(EDIT) Thanks to Stuz for posting a very basic starting guide on another post on speakers!!

Hey guys, just put in new front speakers and dynamat in the front panels and I thought I'd put out a simple guide on how to remove the front door panels. This is for a 99 323F GSi but I'm sure the process is similar for other BJs out there. Here is a list of everything you'll need to do this:

-Phillips screwdriver
-Flat head screwdriver
(yup, that's it)

Ok, so here is the passenger door of my car. We'll start off first with the door handle.


For this handle there is only one screw. Remove this screw and keep this one separate because it's different from the other four you'll remove next. Pull the handle as you were opening the door and the left side (as in the picture) will lift. Do this to pull the handle out of the panel so you can push it in the door sideways later.


Next is the arm rest handle for the passenger side. This side has one screw at the top and one at the bottom. The driver's side only has one. Remove the screw(s) and pull the handle up from the bottom to remove two more screws underneath it.

Driver's Side


Here are the two screws that we need to remove. One is on the far left and the other is at the far right. These are the same size as the last one/two you removed in the last step. At this point I also took the flat head and pried under the window switch panel to remove and unplug the switches.


On the side panel you need to remove this little plastic clip. Don't do it on the outside but between the rings to pop out the center. When it pops out just pull the whole thing out.


One more screw that is closest to the door hinge. Take the flat head to pop the cover off and then remove the screw. The cap comes with the screw so there is no way you'll forget this one later


***NOTE*** You can remove the black mirror cover on the door at this point to help make the panel removal easier. Now to the bottom panel anchors.


Basically, they're plastic but you don't want pull too hard or you'll break them. It shouldn't be too hard to replace if you do. Take a flat head between the door and the panel at the bottom corner and start prying slow until you hear the first pop. There should be about five or six of these on the panel so once you get one then move your hands along the side and bottom until the panel comes loose. Here is a pic of what it looks like inside.


Once you get those anchors lose then lift up above the door lock and rotate the door handle sideways to feed it through the hole and remove the panel. You're now set to change your speakers and install that dynamat


I hope this is beneficial to everyone. Please comment with any corrections you may suggest. I'll update later for the back doors if there is any difference.

Nice write up buddy, and they look exactly the same as the facelift model.

nice one. the rears are slightly different (for the FL version at least) - there's a small hole on the underside of the arm rest handle that you shove a flat head screwdriver in to release a catch. it's quite a bugger actually.

i did mines today was so easy 5 minutes work...went to replace damaged crackiling speakers turned out was already apine speakers installed and it was the tweeters that wer damaged so installed fli speakers with tweeters

Thanks for the guide, put some new speakers in mine over the weekend and this helped loads!