Door Handle Mod / HOW TO

[Thmsshaun]

Over the past few weeks I have been carrying out various mod's one friends suggested was to get the door handles body coloured. After reading Mambo's post I decided that I was going to go down the route of spraying them myself rather that shelling out the £75+ for a new set. Yes it is time consuming this way but for me cheaper and more satisfying.

Door Cards do not need to be removed

Very few tools are needed.

1) 4mm Alan Key (Front Doors)
2) 3mm Alan Key (Rear Door) Some models also have 4MM in the rear
3) Posi drive screwdriver

Paint
A good plastic primer
Colour matched spray mixed by Brown Brothers (No high street tat)
Clear coat lacquer.

Step 1 is to remove the door handles from the door.

Removing the door seal around the location of the handle.

Using the 4mm alan key undo the grub screw inside.

This will release the back part of the handle either the lock or remote sensor.
This simply slides out This will the show some screw heads. undo slightly to loosen the mechanism. This aids removal of the main body

DO NOT FULLY UNSCREW!!

Next remove the main handle body by pulling out and toward you. It is quite firm but will come easily.

This is the same for the both front doors.

In the rear the location for the alan key is in a slightly different location
Again undo the bolt and the rear of the handle will become loose and unclip.

I was doing 2 handles at a time. If you take all 4 off ensure the window is open so you can still get in the car.

When all are removed clean up and spray.

Refitting is just the reverse of removal.

1) Fit the seals
2) Fit the handle main body
3) Tighten the screws
4) Fit the handle rear block / sensor / key hole
5) Tighten alan key bolts

I found it best to leave them to dry overnight as you have to be quite firm with the handles to re fit them. As I found after only leaving it a couple of hours the paint is still soft and get hand prints on it This meant leaving it overnight rubbing back and re painting again and the waiting another day for it to dry.

Patients is the key.

 

[Thmsshaun]

Your end result should then look something like this.

 

[BimMerc]

cool how did they come out? isnt it had to get the smooth plasticy(?) finish you get on colour coded ones from the dealers?

 

[Thmsshaun]

The build up of paint and mainly the lacquer brings a nice smooth finish. They are as easy to get out as described above.

I am happy with the finish and that totaly cost was probably around £30 but there is plenty of paint left to do other jobs as and when needed.

 

[pepper&boulou]

The build up of paint and mainly the lacquer brings a nice smooth finish. They are as easy to get out as described above.

I am happy with the finish and that totaly cost was probably around £30 but there is plenty of paint left to do other jobs as and when needed.

Nice job and what a difference it makes .Have a narna :bannana:

 

[GrahamC230K]

Worthy of the HowTO section I think! Nice write up.

 

[Simon]

Nice "How to". Thanks a bunch :bannana: :bannana: :bannana: :bannana:

 

[pluggers]

Looks really good I wonder why I never did this on mine

 

[Mambo]

Well done mate, glad you managed to figure out how to get the front handles off!

 

[shazAMG]

gud wrk mate, i think im going to do the same, ill have to order the paint tho...

 

[Thmsshaun]

gud wrk mate, i think im going to do the same, ill have to order the paint tho...

Yeah thats what I did waited a day for the paint to be mixed. I got it in aerosol but if you've got the facilities they will just get you the paint to put in a spray gun.

 

[C36 AMG]

Where to get the paint and clearcoat

Hi where can I get the best paint and clearcoat for my car? Also I've seen something like this on ebay will it look good to my 97 c36 AMG?

 

[benny]

Wicked HOWTO i will be doing this for sure
Just as soon as i get a full new lock set which i will replace when im taking it all apart.

 

[1998K]

I really appreciate your providential "How To" post.

thanks!

Please where do you suggest to find the suitable paint? Do they sell suitable aerosol bottle for all the spray you need: primer, paint and laquer?

thanks again

Marco

PS: mine is an "elegance"( yes with crome insert) obsidian black so, probably, the differences will be less visible than your clear color car!

 

[LCN]

This will release the back part of the handle either the lock or remote sensor.
This simply slides out This will the show some screw heads. undo slightly to loosen the mechanism. This aids removal of the main body

DO NOT FULLY UNSCREW!!

Why not fully unscrew?

 

[KillerHERTZ]

The Pin will fall into the door, in order to find it, you will have to completely strip the door.

Even doing that doesnt guarantee you will ever find it and you could end up with it rolling/rattling around for 1000 years.

+ I have 2x W210 Sliver handles never been used for sale if anyone is intrested, MB Cambridge cocked up my order.

 

[LCN]

Alright thanks, I am getting these painted at the moment and the guy didn't seem too confident about getting the front door handles off so definitely want to avoid this dropped pin!

Is this the same with the rear door handles? Only slightly release the allen pin or it will fall down?

We were having a look at the rear handles and it's really easy to see the hole where you can put an allen key into, but the front seal seemed to be stuck, do you just pull it off and then push it back in?

 

[LCN]

lol okay, the spray painter's said they cannot remove the front door handles..

So it looks like I will have to remove them and take them in.

KillerHERTZ, it seems a lot of people are having trouble with these front handles?

Is this the technique?

1. Pull back the rubber seal exposing the hole to the allen screw

2. Slightly unscrew allen key at the back of the lock / ir receiver piece ( I am thinking about 1 - 2 cm turn so it doesn't fall down into the door? )

3. Slide the lock / ir piece straight out? ( A lot of people seem to be having trouble sliding this out, and I was reading with some other models that you have to insert the key and turn it then pull it out? )

4. Then you carefully unscrew the screws which are now exposed where you removed the ir / lock piece as these could fall down into the door as well? I don't understand from the pictures how these screws hold the main handle in place.

Is it best to do this with the battery disconnected as well?

Thanks for the help.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

1. Pull the seal away from the door/holes.

2.Biggest mistake is trying to unscrew the hole that you 1st see (same position as the rear doors) you need the hole that is on the same side as the inside of the door - about 1" lower down.

Try and unsrew the wrong one and you will end up cutting your hand as it wont move.

3. Keep unscrewing the bolt about 8 times, then try and pull out the handle (be quite rough with it!) .

TBH, you wont lose the screw unless you turn it about 20-30times. I havent done it (so far)


I can take some pictures for you on Sat if you can wait?

Cheers
Khz

 

[LCN]

Hey Killer,

Thanks for that info man! Yes pictures would be excellent !!!! :bannana:

My biggest worry is that bloody screw haha, don't want to loose that in the door. Everything else seems simple enough.