I finally got off my bum and decided to redo my interior black.
I am now in the process of removing all the plastic panels and now they are jammed.

Where the strut meets the panel is one area, and then there are two hidden areas.

I marked where they are stuck.

 

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Those round strut covers pop off. And after that, I guess you remove the struts? That might help... never did it, though.

 

Where the strut goes, remove the cap and you'll see that there are two peices. The big panel has a U cut into it and is covered by a little plastic patch piece. Just pull the little plastic piece up, then the whole big panel can be pulled down.

There are several plastic clips that hold the panel to the car. Give a pull straight out. The clips are old and will most likely break. Parts stores carry them.

 

The struts have to come out and the seat retainers do to. The other side where you cant see any bolt you GENTLY tug and the plastic clips will come out.

 

No, the panels are made in such a way that strut removal is not necessary.

The seat bolts have to come out, use a torx in them.

 

yeah, I think I remember noticing that after I removed them and didnt have to take em out for installation. oh well... The rest of what I said was right

 

the 2 arrows in the first pic, they just snap in, so you should be able to just pull them out. the caps over the struts pull off, and you have to remove the seat bolts, i believe they use a 42 or 45 torx bit.

 

Wow that was incredibly quick.


Thank you all for the help, it really saved me from endless confusion and frustration.

 

Just be careful when pulling, the clips are cheap but the panels are... well you know. Those things are a pain.
No strut removal neccessary at all. No 50 torx for the seat bolts.
If you are pulling the panels all the way out then you will need to disconnect the rear belts from the floor in order to pull the belt throught the panel, or remove the assembly from the top of the wheelwell.