue works wonders with the broken pieces!

Your Lucky Day
 

I found the instructions for a 420 door panel removal

I decided to take a little time to post my experience and my way of removing the door for anyone else down the line who will need to know how to remove the door panel.

Tools that I used were a philips screw driver and a butter knife.

1) using the butter knife, gently pry-off the power seat switches.
2) Remove the cover over the power seat switches.
3) using butter knife, pull back the black plastic piece in back of the silver door handle. Should be pretty simple to remove.
4) Once piece is removed.. a single screw will be exposed. Unscrew that.
5) Pull the piece that the screw was holding down.
6) A gold large philips screw holding the top of the arm pull will be visible, unscrew that.
7) If your doors have speakers, remove two screws from the bottom of the speaker housing.
8) Pull down the speaker housing and it should come off.
9) Remove the screw holding the center portion of the arm pull. This screw is hidden, its located by finding the hole with your finger.
10) With the speaker housing out of the way, you should be able to unscrew the third and last screw off the arm pull.
11) Pull off the arm pull
12) The power seat box is screwed on with two long gold screws. Unscrew this and unplug the plugs that are attached to it.
13) Remove the entire power seat box.
14) Unscrew the two screws holding the silver C-shaped metal object on the side of the door.
15) Unscrew the black cap which locks and unlocks the door.
16) Unscrew the vertical panel above the main door panel. Its hold on by one screw.
17) Gently and firmly grab a hold of the panel and pull upwards and then towards you once its pushed up.

Thanks so much for the replys, my husband had it back together and working as new within an hour. The regulator cost us $100 + tax at our local dealership, Mercedes Benz of Laguna Niguel, and $107 at Fletcher Jones Motor Cars FYI. Even though it was about half the cost of what others said they found, we still feel it's a bit over priced for a plastic piece, but happy to have my window operating again, NOW the next MB project.........Sunroof!

Any helpful hints there.........send them our way!! Thanks again, fellow Benzers