door panel removal

[E30 Wagen]

how do u remove the door panels? I've popped the bottom loose, but can't figure out the top. I'm just afraid of bending something.

[erik325i]

You need to remove the three screws holding the door pull on. There are two along the bottom of it, and the third is near the top of the door pull underneath the side mirror adjuster switch.
Once you remove those three screws on each doorpanel, they should snap right off.
-Erik

[Avus E30]

You need to remove the three screws holding the door pull on. There are two along the bottom of it, and the third is near the top of the door pull underneath the side mirror adjuster switch.
Once you remove those three screws on each doorpanel, they should snap right off.
-Erik

He's got it right but instead of just pulling the panel off I found that using a large flat bladed screw driver for leverage you can avoid bending or stretching the panel in any way. A very stiff paint scraper also works.

[permit]

And of course unscrew the lock knob at the top of the panel.

[Avus E30]

And of course unscrew the lock knob at the top of the panel.

Oh yeah duh forgot that part

[Simon S]

.. and once all the fasteners are removed,

pull the panel upward to 'unhook' it.

[hamann318is]

.. and once all the fasteners are removed,

pull the panel upward to 'unhook' it.

That's the best method I find. Start pulling it up at one side, and it'll come.

[bimmer8604]

after everything is un attached, pull the bottom and sides out to free it from the fastners, then just pull up.

Kyle

[E30 Wagen]

how is it supposed to "unhook?"
does that shiny strip come off too?

[permit]

Grab the bottom on the sides, pull out about two inches, and wiggle is up.

[bimmer8604]

Just do it man, it should all just come out.

Kyle

[PeaveyBassist]

The chrome strip MIGHT come off. Might not. Either way is fine. Just start pullin up on it like Jeremy (permit) said. It will come.

Will

[E30 Cabrio]

What about the power mirror control on the driver side?

How do I get that off to get to the screw underneath?

[JasonC]

What about the power mirror control on the driver side?

How do I get that off to get to the screw underneath?

That switch just slips straight out of there. I used the flat screw driver/bottle opener on my swiss army knife to get it out.

[E30 Cabrio]

Thanks.