How can I fix this? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Phalcon51 · #1 09-13-2003, 03:11 PM

The interior vinyl on the rear passenger door window sill of my 300E is starting to lift up (see picture below). Any tips on the best way to repair this would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Gary

haasman · #2 09-13-2003, 05:45 PM

Yes, it can repaired.

The reason it does it is because of heat and the material is shrinking from age. The material will continue to shrink but this is how I have done this repair-

-You need to remove the door panel. Once off you'll see clearly why and how the surface is lifting off of the door panel itself.

-Under the material is a little bit of foam backing. If the foam is removed you get a much better attachment but the edge after attaching will be bumpy so if you can leave the foam. Use a warm (not too hot) hair dryer and slowly and gently and evenly stretch the material. Do just a little at a time. Don't over stretch, just a little to bring the material down a little to where it once was.

-Choose a glue that does NOT dry hard. 3M Auto Interior adhesive in the tube is good. Get fresh stuff. Follow the directions. Attach the lifting part to the existing part. Use a good amount of hand force to smooth all of the new contact areas.

-Remember that the stretching above can lead to excess material so try the fit first.

-Before reattaching the door panel do two things: 1) Clean the panel's upper surface and use a good UV protectant. 2) spray a little silicone in the black rubber channel that holds the panel close to the window at the top and spread a little along the edge where the repair was made. This will aid in reserting the repaired panel into the channel and reduce the chance of the repair being torn off again.

Haasman

Phalcon51 · #3 09-13-2003, 06:17 PM

haasman,

Thanks for the detailed reply.

Can you tell me how to remove the door panel? I can't figure out if the latch handle and window switch need to come off first, or how, if they do. I'm guessing that I just remove the door lock knob and the plastic latch cover and start popping it off from the bottom up. Is this right? The last thing I want to do is to break something by guessing wrong.

psfred · #4 09-13-2003, 08:11 PM

Door panel removal on W124:

Remove lock button and trim around latch on rear edge of door. On front doors remove the triangular trim at the front bottom corner. The top clip usually breaks off, most places use some adhesive to replace the trim rather than a new trim piece. On the driver's side, you can leave the mirror handle on if you want, just turn the trim sideways.

Pull off the seat control buttons (front door). Pry rear section of black trim off at the top of the arm rest, then front section. Start at the bottom.

Push plastic "carrier" for door latch forward until it unlatches from door. Pry latch wire up from latch and remove latch. Carrier will be fairly hard to move.

Remove 10mm screw from top of armrest -- it's under a bit of foam.

On rear doors, remove ashtray and backing piece, it hooks in and holds the bottom of the door panel on.

Lift door panel straight up -- there are four or five hooks that fit into slots in the door frame that hold the panel in place.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES pry outward on the door panel, you will break the hooks off and end up getting a new door panel! I found a couple of broken hooks on the passenger door of the TE along with a new door panel sans bottom edge lamp....

You will need to detach the bottom edge lamp wires and speaker wires (front doors) to remove the panel completely

Peter

haasman · #5 09-13-2003, 08:27 PM

If you discover that some of the door panel hooks are broken, you can use JBWeld to reattach them. Just make sure you do not touch the connecting surfaces (oil from your fingers). Put a little on the mating surfaces, clamp together and then coat all around the break. Works quite well.

Haasman

Phalcon51 · #6 09-13-2003, 08:49 PM

Thanks to both of you --- very helpful!

psfred · #7 09-13-2003, 09:53 PM

Hassman:

Cool! That means I don't have to find a replacement armrest for the 300D -- the hook is busted, so the armrest is pulling off the door. I think it was like that when I got the car, but I do have a niece who breaks things....

Peter