I got a set of wood door trim and I planned on installing it when I installed moleskin on my doors, but I don't see how to get the original aluminum door trim off the door panel. I did a search and didn't find any instructions (just that it was a PITA). Has anybody done this? How do you do it?

While I have your attention, if anybody has wood dash and console pieces they want to sell ('05 C230K, brown burl wood), I might be interested in them.


Thanks!

I don't know how to do this but & do remember seeing a special tool in the catalogue that looks like a round end kitchen knife - LOL.

Thanks, Glyn. I do appreciate the reply, but I have to say that may be the first post from you where I didn't learn anything useful!

Step One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jz696uWxPk

Step Two:

Take a small flat head screw driver and bend up one of the two tabs on each round aluminum retaining ring pressed against the plastic posts (4 or 5 clips on each aluminum panels)....... Or, Take the small screw driver and insert the end inside the Aluminum retaining clip, Spin the clip counter clockwise while pulling up, The clip will create a thread and come off with ease.

THANK YOU!! That worked. It wasn't easy but it was embarrassingly straightforward. I did it slightly differently - I used needle nosed pliers to the same effect.

Thanks also for the video. I had already done one door but watching that sort of made it call come together.

Hey - this is my learning day Now I know how which is magic.

Here is the special Benz tool.

You don't like the aluminum? I much prefer it to the wood. Although the center console aluminum trim does seem to always look dirty.

Aluminium looks cheap

Wood in a car makes no sense whatsoever (unless it's a Morgan), and usually looks as real as Pam Anderson.

Sorry - The Dark Ash in my CLK looks spectacular & not false at all.

The important thing is that you like it. Others may disagree...

The dark Ash looks great in sunlight where it's grain is extremely pretty & non plastic looking.

Funny... I prefer the wood - maybe it's from the old classic sports cars like Jaguar (and my Lotus) that have wood dashes, or maybe it's because it looks more expensive. My wife prefers the aluminum because she thinks it looks sporty (even though she really doesn't care much about sports or sporty cars. She wishes her '06 C230 was bigger so she could haul around more stuff.)

Now I have to find the rest of the pieces (or go with peel and stick ). I'm actually considering that since they have the pieces that surround the window switches (I think those are always aluminum. Maybe somebody can correct me if I'm wrong.) and I'd like wood (look) there, too.

Thanks for the picture of the tool, Glyn. I have no idea how you would use it!

Wood available for window switches!

I don't mind the dark wood finish in the 2007 W203 but still prefer aluminum.. it is the "sportier" option. I've never liked wood (at least not in a car ) but Benz wood is least offensive I've seen.

I was wondering when someone would take this thread to that level. Should have know it would be you.

It's amazing what they sell fake wood (actually, you can actually get real wood peel and stick) to cover - the edge of the instrument surround, the vent surrounds, glove box latch, the overhead light module... It just gets ridiculous. I don't want to go crazy, but I thought "wood" around the window switches might look nice in addition to the normal places in the console and around the A/C controls and buttons.

I prefer a lighter color with a burl grain (see the not-so-great picture of the dash of my Lotus in "my garage"). I think it makes the grain "pop", but the dark brown with the burl grain I have looks nice, too.

There is a sticker on the underside of the wood trim that says "Laurel". Would that be the color or the identifying name?

Laurel is the wood. My C240 had Laurel.

The real leather certainly looks very nice along the door panel.

That's it! I agree with Matt. That really looks nice against the leather!

You're Welcome!

I don't like the aluminum or the wood. I tried my hand at 3m dinoc black carbon fiber print. came out good on the center, still have to do the door trim. I'm happy with it. there was a thread about it. I don't remember the title.

Did you do the door handles? They were a serious pain in the *** to do, with the curves. The heat gun I used was a godsend.

Don't forget to post pics when done.

One thing I like about the CLK - No painted plastic parts in the cabin including door pulls.

no, at least not yet. I'm not sure how much I can do without it looking over done. I'm gonna do all the aluminum and then wait a while before doing more. let it sink in a lil bit. I would love to post some pics but I don't have a computer and it's not very iPhone friendly.