How Do I Take Off Interior Door Panels? - United Bimmer Community

**delmarco** · 05-31-2005, 11:36 PM

Okay I just ordered new interior leather panels with the interior chrome door handles...(NOTE: It's actually the entire door panel on the inside speakers/map pockets and all...and not little patch that surrounds the interior door handle)

I want to switch them myself and I've heard somewhere long long ago that they are alot of tiny plastic clips holding the interior plastic panel to the exterior metal door panel.

Is this true?
Any tips and advice?

Thanks guys...I will reward you with nice pictures when I'm done this mod!

**Spieluhr** · 06-01-2005, 12:19 AM

i think they just snap off, but don't take my word for that. go to http://www.logun.org/door.htm

**delmarco** · 06-01-2005, 12:28 AM

http://www.logun.org/door.htm

.....duh! I can't believe I forgot about the E36 DIY links page....

thanks spielhur....

**Addicted?** · 06-01-2005, 12:31 AM

make sure you buy new clips for the door becauase you will break yours while taking off the panel.. if you need any help let me know... ive done it a few time son the 318...

david

**delmarco** · 06-01-2005, 12:49 AM

thanks dave...they should come in this friday!

**Addicted?** · 06-01-2005, 12:52 AM

as for tips and advice.... flat head screwdriver and pry them off.. then when reinstalling put all the clips in and guidge them in (make sure not to break them when putting it back on! it sucks!) having 2 people for reinstall REALLY helps

David

**delmarco** · 06-01-2005, 12:58 AM

Dave...what about the speakers...The panels I ordered are from a 97 M3 sedan with two sets of speakers grills-tweeters and midrange (I assume no speakers are coming on the door) but my 318i has the one speaker door panels with one speaker set up...
do you think this will be a prob?

thnks

**Spieluhr** · 06-01-2005, 01:19 AM

as long as your one speaker is in the same place as the one on the M3 door panel, then I don't see why you would have a problem, you just won't have a speaker behind the other panel.

**delmarco** · 06-01-2005, 11:43 AM

these are the door panels I ordered ($150 for all 4

)

with the chrome trim interior handles at $40 a pop!

What do ya'll think?

**catalyst** · 06-01-2005, 11:49 AM

Order a BUNCH of the door clips, your probably gunna break most of them. Take alot of pics.. im going to be doing this next week. Are there clips at the top of the panel too? will those need to be replaced aswell?

OT sorta.. do you guys have that problem with the fucking door handle trim peices falling off... what have you done about that? im thinkin about fucking apoxying mine in place.. theyre SO ANNOYING!!!!

**delmarco** · 06-01-2005, 12:02 PM

good question about the clips Catalyst....
from these pictures it looks like they hook in at the top instead of clipping in....

**Rooz** · 06-01-2005, 12:41 PM

am worried if they would be perfect fit or not....

**mpowerd** · 06-01-2005, 12:50 PM

There are torx screws in each panel under the handles....remove those and carefully go around the panel and snap it off...oh and the handle to open the door slides forward and comes out...and you'll need to use a screwdriver to take off the mirror control knob...

you should at max only break about 3 clips if you are careful...oh and don't keep pulling once it comes off....the tweeters will still be connected, so disconnect them first and then take off the panel

**Poynter** · 06-01-2005, 01:24 PM

Ive lost that piece around the handle a couple times so I just leave it off now....
They fall off every other day!

Epoxying may be necessary but I think Ill just leave it off.

**billycuth** · 06-01-2005, 02:55 PM

where'd you get the panels delmarco?