I have a 1985 380SDL with something rattling inside the passenger door. Can anyone here tell me the procedure to remove the panel?

Thank you.

first, pull the lock knob. remove the 2 screws at the back of the door panel in the chrome trim. with a thin screwdriver, pry the plastic cover out from beneath the inner handle. remove the screw in there. now, pull the inner handle like you are opening the door. wiggle the chrome frame out while doing this. it will not come completely off, but there is a large screw behind it that holds the top of the armrest. remove that screw and the 2 screws under the armrest. there may be plugs covering those 2 screws. with a putty knife, slip between the panel and the door and pry carefully around the perimeter to loosen the clips. if you can, save the plastic sheet that is behind the panel, keeps the rain from the window off the back of the panel.

when you put it together, slip the lock rod through the opening first and screw the knob on a few threads, not tight. keeps the lock rod where it belongs and you still have some wiggle room to put the panel on. don't do this and you will never fish that thing out after the panel is on. good luck, chuck.

i screwed up, i thought i saw sl and you have an sdl. the 126s have a power seat sw. also, once everything is loose from the door, the panel lifts up from the door to release large hooks that hold it to the door.. if you don't get it high enough and pull it off, the hooks break. you also have to pull the inner handle opening
out to clear it and the seat sw while pushing up.
the seat sw is as follows: pull the little knobs off the sw and the tiny plastic clips that are on the pins the knobs are on. the sw stays in the door. this makes reinstall a little tricky as you have to pull the sw opening out while trying to push the panel in and down far enough to get it on right. sometimes takes 3 or 4 hands and a knee. if you got time, check ebay. somebody is selling homemade cds that cover this. good luck, chuck.

Chuck,

I also have a 380SL so I need that information too.

Thank you.

1 more thing on the sdl, there is an entry light in the bottom of the panel. it just unclips and unplugs from the harness. just make sure to feed the harness back in before you put the panel back on. good luck, chuck.

Putting the lock knob on a few threads is brilliant and so stinking simple. After spending hours trying to get that lock rod in place the first time i pulled a panel, i came in the house and got some dental floss to tie to it and thread through the hole. Worked, but still tedious. This ALMOST inspires me to go change the inside drivers door handle that has been sagging forever--but it's cold out there. Thanks for the tip.

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Earl McLain
'02 C230 Kompressor
'89 560 SEL "Frau BlueCar" (retired April 2004)