Door panel 1982 300SD

In theory the panels are held in place with a series of plastic clips that push through holes in the metal part of the door. They can be prised off using a fork like tool which goes either side of the clip and lifts it at the same time.

Or the cheaper version is a screwdriver and a piece of wood to stop damage to the paintwork.

If you are really unlucky some other owner has decided to glue it back in place after breaking the above plastic clips!

No... absolutely wrong... Do not pry door panel.

Front or rear?

Roger wrote:

_____ _NOT_CORRECT_! The 300SD is a W126 body style car, and the door panels _SLIDE_ down into place. The more common snap-in buttons are not used on this model. If you use a fork like tool or a screwdriver you will break the tabs that hold the panel in place. The tabs are molded onto the plastic material and are very difficult to reattach. Ask me how i know!

Door handle problems are common in older 300SD cars, especially the driver's door because it is used so much more than any of the other doors. The first thing to remove is the thin, concave black plastic cover under the door handle. This is done with small 1/8 inch screwdriver by prying at the front of the cover. Remove the cover to expose the screw that holds the entire black metal/plastic handle frame that sits on the wood veneer. Remove the two large self-tapping metal screws that hold the armrest in place, and the third small screw hidden under the handle cover you just removed. Slide the handle frame down a little along the top end of the armrest. This exposes a third screw that holds the armrest to the door frame. Remove the large screw (it has LockTight on the threads and may take a lot of force to unscrew). Now you can remove the armrest and the door handle frame together. Remove the door lock plunger (has regular right hand thread). Remove chrome door latch trim. Remove two small metal screws from front of sloping window channel, and pull off plastic trim on inside of window. Now push _UP_ on the door panel from below and slide it off the metal door frame. This should be fairly easy. When the panel is loose, pop out the courtesy light at the bottom, and pry off the electrical connectors on the window and seat switches. The courtesy light can be pulled through the hole in the panel by turning it 90 degrees. Remove the plastic vapour barrier sheet on the metal door frame taking care not to tear it.

The inner door handle mechanism is made of pot metal (brittle) and is likely broken. It activates a rod that goes to the latch mechanism. This mechanism may also be broken, or the rod has come out of a pivot point. Repair or replace broken parts. Replace vapour barrier. Reattaching the panel can be a bit tricky. All the tabs _MUST_ slide into their slots at the same time. I usually squirt some silicone lube on the tabs and the slots in the metal door frame to make it easier.

I am writing this from memory, so i hope that i did not miss a step.

Regards / jch

Doesn't matter, it's the same procedure.

Slightly different... rear door has that upper trim to remove.

PGK: FOR SURE DO NOT PRY ON DOOR PANEL OR YOU WILL JUST HAVE ANOTHER EXSPENCE. SOUNDS LIKE J.C.H HAS THE RIGHT IDEA AND I AGREE. JUST TAKE YOUR TIME AND BE CAREFULL//

Oh yeah, that vetical bit at the back. Good point. Not a show stopper though.