How to remove the door panel on a 97 E320
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Columbus, Ohio
95 M3, 98 C280, 97 E320 (sold)
How to remove the door panel on a 97 E320
How do I remove the front driver side door panel on my 97 E320? I just don't want to mess anything up with the airbag. I'm guessing there are a few screws and a bunch of plastic clips. I need to remove it to get to the door check strap that I'll be replacing (so if you have any tips on doing that as well, I would appreciate it). Has anyone else replaced the door check strap? It makes a squeeky sound when you open/close the door no matter how much you grease it.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
There are a couple of hidden screws and some plastic clips and the door panel lifts up and off.
Remove the lock pin in the uper right corner. it just unscrews.
Pop the SRS cover and the cover below the door handle.
Flip the black cover off under the chrome door handle.
Unscrew the bolt holding the latch cover on.
Unscrew all of the screws that are under all of the covers that you removed.
Pop all of the plastic clips around the outer part of the panel. Be careful not to break them off.
Swing the door panel out at the bottom and unplug the sill light in the bottom.
Lift the panel up to pop the rail that hold the top of the door next to the window.
Unplug the power seat controls.
Don't worry about the airbag. Only the cover is in the door panel. It is mounted in the door.
There should still be a plastic liner covering the inner part of the door to keep water out.
Sorry if I missed anything. Good luck...
Remove the lock pin in the uper right corner. it just unscrews.
Pop the SRS cover and the cover below the door handle.
Flip the black cover off under the chrome door handle.
Unscrew the bolt holding the latch cover on.
Unscrew all of the screws that are under all of the covers that you removed.
Pop all of the plastic clips around the outer part of the panel. Be careful not to break them off.
Swing the door panel out at the bottom and unplug the sill light in the bottom.
Lift the panel up to pop the rail that hold the top of the door next to the window.
Unplug the power seat controls.
Don't worry about the airbag. Only the cover is in the door panel. It is mounted in the door.
There should still be a plastic liner covering the inner part of the door to keep water out.
Sorry if I missed anything. Good luck...
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
Thanks
Thanks Jimmy, I also went for the wood steering wheel, shift knob besides the door handles. I wish there was a wood trim kit for the rear passanger vent in the center console. Or at least more wood trim at a reasonable price. The wood seat backs with tray tables is way over priced.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Columbus, Ohio
95 M3, 98 C280, 97 E320 (sold)
Thanks for the detailed post, I appreciate it. I like those wooden door handles as well, but I don't have them on my car 
Oh well. Hopefully this new check strap won't be making any noise.
Oh well. Hopefully this new check strap won't be making any noise.
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From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally posted by E-Klasse
Thanks Jimmy, I also went for the wood steering wheel, shift knob besides the door handles. I wish there was a wood trim kit for the rear passanger vent in the center console. Or at least more wood trim at a reasonable price. The wood seat backs with tray tables is way over priced.
Thanks Jimmy, I also went for the wood steering wheel, shift knob besides the door handles. I wish there was a wood trim kit for the rear passanger vent in the center console. Or at least more wood trim at a reasonable price. The wood seat backs with tray tables is way over priced.
BTW, Performance Products has the wood trim kit that you are wishing was made. It includes the Burlwood rear AC vent cover for $169.00 and the Burlwood panel below the rear AV vent for another $169.00. It's a little pricey but you can negotiate with them between 15-20% off if you get a cool sales guy! I wish there was a picture of it on their site but there isn't. You can only see it in their catalogue and it looks pretty tight. Click on the link if you're interested.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Originally posted by E-Klasse
I did see them in the catalog but like you said, a bit pricey. May be $169 for both but each No Way.
I did see them in the catalog but like you said, a bit pricey. May be $169 for both but each No Way.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Columbus, Ohio
95 M3, 98 C280, 97 E320 (sold)
Before I break something 
, could someone elaborate on how to "Flip the black cover off under the chrome door handle?" I see two little black things where the chrome door handle rotates. For some reason, I couldn't see the easy way to get them off, am I missing something? I'd like to get it done today since it's not raining (for a change).
Thanks.
, could someone elaborate on how to "Flip the black cover off under the chrome door handle?" I see two little black things where the chrome door handle rotates. For some reason, I couldn't see the easy way to get them off, am I missing something? I'd like to get it done today since it's not raining (for a change).Thanks.
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From: Arizona, USA
W205 C300
snapped in
The black plastic part is just snapped in. Use a flat blade screw driver in the front edge to pop it loose. Hold the chrome door handle out in the open position and flip the black plastic piece off from around it. The chrome part stays on the door panel. There is a cable that goes from the chrome lever to the latch that disconnects as well. I forgot to metion that in the first post.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Columbus, Ohio
95 M3, 98 C280, 97 E320 (sold)
Ok, I took out the door handle piece. The cover on my car is a brown piece that comes off if you pry it a little. Those clips holding the top of the door are a *****. But, I finally got them off. I used a screw driver from the top (by the window) to push the door panel away from the door as I (or a friend) pushed the door up. There are 4 of these clips about 6 or 7 inches apart from each other with the first one located by the door lock knob. Then I peeled back the bottom of the plastic seal (after unbolting the door check strap [there are 3 10mm bolts and one torx 50 holding it on]) and reached in and pulled the door check strap out. The bushings inside of it looked a little chewed up and that's what is causing the squeaking. So I grabbed some lithium grease and greased up the new part real nice. It already has some grease on it, but obviously, it's not enough or it's not good enough since the bushings are torn up. Put everything back in reverse order and no more squeak. The dealer was supposed to do this a long time ago (while the car was still under warranty), but Crown Mercedes in Dublin, Ohio are a bunch of A$$hole$!.
Long story short, that fixed the squeak. New door check strap. Part number is A 210 720 01 16.
I suggest buying door clips (the little green and/or white ones) because you'll probably break at least one. I did, but only a little piece of it. No big deal. They're pretty cheap anyway, maybe 30 cents a piece.
Thanks for the info E-klasse.
Long story short, that fixed the squeak. New door check strap. Part number is A 210 720 01 16.
I suggest buying door clips (the little green and/or white ones) because you'll probably break at least one. I did, but only a little piece of it. No big deal. They're pretty cheap anyway, maybe 30 cents a piece.
Thanks for the info E-klasse.
Last edited by Batman; Jun 16, 2003 at 01:45 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 100
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From: Columbus, Ohio
95 M3, 98 C280, 97 E320 (sold)
Yeah, that part number is for the front driver side door.
To make the job a lot easier, you don't really have to take the door panel off. Take off all the screws E-Klasse mentioned, but don't pull the door up (which didn't really work anyway). You can get by with just the bottom part of the door. You don't have to take the top part off of the rails to get to the door check strap. So, after you unsnap the bottom part of the door, you pull up the pink (or whatever color yours is) plastic at the bottom of the door in the middle. Then, you can just reach your hand up towards the door check strap. You can reach it no problem. Should take much less time that way.
Good luck.
To make the job a lot easier, you don't really have to take the door panel off. Take off all the screws E-Klasse mentioned, but don't pull the door up (which didn't really work anyway). You can get by with just the bottom part of the door. You don't have to take the top part off of the rails to get to the door check strap. So, after you unsnap the bottom part of the door, you pull up the pink (or whatever color yours is) plastic at the bottom of the door in the middle. Then, you can just reach your hand up towards the door check strap. You can reach it no problem. Should take much less time that way.
Good luck.
