Front Door Panel Removal

How to remove the front door panel in your BMW CS coupe

Overview

The following procedure is based on my 72 3.0 CS with electric windows. It should be the same for any E-9 coupe however it is possible there will be slight variations for other years

Tools Required

• • Small and Med Phillips head screwdriver 

  • Small and Med Standard screwdriver 

  • Door panel removal tool 

  • Valve adjustment tool from tool kit or allen wrench of similar size  

  • Door panel removal tool ( a wide screwdriver or narrow putty knife may be substituted) 

Pro Tip - Keeping track of Parts

To keep track of the screws removed take a piece of cardboard and draw the door panel with handle. As you remove the screws press them into the cardboard in their relative location to avoid mixing up the sizes.   You will likely find the screws holding the door handle on are all different sizes as they often increased in size as the holes in the door frame get stripped

Procedure

Remove vent window chrome center cap. Using the valve adjustment tool from tool box or a similarly sized allen wrench press the cap out from the back via an access hole in the back of the black knob

Remove Ashtray. Extend ashtray and any push down and tip out. Unscrew the two screws retaining the ashtray frame and lift it down and out

Remove armrest decorative chrome cap. Using a small Phillips head screwdriver.

Unscrew the cap from the underneath of the plastic armrest cap

Using a small standard screwdriver gently pry out the cap at the lower edge 

Remove window crank (manual windows only). 

I don’t have manual windows and can’t describe the process however it should be however the process should be straightforward.

Unscrew upper mounting screw

Note: the washer is not a factory part, I added it to distribute load over a sider area

Remove lower left and right door handle screws. Unscrew the lower middle last. 

Remove and and set aside in one piece. 

Remove door release handle.

Start by pressing out the plastic cover from the rear using the same tool as the vent window in step #1. 

Unscrew the standard screw holding the handle on and pull it off the splines noting the orientation

The Door panel is now ready to remove. 

Starting at the bottom outside corner insert the door panel removal tool and sliding it to be directly adjacent to the door clips. 

Gently pop out the door panel clip from the door using the welting to protect the paint as you lift it out.

Continue around the entire panel moving from one clip to the next. 

The door panel clips are located as follows:

When you have popped all clips tip the door panel out at the bottom to clear the door release spline and the lip on the door wood trim

Your done!