Door panel removal - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

williamsmith707 · #1 12-23-2005, 09:02 AM

I am trying to remove the door panel on my 280SE 3.5 coupe. The wing-window knob must come off somehow, but I can't figure it out. Also the little cup that the door handle recesses into must slide either forward or back ?? The clips that hold the actual panel on are pretty stubborn along the bottom edge... any chance there is more holding this on, like the chrome strip lipped in or something? Any help appreciated.

- Will

cth350 · #2 12-23-2005, 09:21 AM

not having seems a 3.5 coupe, I preume fron your description, that it's much like a 108/109 car.

The vent window knob has a smooth piece of plastic on the inside? Then feel behind it, where you'll find a small hole. Using an allen key, poke the short end of the key into the hole and the disk will pop out.

The door latch is long and recessed in a rectangle of chrome that's deeply lined with a bit of plastic? This requires a delicate hand. Gently pry with a screw driver between the chrome and the plastic by the corner opposite the handle's tip. You should hold the handle out to make this easier.

You might want to use a flashlight with the screwdriver in there, just so you can see the two little tangs on the plastic that holds it in. (obviously not while holding the handle too, unless you've got more appendages than I do)

Note, one slip and you'll scratch the plastic cup. When (if) you do, just mutter a short oath and carry on. It's replacable easily.

Assembly for both is trivial. They just pop into place.

-CTH

230/8 · #3 12-23-2005, 11:40 AM

This is pretty easy, but not always obvious on the first try.

Use the allen wrench to pop out the wing winder cover from the back side. Find the small hole. I use a craftsman cotter pin removal tool, it is perfect, has a right angled hook at the end and a stout screw driver handle for easy control. Never have removed cotter pins with it, just other things, like the wing winder center covers. Under the cover is a cross-head screw. Remove and pull knob straight off.

The plastic insert in the door handle conceals the cross-head retaining screw. Just carefully pry out the insert with the small screw driver and remove.

The door panel is attached with press on spring clips on my car. They respond to steady, slow but firm pressure and will pop off.

With the window down you can remove the top trim panel where you lay your arm with the window down. Unscrew and remove the door lock button. Steady firm upward pressure will release the panel retaining clips, I believe the same type as the door panel. You might check for small screws at the ends.

Arm rest is easy, two cross-head screws through the lower side and one under the chrome trim bezel if the arm rest is a long piece that extends forward as a grab handle. Passenger side arm rests are usually like this.

I suppose you have power windows and I believe these are on the console, not too sure on this. If on the door panel I believe they will pop off with a little prying and pulling. My mechanical window cranks have a soft trim piece that slides along the long dimension to release a spring clasp, like a ballpoint pen. Once removed there is a cross-head screw.

If you have a door bin, it is screwed to the door panel, but there is usually a metal ear on the panel back side that slips into a slot in the door frame to hold the bin tight against the door frame. Once all the retaining clips and other attachments around the the panel have been removed you can slip the panel out slightly and up to release the retaining ear from its slot.

Now you have the door panel off.

Good luck.

230/8

mzsmbs · #4 02-02-2006, 12:06 AM

Quote:

My mechanical window cranks have a soft trim piece that slides along the long dimension to release a spring clasp, like a ballpoint pen. Once removed there is a cross-head screw.

could somebody elaborate on this a little.. having a hard time making it come apart.. i noticed that you can see a springy clip on the back side of the crank but, thus far i have not been successful in disengaging it.. thanks

Tristar1959 · #5 02-02-2006, 01:16 AM

slide/deform the insert enough to release the small (brass?) hook from the hole into which it sits, on the small tapered end; then you can slide the larger end's notched end off the screw head, if it's the kind I'm recalling...
OR perhaps slide the larger end toward the small (knob) end by gently deforming it, sufficient to get it off the screw head, then lift and disengage the hook on the small end from its hole...

Tristar1959 · #6 02-02-2006, 01:29 AM

I may be 'membering backwards - the larger end of the insert does have a "keyhole" slotted piece which fits over the head (like a picture frame cutout hanger slot which you fit over a screw), but perhaps it goes AWAY from the knob end to disengage, in which case you would have to release the spring clip first...?

mzsmbs · #7 02-02-2006, 01:43 AM

so, the little piece of mbtex slides? it doesn't have anything poking out the back, right?

thanks

Tristar1959 · #8 02-02-2006, 02:48 AM

No, that little clip you can feel poking out the back is part of the insert - the MBTex is fitted/formed over a metal backing plate which sometimes has a slot over the screw head and a spring clip which fits through hole/slot in metal handle. "Prise" it loose carefully, so's not to damage or separate the tex from its metal backing...the MB manual says "Using a finger, press out the padding from behind and pull it off". The Haynes manual says "prise out the plastic insert from the window regulator handle".

300SDog · #9 02-02-2006, 03:33 PM

And best attack for the door handle pad is the narrower end NOT the wide end thats opposite the larger clip in back. The idea is to pop the small clip opposite the narrower end and then slide the larger one on the wide end. The entire handle pad removes by sliding upwards and towards the handle knob, opposite of what you'd expect.

mzsmbs · #10 03-24-2006, 02:14 PM

ok, i did get the little trim piece off finally. i did have to get my fingers behind the handle. it popped out pretty easily once i finally got my fingers behind there. no sliding was involved. seems that my circlip is also missing. will have to hunt one down. hopefuly ACE hardware will have one.

have not gotten to opening the door pannel yet.. maybe sometime next week. i got totlay side tracked.. other vehicles and other stuff needed my attention. thanks and i shall update once i get in there.

mzsmbs · #11 04-09-2006, 06:49 PM

i figured out my issue so i just edit here. the door handle plastic liner is soft and will bend. there are two tabs that hide behind the chrome trim towards the front of the car. i used a pocket knife to pry is out. not a problem really.