Help: Rattle coming from interior panel or rear door
 

Hi,

Over a few weeks I have noticed a rattle coming from the interior panel of the rear door.

You know how tha door has a hard panel then there is the soft leather portion in the middle part of the door? Well it seems when I tap that area it doesn't feel solid like on the other doors. When I tap that area there is a hallow empty type of sound.

I tried to take off the whole door panel but I can't for the life of me figure it out. I have searched prior posts but must be over looking something.

Here is what I was able to do.
1) take apart the whole plastic area where the door handle and window adjust was.
2) take off of the plastic end piece by the door lock area...towards the end of the door
3) remove the knob of the door lock
4) remove this 10mm screw that attaches the arm rest

From what I've read I'm supposed to just lift up and slide out but this panel is for sure not moving in any way.

The area the rattle comes from is this:

(Looking @ the door from inside the car) rear right

On that real soft part middle part of the door. Not the whole piece but towards the front middle area. I was able to kind of pry that area away from the door panel itself. I guess there is some sort of clips that holds that soft leather part to the main door panel. Is there a way to secure that area without taking apart the door? I have no idea how to take off the door panel so that was my next idea.

Can anyone explain how to remove the door panel (step by step with pics preferably) or how to secure that interior piece?

Thanks for any info and/or insight

Ren

PS Sorry about the post being long...I wanted to give everyone all the info I had dealing with this.

DOOR PANEL
 

DO A DEARCH ON CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM AND DOOR LOCKS AND READ THE POST BY MIKE TANGAS, STEP BY STEP ON WHAT YOU NEED. i USED IT YESTERDAY AND IT WAS A REASONABLY EASY JOB.

i've read all the posts and Mike's post...but still i can't figure it out

can someone or have a step by step with pics possibly?

-ren

What model? What year?

Yeah, same question...

From your description, I think I know what you are talking about, but I don't want to lead you astray unless I know what model you are referring to...sorry.

plus i wanted to see haasman's avatar next to mine, hee hee...:D

... and .... a very nice avatar at that!

1994 E320

i'm just stuck after i taking off the bolt for the armrest...from there i just can't see what else needs to be taken off because no matter how much i try and push the (whole) panel up...its not moving

knocking on every other door...i hear a nice solid thud sound...hitting the panel of the rear-right panel...i hear a thud thats not as solid

thanks guys for repling on this post

ren

There is a post here on change the door strap under the DIY section ....

DIY 124 door strap

What is shown is for a front door ... but the rears are similar. Once you get all the pieces off, remember that you are going to lift the panel up. The inner door panel is simply held on by both the top edge and the plastic hooks that hook into the metal door itself. These hooks break very easily so life gently ... your total upwards movement is less than an inch.

Also the area which holds the inner door latch will slide back and then out after removing the metal arm that attaches to it.

I am sure you will find either a loose bolt (10mm or 8mm). Also check the door panel itself. Sometimes the parts of the armrest come apart.

The inner panels are fastened by spring loaded clips...a previous owner may have determined that that section was removable and pried it at one time. That would have bent the clips sufficiently to allow the "play" that you recognize as "rattles".

One thing most don't tell you is that the top of the panel is held in place at the window lip by 4 or more anodized clips. Grab the armrest (where it is secure to the door panel and pull vertically, parallel to the door. Jostle gently side to side as you do this to loosen the window clips. It will seem that the panel will not move, then suddenly "pop" the whole assembly will come off. Then scurry around and find the clips that have jettisoned from the door...:rolleyes:

When you turn the panel around, you can see the clips that hold the center panel in place. You can refresh the tension with a flat bladed screwdriver. Tap the center panel, ensuring that none of the clips rattle.

Install is the reverse of removal...but let's see how far you get first...I can give you more detail if you wish... :)

hi,
I had a rattle in my rear door, and found that there is a plastic surround that covers the back of the electric window switch (to protect from water I suppose). It is just held in by the force of the door-card and window switch, against the metal of the door, with no catches or screws. I used a little double sided tape to hold it back.. No problems now!

Getting to it should take you no more than 10 minutes, I can do it in 2 with all the practice I've had..!

later

thanks guys...i'll give it a try in the next day or so!!!

I had a similar noise, drove me nuts for a while and it turned out to be the lower part of the door panels rubbing on the door sills. Try putting a little wax on the door sill and bottom part of the door. It may work, hope it helps..

this may have nothing to do with your problem but it is worth a shot... i had a rattle that seemed like it was coming from the back seat... so i did some further investigating and I found that the spring that opens the trunk had been hitting up against the side of the car... i put some insulation between the spring and the metal and no more sound... this sound was DRIVING ME NUTZ

Door rattles...
 

I had a similar door rattle problem. The 124's have the zebrano wood strip that runs across the middle top of door. Four 8mm bolts hold this piece on from the inside and at least one of these screws in all four of my doors had loosened causing an annoying rattle.

I removed all four door panels and tightened these screws down and car sounds much more taught. It's interesting that these screws weren't installed with a locking washer, allowing them to loosen over time.

Tap on those wood strips. If you hear a rattle or it just doesn't sound solid, then one or more of those screws is coming loose.


~Paul

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'91 300E, 214K miles