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Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 2:36 pm
by Caveman
Hi There,

New to the forum. I need to get one of the rear interior side trims - where the arm rest and speaker sit - but cannot find any screws holding it in. I have the door sill trim off and I assume the panel pulls off but i don't know if there are any hidden screws or fittings (other than the one at the bottom (under the seat base). Can anyone help? I've tried googling but can only find reference to rear door trims rather than the internal panel.

Cheers,

David

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:36 pm
by iichel
The door handle cover comes off and below are two torx screws.

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 5:55 pm
by Caveman
Thanks for coming back to me but I think you are thinking of a five door as three door polos do not have a door handle on the rear panels as no doors?

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 6:16 pm
by ciclo
The best information is here:
- 6R_6C manuals (erWin) :arrow: : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... drive_link
Request permission to download all PDFs. Free!

Please be patient, my technical team is always out partying and only checks requests occasionally... it's usually the concierge who grants permission, normally to all requests because he was told to press 'this' button for it. Let's hope the concierge doesn't press the wrong button. Good luck!

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 7:01 pm
by Caveman
Thanks! I'll have a search.

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 7:13 pm
by ciclo
Image

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 7:46 pm
by Tinman
Hi, Apart from the hidden plastic screw under the seat, there is only 5 clips (2 types) holding the trim piece 3 on top and 2 at the bottom.


Image

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2025 7:59 am
by Caveman
Thanks Guys,

It felt like some of them slot on rather than pull off? Looking at Tinman's picture, there is a pull off one near the front edge of the rear glass.

Tinman - are you literally yanking away from body and if so from the bottom first? It feels like they are going to tear off of the panel when I have tried prising them. How did you get your one off? It is great to have some pictures out on the web as there is nothing.

Thanks, David

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2025 4:50 pm
by CarbonChaos
Yes just pull it as per the instructions starting at the rear , these trim clips can be stubborn but they will yield to force :D

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2026 1:37 am
by Tinman
Hi, Ive used the following tools for removal.

Image

Plastic trim removal tools is the original or copy of vw tools (Got it from ebay). Ive brought it for the front door trim panel when I was doing the folding mirror mod.

I didnt have access to the erwin doc so I didnt do the recommend method. I've start from the bottom. near b panel, using the big plastic trim tool was pretty easy to pry the two clips. For the middle clip, it was pretty much stuck on in my case, I couldnt just give a good pull to get it off. I have to used the metal prying tool because I couldnt get proper leverage with the plastic tool. The rear two clips just come out with a good firm pull.

Re: Help! Can anyone tell me how to remove the interior side panels in a three door?

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2026 10:22 am
by Caveman
Thanks Tinman,

I have similar tools. Like all things; it is worrying the first time as you don't know how much force is required. BMW ones are way easier as they tend to run round the edge of the door - at least on older models - so you can see and prise them much more easily. I appreciate the advice! Cheers, David