I have posted here on tech help because it is a little bit technical and because of the high traffic this category receives.

I have told the body shop I will take off the trims to save a few bucks on the repainting of the side doors, it is to fix two door dings that started to rust.

I love my 190 so that I have splurged and booked an appointment for this Monday coming up. I need to take off the door handles, mirrors (I know how to do that after I replaced the cracked glass in one of them) and the lower body cladding on the doors (in great shape surpringly still, probably because these cars came with the bottom sills painted "half matt")

The window trim will have to come off as well. Can I please get some instructions and tips from you guys? I would like to prepare getting the car ready for the flatbed as soon as possible. Thank you!

I will post pics when the car gets back! I am extremely set on keeping the finish and appearance of the car all original equipment so I will take all the trim off. Don't talk me out of that.

I will look forward to your responses!

Mike McKinney

__________________
1989 300CE - 269,000 km
1994 SL600 - 59,000 km

Try This site...its the same site the MB dealer techs use
http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/

I had my 300SD painted a few years ago at (ack!) Maaco. I was so afraid they'd paint everything still on the car, so I stripped it all. Here is what I removed.. this is from memory, so I may have left something out. I left only the headlights, taillights, mirrors, and one door handle on so I could drive it to the body shop. I loosened all of the nuts for these items, so I could quickly undo them by hand and pop them in the trunk.

Items removed at home:
-Lower body cladding
-Passenger side mirror
-Grill (entire chrome unit with plastic insert and chrome strips)
-Trunk star, both trunk badges ("300SD" and "Turbodiesel")
-Door handles
-Windshield chrome trim
-Rear window chrome trim
-Door panels
-Door gaskets and sill plates

They masked the inside of the door (to avoid painting the window mechanisms and other stuff inside the door) and masked off the interior of the car. This way the paint job included all of the door jambs (changed color from burgundy to black). Since the trunk lid and hood were black underneath already, I achieved almost a perfect color change unless you opened the hood. They even painted the inside of the fuel door (I used masking tape and an x-acto knife to cover the tire pressure sticker so it wouldn't get painted).

Once I put the trim back on, the car looked GREAT (especially for only $500!) I think the big key was to make sure you take off EVERYTHING you don't want painted. If you leave it on the car, assume there will be paint in the gap between the trim and the car, or the trim might get painted.

Hope this helps.. let me know if I can help out with any specific items. I understand the W126 well and not the W201, but I assume many trim items aren't that different to remove.

Neal

__________________
'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)

I was wondering if someone could talk me through how to remove the door handle assembly?

I don't really want to subscribe to the website since I don't have a paypal account, I am from Canada and on a more honest side I am am bit lazy to do so.

I was wondering, has anyone found their doorhandles to look old after a repaint? Should I replace all the door handles at the same time?

What do you think?

Thanks,

Mike

__________________
1989 300CE - 269,000 km
1994 SL600 - 59,000 km

The door handle assembly on W126's is really easy to remove.. should be similar on your car.

If you open the door and look at the edge of the door (where the latch is), there should be a black plastic plug covering a hole in the door. Once you remove the plug, there is a large philips screw underneath. Unscrew this and the door handle will be released from the latching mechanism. You'll need to play with the handle to get it out.. I think you slide it to the front of the car while pulling it out, but I could be wrong. Try sliding it in both directions while pulling and you'll figure it out.

I'm in Oakville.. if you can't figure it out and are planning to drive to Toronto at all, let me know and you can stop by at my place so we can both give it a shot.

Neal

__________________
'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)

Neal,

Thank you for the response. I have located the black plug. I also have the somewhat rare Haynes manual for the 190 body but, I find it does not help much for owners of the later cars. I will let you know how well I do will the handle assembly.

Can anyone offer me any other tips or tricks in removing the weatherstripping?

I would be very greatful.

Much thanks,

Mike McKinney

__________________
1989 300CE - 269,000 km
1994 SL600 - 59,000 km