Does anyone have information on removal and replacement of the exterior panels? I am planning on turning my red cabrio into a silver one and I would love to have the specifics in hand instead of going into it blind.
Replies to This Discussion
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Here you go........
http://www.fq101.co.uk/451panels.asp
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Great site, thanks Ed
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This link is not working. DOes anyone have a revised URL for removing the 451 front panels?
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Permalink Reply by John in MO on -
Use http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides.html
Lot's of good info there. Thanks, Ed!
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www.evilution.co.uk is the home of 451 mods and fixes.
skirt removal
http://evilution.co.uk/index.php?page=modpage&id=439&men=Ex...
front removal
http://evilution.co.uk/index.php?page=modpage&id=440&men=Ex...
rear removal
http://evilution.co.uk/index.php?page=modpage&id=441&men=Ex...
door removal
http://evilution.co.uk/index.php?page=modpage&id=443&men=Ex...
Loads of stuff already added, more stuff added regularly.
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Fromoz on -
WOW!! How would we do without you guys? Thanks!
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I just did mine and documented (although not in depth) but have uploaded a photo album to my page. Check it out, do not confuse this with a detailed how to guide though. Anyone else done theirs recently? Took me and a friend 5 hours from the time i started removing panels till completion. but it's done!
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Cyko great job on the blue to black swap.... but dude get a decent camera! your pics are really bad...
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I just swiched the panels between my and my wife's car. She wants it yelow now . I did it my self without helpers. It was so easy! I spent 3 hours of my last weekend. ( but before I spent years to be a car mechanic, so all of these clips and panels jobs are not new to me)
The hardest part was a undedoor panel. It was hard to remove it without braking the clips.
I have a 10 photos uploded .
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Permalink Reply by Peter Lewis on
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I wish you all the luck in the world but i can tell you even with an instruction manual the removal of the door paneals on the 451 current Smart is a beast of a job.
I tried it and you have to remove the mirror housing and door handle first and then the fun begins.
In the end i had to take the car to the main dealer to have them do the job properly.
The old 450 Smart was fairly straight forward but you really have to know what you are doing with the new 451.
It can be done but in my opinion it is a main dealer job who have done the job before and know all the panels back too front.
I have tried the job myself and regretted it.
The new 451 Smart is a totally different car to the old 450 in every respect.
You may have to fork out some money but to have the job done looking like its never been done is a main dealer affair.
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I have removed and changed panels dozens of times, I own four Smarts and i have swapped the panels many times. The first time that you do it can be difficult, but once you have done it it is rather easy to do. No its not so hard the only thing that you need to worry about is the small white clips on the lower door kick panels they tend to break my suggestion is to leave the car outside in the sun so that the panels are nice and warm so they can flex more this tends to help me remove the panels without breaking the white tabs. Also the next hardest panel to remove and install is the door panels. The door handle is pretty straight forward to remove, but removing the mirror assembly to get to the one bolt that holds the panel on can be difficult. when removing the screws that hold the mirror in place remember where you removed what length screw from where, or when you go to reinstall the mirror assembly you will screw a hole right threw your mirror assembly. Once the lower door kick panels are removed it is pretty easy to figure out what screws need to be removed in order to remove the remainder if the panels. It is always a good idea to have a friend help you remove the panels from the front and from the rear because the three front panels and the three rear panels come off together as a single panel assembly and are then taken apart once removed from the car. It can be done but it can be rather difficult to remove by your self. The tail lights stay on the panels when you remove them from the car so it makes the panels more top heavy and damage can easily occur.
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