Do it yourself
Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles

Removing Front Door Panel

Model: BMW Serie 3 E36 - Years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Part: Door trim panel

See other generations:
Video tutorial

The inner door panel is secured with Torx screws and plastic fasteners that snap into place. First, remove the square plastic cap on the panel (next to the side airbag container) and unscrew the first fastening screw with a Torx screwdriver size T20 (it is recommended to use a magnetic tip screwdriver to facilitate screw removal).

Locate the other two caps positioned just behind the handle of the inner door, remove them, and unscrew the other two Torx screws. Disconnect the plastic frame of the opening handle by pulling it forward.

At this point, using a plastic lever, disengage the plastic fasteners of the panel, located both at the bottom and the sides: you can then slide the panel out from the window seal while disconnecting the connectors for the speakers. If the connection element of the panel to the window seal is loose and/or damaged, detach it from the seal and reattach it to the panel before reinstalling.


Updated on 2 February 2026 by ScegliAuto


Related tutorials

BMW Serie 3 (2005-2013 / E92, E90, E91) In this video tutorial, you will learn how to remove the front door actuator on the BMW 3 Series E90, as well as on the BMW E60 and Z3. First, open t…
BMW Serie 3 (1998-2006 / E46) To remove the outside rearview mirror, first remove the door trim panel (see reference guide). Once the panel is removed, pull out the clips along th…
BMW Serie 3 (1998-2006 / E46) To facilitate the removal of the fog lights and front bumper, lift the vehicle on a lift or use appropriate jack stands; then remove the front wheels…

Other guides you may be interested in

How to Open the Bonnet on the Mitsubishi L200?

In this tutorial, you will see how to open the bonnet on the Mitsubishi L200, a very simple operation that follows the standard procedure. First, open the vehicle and go to the driver's side, then locate the lever at the lower outer area, just in front of the pedals, and pull it. Next, position yourself in front of the bonnet, locate the second lever above the Mitsubishi logo, and push it to the right, releasing the latch. At this point, you can fully lift the bonnet and secure it with the prop rod.

Watch the video!


by ScegliAuto

More videos