How hard: door panel removal

[m3f_99Blk&Tan_6738c76028]

So one of the speakers in the door are crackling, DAMMIT!! :banghead: Guess I blew it out. How, I don't know. I still have the stock HU. Anyway I obviously need to replace the door speakers with new components and I am wondering how big of a pain it is to remove the door panels with the side air bags? I know I need to disconnect the battery, but is this something I should just have a pro installer do?



I hate having other people mess with the car so I'd like to do it if it's not too tough of a job.

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

So one of the speakers in the door are crackling, DAMMIT!! :banghead: Guess I blew it out. How, I don't know. I still have the stock HU. Anyway I obviously need to replace the door speakers with new components and I am wondering how big of a pain it is to remove the door panels with the side air bags? I know I need to disconnect the battery, but is this something I should just have a pro installer do?



I hate having other people mess with the car so I'd like to do it if it's not too tough of a job.

get our ur blow torch.. chisle, hack saw.. its a pain

































jp.. piece of cake.. just pry it of slowly after unscrewing the certain points.. does someone have the website.. logun or whatever.. trev has it for sure.. its not bad at all though for real. :beer:

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

So one of the speakers in the door are crackling, DAMMIT!! :banghead: Guess I blew it out. How, I don't know. I still have the stock HU. Anyway I obviously need to replace the door speakers with new components and I am wondering how big of a pain it is to remove the door panels with the side air bags? I know I need to disconnect the battery, but is this something I should just have a pro installer do?



I hate having other people mess with the car so I'd like to do it if it's not too tough of a job.



It's very easy. The door airbags are attached to the door, not the door panal.



Behind the door handle (wood part) theres two torx screws, undo thoes. Then take something and side it under the lower part of the door panal and pop it out, keep going around the door panal's lower and side edge's, poping it out, once the sides and the bottom are loose, lift up on the door panel and pop the top part off, while pulling it away from the door shell, unhook speakers and such.



Very simple.

[m3f_Edgy_592e912c16]

If you DIY, please post your impressions. I've got a bad midrange, just been putting up with it for now.



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

[m3f_AMPowerJ_e8f979e5cd]

I have taken my door panels off too many times to mention. I did purchase a tool that looks kinda like a spatula to help pry the plastics pins on the door out of the clips. You don't have to have it but it makes it much easier to get the first couple of clips loose.

[m3f_Blue///M3_b1b8166d3a]

I used a flathead screwdriver to pry my panels loose around the edge

[m3f_PurpleM3Pursuit]

I used a flathead screwdriver to pry my panels loose around the edge

same :thumbsup:

[m3f_95blkbimm3_9842002abc]

i would reccommend buying a bag of new clips before you take it off, and some good glue because i broke alot of clips even going easy, and even some of the plastic pieices that attach to the door panel... just my .02

[m3f_Blue///M3_b1b8166d3a]

i would reccommend buying a bag of new clips before you take it off, and some good glue because i broke alot of clips even going easy, and even some of the plastic pieices that attach to the door panel... just my .02



Agreed.

Here is my writeup on fixing the broken plastic pieces. I used gorilla glue.



http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=54461

[m3f_99Blk&Tan_6738c76028]

Agreed.

Here is my writeup on fixing the broken plastic pieces. I used gorilla glue.



http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=54461



What was your reason for using glue for the door clips. If one breaks can't you just replace with a new one without glue? I would think glue would make it a big pain & mess if the panel had to be removed again.

[m3f_Blue///M3_b1b8166d3a]

I didn't use the glue on the actual clips I used it to reattach the plastic reinforcement to the the interior door panel. The clips themselves are still removable ifthey need to be replaced. The interior panel is not glued to the main door.

All I did was fix where the OEM glue failed. Panel removal is the same as it always was with what I did.





What was your reason for using glue for the door clips. If one breaks can't you just replace with a new one without glue? I would think glue would make it a big pain & mess if the panel had to be removed again.

[m3f_MMMMMM 3]

It's very easy. The door airbags are attached to the door, not the door panal.



Behind the door handle (wood part) theres two torx screws, undo thoes. Then take something and side it under the lower part of the door panal and pop it out, keep going around the door panal's lower and side edge's, poping it out, once the sides and the bottom are loose, lift up on the door panel and pop the top part off, while pulling it away from the door shell, unhook speakers and such.



Very simple.



All right. I have the very same problem with my driver side mid range and I followed the steps above to remove the door panel but some key steps were left out (at least with my 99).



1) Remove the door handle trim ring (plastic ring around the door handle pull) buy sliding it forwards towards the front of the car. I didn't and I ended up breaking one of the four catch legs on the trim ring.



1) Use a flat head screw driver to remove the little plastic 'Airbag' tag on the door panel (not the air bag cover, just the little plastic tag). There will be another Torx screw under that that needs to be removed as well. It only took me 5 minutes of wrestling with the loose door panel to realize that it was still hanging on from that point.



Other than that, the above instructions worked find. I used a 6" mini flat metal pry bar (can be found at most hardware stores) and a business card to prevent the pry bar from scratching the door metal. I started at the back of the door (away from the hinge) and worked my way down, under, and up the hinge side carefully and had no broken clips.



Thanks for the head start.

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

Thanks for the addition. I don't have airbags, so it's easy for me to forgot about thoes.

[m3f_GOT BMW]

Why so many tools? After you remove the screws, you can just pry them off with your hands. I have removed my panels many times, and my friends just as many times without tools. Never broke a clip, never any damage. If you use a tool in the wrong spot, you can break a clip by prying against it, that is why I use my hands.



Don't over-do work on your car, you can only end up hurting it.

[m3f_MMMMMM 3]

All right. I have the very same problem with my driver side mid range and I followed the steps above to remove the door panel but some key steps were left out (at least with my 99).



1) Remove the door handle trim ring (plastic ring around the door handle pull) buy sliding it forwards towards the front of the car. I didn't and I ended up breaking one of the four catch legs on the trim ring.



1) Use a flat head screw driver to remove the little plastic 'Airbag' tag on the door panel (not the air bag cover, just the little plastic tag). There will be another Torx screw under that that needs to be removed as well. It only took me 5 minutes of wrestling with the loose door panel to realize that it was still hanging on from that point.



Other than that, the above instructions worked find. I used a 6" mini flat metal pry bar (can be found at most hardware stores) and a business card to prevent the pry bar from scratching the door metal. I started at the back of the door (away from the hinge) and worked my way down, under, and up the hinge side carefully and had no broken clips.



Thanks for the head start.



One additional note. The separate sides and bottom and pull straight up didn't quite work either. The top edge of the door panel use a plastic clip strip instead of buttons. When I pulled up, the top clip strip stayed on the door and separated from the panel. So instead of just pulling up, I recommend using the pry bar along the top edge as well to pop the clips along the top edge as well. I just had to end up using contact adhesive spray to rejoin the plastic clip strip to the door panel when I put the two back together again.



Other than that, the new speaker works great. It turns out the cone on the old speaker became brittle and was splitting loose from the metal mounting rim. The split was causing the buzz under heavy vibrations.