advise in removing door panels

[r.bartl]

I want to get a right mirror installed and therefore I have to remove the door panels. this needs two drilled holes at the right door and screw it from inside.
sounds easier than it is.

after removing all chrome trims and handels, the panel is still very tight. do I just pull it out from the chrome what cannot be unscrewed? any instructions, hints or tipps to do this?
I am afraid to damage more than I save in doing this by myself.

see my pictures what is left right now.

Download Attachment: door_1.jpg
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this is the left side, where the chrome trim cannot be removed easily.


Download Attachment: door_2.jpg
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this is how it looks at the window


Download Attachment: door_3.jpg
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this is underneath the door. if I remove this curved trim, I will never be able to assemble it back again.

roman bartl

230SL, 1967
ivory with chocolate brown top

[jeffc280sl]

The door panel edge near the window rests in 4 or 5 clips that also hold the window wiskers.  You need to remove the side chrome pieces, door open handle, door latch trim, arm rest and window crank.  Then push/slide the panel straight up.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

[r.bartl]

"push/slide the panel straight up" this was the unknown secret. I always tried to pull it backwards. thank you. the mirror is attached and the view is great!


230SL, 1967
ivory with chocolate brown top

[Dick M]

Roman and all...
Any tips / suggestion on placing and drilling holes for the mirror?

Dick M
1970 280SL

[rwaw]

When deciding where to drill for my mirror I just looked at lots of pictures from reportedly "concours"- SL's, said a quick prayer and drilled.....
One  thing to watch out for is that the window winds up nicely past the mirror because when you're preparing to drill the window is usually wound down.
Definitely worth it though.

280SL 1969 Euro RHD

[Ricardo]

Dick
There was a thread on this sometime back, that discusses the location of the pass. side mirror.....if it's placed in the same location as the drivers side it doesn't work for most people, except perhaps for tall folks who have the seat adjusted all the way back.
I think there was an original owner with an original pass. side mirror who reported the holes were drilled using the rear most hole location as the forward hole on the pass. side, resulting in the mirror being approx. 1" further back than the drivers side.
Richard

[Dick M]

Here goes... any last minute comments?

Download Attachment: mirror placement.jpg
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Dick M
1970 280SL

[Douglas]

Okay, since you asked.... I'm going to be a contrarian and say that I don't care for the addition of right-hand mirror. I prefer the car's lines at their simplest/cleanest.

[Chad]

I agree with Douglas.  This 230SL has no R side mirror, and like it without.  Had a couple other antique cars that had the R side mirror, and deleted it on one of them during a repaint.

It seems that even with the hardtop on the R side mirror is really not much needed.  The visibility is so fantastic with the hardtop windows.  Even the softtop isn't that bad.

-CD-
1967 230SL, 113.042 10

[Dick M]

Oops... too late.  I agree about the look but with rag top the view is too restricted for me... also keep dinging my hub caps when I try to parallel park.
Mostly however my wife insisted.

Dick M
1970 280SL

[tuultyme]

On my 280SL I placed the right hand mirror in the corresponding location as the left mirror.  With the flat mirror I do not get a wide enough view to the right but it does help.  If I could get a convex glass with the same blueish tinge I would have the right combination.

Bruce; 268Blaugrun(green) 1970 280SL; IL

[waltklatt]

Roman,
Did you remove the large screw holding the armrest to the door?  It is cleverly hidden underneath the armrest and inside the door pocket.  There is a large chromed phillips screw there and then the door panel should come off by lifting it upwards.  Sometimes the clips along the window top are a bit tight.  But you can roll down the wondow and use a plastic prying tool to gently prise up the door panel.  Then it should come out.  Mind the door lock cover plate and the rear excutcheon cover on the rear trim.  You will also remove the rear chrome trims(large one wrapping around the door lock and the thin long one below it).
The others are already removed as per your pictures.

Walter Klatt
1967 220SL-diesel, nearly complete.
1963 230SL-being stripped to bare metal.