How do you remove these things? I'm repainting the car, and would prefer to paint under them rather than mask them off.

Thanks...

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

Talking about the run gutter trim?

If so you have to use a piece of wood to tap it off....sometime the rubber will un glue from it, always a take a chance type thing...

__________________

No, on the roof between the two roof racks there's 5 rubber and metal strips on the roof, I assume for loading things on the roof, without using the rack??? Anyways, I'll probably not reinstall them after the paint, but not sure if they are bolted on or just glued on.

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

Ahhh the luggage rack roof protectors, good question, not sure about that...I wonder if the rubber pulls up to reveal bolts/screws or if they are nuts above the headliner...

__________________

I've pulled the headliner but don't see anything obvious (Mercedes does love it's hidden fasteners though). I hope someone has done this, I'd think it'd be standard for proper repaint, but I can't find anything on it.

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

I've answered my own question: They are glued on.

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

Oh interesting, that doesn't seem like MB to glue something on, like you said....there is usually some sort of strange faster holding everything on..

__________________

they are glued on. the best wayI know of is using a propane torch and heating a metal flexible scraper and then going inder the strip and give the scraper a good push. like a hot knife through butter

When removing the strips at a wrecking yard, I have gently used a flat blade screwdriver and they come right off.

its adhesive, not glue. It's hard to pull them off and keep them straight to re apply.

Adhesive is just a fancy word for glue in my book. To get real technical I suspect it's 3M type foam mounting tape.

It is hard, but I've got 3 out of 5 off now, but my palms have given out pushing on the putty knife.

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

I believe the adhesive used by Mercedes is the same adhesive used to hold the exterior mirror glass to the plastic mirror base. Pretty strong stuff.

As an aside, while I was searching for how these are attached, I came across your post on the MBUSA club site, and saw Tom's rather unhelpful response where he simply said it's a tough job and the headliner has to come out. Unhelpful because a) it's wrong, and b) didn't answer the question. I was going to join but, I really see no point to it.

__________________
1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

Where are you in So Cal? I have some wagon parts and am looking for some too.

wagons at Oakland pik pull

1985 and 1980 july 3 2014

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD