Removing the rear deck
 

I'm having my rear window resealed this weekend. When the guy takes the window out, I want to get at the rust with some POR 15, but first I need to know how to get the rear deck out!

This is my understanding:

take rear seat cushion out
unscrew and remove rear seat back
remove C trim - I have no idea what the C trim is and can foresee myself having a terrible time getting it off.
pull deck toward front of car and slightly up to remove.

Sound right? Can someone make it clear about what the C trim is and how it is removed. Explain like your teaching a child, that should work. ;)

Also, since the window is coming out, is it possible to get to the metal without removing the rear deck?

THANKS!

I think they are talking about the C pillar trim- the stuff on the sides of the big pillar that holds up the back of the roof. For this , remove the thick windlace seal that goes behind the rear doors. You will then see 2 or 3 tabs in the area vacated by this seal- press on these to free the edges of the trim. Further back in the middle of this panel is another clip that just pulls out- carefully. Use very little force on all these retainers because the plastic is brittle. If you do break any (as I did) you can do some creative beer-can epoxy engineering to replace these tabs.

I don't think I removed the deck on the last one I did, but you will have to remove the c pillar trim

Rick

so...
 

We're talking about the trim that the seat belts come out of?

And when you say "I don't think I removed the deck on the last one I did, but you will have to remove the c pillar trim" - what is the "last one" you're referring to? If I don't have to completely remove it, if I can just lift it up from the back - because the window will be out - to scrape the rust and paint over it - that would be easiest.

Yes, the seat belts go through this trim panel. On the 77 240D I did 6 months ago, I did not remove the shelf. I had enough room to pull the cord from inside above the shelf. You won't need to remove it to address minor rust in the channel, unless you are really sloppy.

sounds good.
 

I'll leave it in. I'm not too sure how "minor" the rust is going to be, though. I've owned this car for about three months, but I think the rear window has been leaking a lot longer than that. Once I can see in there, I'll determine if I need to pull the shelf.

Thanks for the help!