I have stumbled upon a good tool to use for the removal of the 124 instrument panel on my 87 300D. I happened to have two paint can openers, you know the ones that the paint store gives away with a bottle opener on one end and a sort of bent straight blade screw driver on the other end. Two of these used together inserted into the crevice between the dash and the instr. panel worked very well to remove the panel. Just insert and pull hard. And better than a bent coat hanger because the paint can lid opener is flattened and doesn't mar the dash vinyl.

DS
87 300D