I did a search. I know how to do a search, or I thought I did.
This has to be covered here somewhere.
How do I properly remove the drivers side door panel from my '83 W123 300TD? The window makes a loud clunk sound just past 1/2 way down. It's a scary sound that needs to be taken care of before the window cracks.
Many Thanks.

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85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

I'm not sure how the TD differs from the sedan, but here's how I did it on mine. Removed one screw on each end of the armrest. The black part under the handle (that you pull to open the door) is a soft plastic that needs to be slightly deformed and removed to access a screw for the handle. Be careful here, that piece could rip. Grab yourself a putty knife, I prefer a metal one with a bit of flexability, but not too much. Maybe like a 4" drywall knife. I started at the bottom left-hand corner and gently pushed it between the door and the panel. I pried, GENTLY, out, and voila! There are about 8-10 little plastic gromets that snap into place, holding the panel snuggly to the door. Once you get all these loose (the panel should beasically be loose and flopping around at this point), slide the panel up (towards the sky) to unlock it from the channel that holds the top. There are no grommets across the top, only on the other three sides. assembly is the opposite. Have fun, and PM me if you have any questions.

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1989 300E 144K

Undo the screws on the door's latch strike plate. Remove the plate. Pop the black plastic insert out of your inside small door latch handle. Be careful with it. I believe there are 1 or 2 screws holding the chrome piece on. Take those off, and you can shimmy that chrome piece down and undo the big screw holding the big handle on. There are two screws on the bottom of the big handle, undo those too.

Around the edge of the door are about 8 little plastic pop-in doohickeys. You might want to get some spare ones, since they break. Using a flat, thin piece of plastic, or even your hand, gently pop the bottom and sides off from the door. You can feel where the little plastic things are. You'll hear them pop off.

Unscrew the lock plunger.

Lift the door panel up gently. This will slip the lower window trim piece and an interlocking plastic piece on the door pocket out of their respective slots, and allow you to remove the panel completely.

Good luck. Putting it back together takes patience to get the lock plunger through, the window trim in, and the pocket plastic to interlock. I find that it helps to put the door panel nearly in place, screw the lock plunger back in, THEN try and get the window trim part and the pocket in.

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Aaron
'84 300D 267,000 - Running WVO - Rice Bran Oil - Mmmmmm, fishy...
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I agree with the above, but make sure you're careful with little clips that hold the map pocket in place, they brake easily.

1984 300d Turbo
Remove The Door Clips .50 P/n 72-096 Ea If They Break Get New One A Least 12 Order From ************************ 1-800-243-1220 And Ask For Catalog Good Display Of Parts May Be You Need New Regulator $54.00 And Motor $116.00 Easy Diy

Nowhere else could I have received such great replies.
Thank You!

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85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

To reinstall the panel. I use spray mount adhesive to reattach the plastic water sheet on the door. Then I install a rubber gas line ( very small) over the door lock mechanism shaft. Insert the rubber tube thru the door lock hole at the top. Now install the panel at the top first. Making sure the metal edge slides down on the window lip. The rubber tube will direct the locking shaft thru the hole. Make sure the center clip, on the center of the panel is positioned correctly in its reciever hole while doing the top metal edge described above.
The panel then slides into position downward a 1/4 of an inch or so. Then pop the plastic holders into position all along the lower panel section and up the sides.
Add all the metal hardware and screws and you'll be on the road.

The rubber tube really makes it an easy one man job.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car