A Surprise Trunk Swap for a CL500 Owner Hit a Snag - Here’s the Fix

A Mercedes CL500 owner had a nasty surprise when a massive hole appeared in his trunk. Now, every time he needs to pop it open, he has to reach through that hole and yank a metal rod to unlatch it. Not exactly the luxury experience Mercedes had in mind.

I was hoping to surprise him by swapping in the trunk from a spare CL500 we have sitting around, the one with a fully working lid. But the local mechanic I called took one look and backed out. No one wants to touch it, apparently. So I’m turning to the community: does anyone know the proper steps to replace the trunk on a CL500?

I’m guessing it involves removing the hinges, wiring for the latch mechanism, and maybe the gas struts. But without a service manual or firsthand experience, I’m flying blind. If you’ve done this job before, or know a shop that has, please share your tips. The goal is to hand him back a car with a trunk that actually closes and opens without a reach-around.