How do you remove the drives door panel on a 2004 Mercedes ml 500?

Answer 1

Before anything else let me tell you, or anyone else that removing the door panels, either front or rear on a ML500 (2004) it´s quite easy, so be careful how much you want to pay to a person who says it´s a special/delicate/tough job.

Tools you will need:

- Phillips # 2 Screw driver.

- Precision (small) flat screw driver.

- Panel removing tool (you can use your hands but it´s a little harder).

Try to be careful when removing your trims ´cause you don´t want to ruin your luxury look!!

Using your flat screw driver pry off the cover (trim) from the pull handle (the one with a leather look).

There you will find two phillips screws (top and bottom); simply remove them with your # 2 phillips screw driver.

Now, remove the open handle trim just to keep it nice and shine. The only tools you will need are your fingers. Find a place where you can put your nail in and start to pry it out. It is only secured in place with three plastic pieces and be careful not to break them.

Now, go to the lowest section of the panel and using your flat screw driver remove the courtesy light. Be careful not to drop it because at the same time you are prying it our you are pulling it from its connection so there will not be a safety wire to keep it hanging if you lose it.

You are now ready to remove the panel, but before pulling it out, keep reading and pay special attention to the asterisk (*) below.

Either using the panel removing tool or your bare hands remove the door panel beginning at one of the lower corners, whichever fits better for you. All you have to do is pull the panel away from the door; not up or down, just straight line out. The panel is secured to the door with (maybe 12) plastic fasteners (they look like screws).

*Do not try to take the panel all the way away from the door. The upper side is hanging from the door but most important, you must disconnect the door handle cable, the door lock and wire and the courtesy light cable (maybe your ML have some more electric controls on the door so this is the time to unplug them).

The connector and cable of the courtesy light is just attached to the light housing with a rubber cover. Simply pull it out.

Using both hands lift the door panel but don't pull it away. From now on you will work with the panel on your hands.

To remove the lock: You will see two tabs just below the lock and they look like inviting for the thumb and finger. You are right, simply press (mildly) on the tabs at the same time you pull down, and voilá!

Now the door handle mechanism: move the handle as if you were trying to open the door and hold it on that position. On the inside of the panel pull the cable plastic cover at the same time you release the handle and that will give you half an inch of bare cable. Move the cable down and it will slide out of the plastic guide. Now unhook the cable from the handle inner fitting and...

Celebrate!! You have removed the panel!

You will see that the airbag remains attached to the door. Keep it that way.

Unless you need to fix or deal with it, simply leave it alone!!

To install the panel just use this same steps backwards.

Hope this works for you as it worked for me!!