Panel removal 97 290da

[HawkX66]

I'd like to replace the cracked mirror I have when I replace the lights. How does this panel surrounding it come down? I don't see any screws. Behind the lights maybe?
Thanks

 

[hughespat57]

I’ve taken other panels off and have found the screws are under the vinyl around the edges. Then Sea Ray did a tuck n roll glueing down the edges and tucking the edges in. Makes a seamless job.

You could try peeling back the edge to get to the screws and then re glue and tuck
Or you can feel for the screw heads poke a hole to remove and add trim washers when reinstalling like this I did for accessing the lights and adding some wiring across the salon

 

[techmitch]

I'd like to replace the cracked mirror I have when I replace the lights. How does this panel surrounding it come down? I don't see any screws. Behind the lights maybe?
Thanks

View attachment 114446

After you remove the lights, feel around the edges of the panel for the screws, then pinch and pull back the material to expose the screws. They usually tuck the material in around the edges of the panel after putting the screws in. There may be some Christmas tree type fasteners also.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Just to expand a bit on what was mentioned above... the vinyl is secured to the plywood by staples. But there are no staples for a couple inches on either side of where a screw will go. As noted, feel for screw heads than carefully pull the vinyl out from it's tucked in position. It may be "heat stuck" so pull gently, a little at a time. If you go too hard or fast you can tear the vinyl - especially if you're using an aggressive tool.

What I don't remember, from the couple times I've done this, is whether or not the side panels went in first or the mirror board. The times I've done this, I was doing a larger job so I didn't really keep track.

 

[HawkX66]

Yuck... Thanks guys. I was hoping for push fasteners or something like that. That's just piss poor designing to make something you can't take off without destroying it.
I'll check it out like suggested.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yuck... Thanks guys. I was hoping for push fasteners or something like that. That's just piss poor designing to make something you can't take off without destroying it.
I'll check it out like suggested.

Actually the engineering is solid and it's a perfectly acceptable, and widely used, method for secure attachment. I've never damaged anything - like I said, just be gentle. If you get rough with it, well, of course you might damage it... but that's on you, not the securement method

As a side note, using all push fasteners on a heavy piece like this would NOT be good engineering.

 

[HawkX66]

Actually the engineering is solid and it's a perfectly acceptable, and widely used, method for secure attachment. I've never damaged anything - like I said, just be gentle. If you get rough with it, well, of course you might damage it... but that's on you, not the securement method

As a side note, using all push fasteners on a heavy piece like this would NOT be good engineering.

Well, if it's engineered to be taken apart ok. We'll have to see. If it were me, I'd have designed it with a bracket down low on the back side that slips into something fixed to the bulkhead and then bolt it in behind the two light fixtures. Two bolts, slide up and away you go...

 

[hughespat57]

I would practice on the bottom behind the cushions. A small tear there won’t be noticeable get a feel for how flexible the vinyl is and how well it is glued.

 

[HawkX66]

I would practice on the bottom behind the cushions. A small tear there won’t be noticeable get a feel for how flexible the vinyl is and how well it is glued.

Good advice. Thanks.