Okay, since the sticky no longer has images, I figured I'd take pics while I took apart my 8100 and post them for you all! Cheers and be careful.

NOTE: You will void your warranty doing this.
NOTE: WEAR LATEX GLOVES IF YOU DONT WANT TO MUCK UP YOUR BEAUTIFUL SCREEN!

[Step 1]
Gaze adoringly at your Pearl.


[Step 2]
Remove the back cover


[Step 3]
Remove the battery


[Step 4]
Next you will be removing the lowest portion of the body. It is below the keyboard, between the silver side panels, and wraps from front to back. It's extremely tricky. There are four tabs (see pictures below): 2 on the front, 2 on the back. The 2 on the back are easily accessible, the 2 on the front are not at all. What I found to be the easiest way to do this was to pop the back 2 up with your fingernails, then push up and around until it just pops off. If you find it easier, try using a smallllll flat screwdriver to pop the front part up first (and leave it there to hold it up), then the back ones, and slide it off.






WARNING: DIRECTLY BENEATH THIS PORTION THAT YOU ARE REMOVING IS THE ANTENNA. CHANCES ARE, THE PLASTIC WILL CATCH THE ANTENNA AND DO WHAT IS PICTURED BELOW. Mine still works though, so i wouldn't be TOOOOO worried. just be aware of it. That green thing is the antenna.


[Step 5]
Remove all the screws. YOU MUST DO THIS BEFORE THE SIDES. They require a T7 bit. (t=torx but when you're buying it, just ask for a T7. ). Be careful, these screws absolutely suck and you will strip them before you know it. Just take your time and push while turning.




[Step ]
Remove the silver sides. You really only need your fingernail to do this after you've removed the screws.

[Step 7]
LOL at the skin and dust in your beautiful phone.





[Step 8]

To separate the two pieces, pop the 4 clips with your nail or something. They're very easy to get off.



Now you are free to do whatever you want with the insides and all that jazz. I hope you all enjoy this, I stripped one of the screws and won't be able to completely reassemble mine until I can find one that fits or buy a replacement.

Tips: If you are planning on doing this again sometime, use regular screws to put it back together (obviously same width and length so you don't ruin anything).

Wow good work and no replies?

Could somebody sticky this cause the other disassembly thread is longer updated.

Nice, I have been waiting for good images, thanks.

very good job,thank you!

Just giving back to this great forum. And I mean, I was already taking it apart might as well help people out in the process. None of the videos show how to get the bottom off

Thanks for share!

Very nice. Thanks

welcome

These photos helped me tremendously when I had to replace my earpiece speaker. Thanks for doing this!

Nice job but too late for me. I've moved on from 8100.

Gr8, better than the previous version.

My Antenna was damaged, now I can't make many calls. Anyone know if there is a replacement that can be installed?

thanks. great instructions. two questions:

1. anyone have specs on the screws in case you want to replace them (sans the T7 head)?

2. i have read in previous posts that it is a T6 driver, not T7. which is it?

I used a T6 with no problem.

Thanks! I do the same step with the antenna and continues to operate well

BE CAREFUL WITH THE SCREW THEY STRIP SUPER EASY!!!

I am grateful for everyone that said thanks. That's why I put it up here

great how-to. made replaceing my worn out case a heck-uv-a lot easier!

Thanks a ton

I echo the thanks!

Excellent post!

Easiest product to disassemble! I just did mine this morning to clean out the dust and it went textbook. Didn't thrash the antenna either. Just a tip for those looking to take things apart.

To snap off the bottom cover (with the provide label), don't use a screwdriver. Use your fingernails. The plastic is flexible enough and you won't scratch the finish. Just slide your nails under the each clip from the back and pull up. Once you have them freed, you can pull down and pop clips over the circuit board and then finally slide it off.

Thanks for the guide

The screw heads strip really easily. I don't suppose anyone knows the screw specs or where one can get better quality replacement screws?

Do you know if I can use the lcd from my old 8100 on my new 8120 that is damaged?

T7 (Torx head). Most electronics use torx screws. If you use the right screwdriver, you won't strip them.

Yes. Screens are the same across major models (e.g., 81XX, 83XX, 87XX, etc.)

Anybody ever replaced an LCD screen? Unless I missed it, the only thing I've seen in the disassembly posts is that the screen is held on by double stick tape. Is there a good/safe way to remove the screen and what kind of connections will I have to work with?

Here is a youtube I found of the process including LCD removal:

YouTube - Blackberry Pearl 8100 Screen Replacement & Dissection

It's actually T6.

Took mine apart and cleaned it all out (lots of dog hair eww) put it back together. Now I put the batt. back in and the led lights up red for 3 seconds and then shuts off. I only handled the PCB on the edges and wore gloves. plugging in the usb does nothing. Have I bricked my phone?

Update. I plug in the USB and then put the batt. in and the red led comes on and windows sees it as a device but no screen or leds light up.

10/08/08 took it back apart and put it back together and now it works

It took me two months to get up the nerve to do it, but I finally took apart my 8100 and my 8120. I replaced my damaged 8120 LCD with the one from my 8100 and...
SUCCESS! Wow. I feel like man!

Nice . I wouldn't have the guts to do a part replacement unless mine was out of warranty. With just taking it apart I know I'm not going to break anything.

Cool, I have an old 8100 (have 8310 now) that I accidentally bricked when I got it caught and yanked the USB out too roughly, stripped the tiny connectors inside the mini USB port. I wonder if I could replace the whole carriage where the USB connects to the board. I took it apart, but it appears to be soldered....

Any ideas?

jejejeej io tambien desarme mi blackberry jejeje esop!!

New here, salvaged my wife's 8100 that's been sitting in her truck for 6 months (she replaced it with a Curve). I currently use a T-Mobile Wing (have been for about 6 months) and I've realized that it is a heavy phone. Never mind the CPU speed...anyway....last night I replaced the cracked LCD screen on the 8100 and i also replaced the lens (it had a small scratch on the inside and I figured, if I'm going to have it apart anyway...).

In the next few days, I'm gonig to make sure I didn't damage the antennae on the 8100 from taking it apart....twice (don't ask). If that works ok, I'm going to put my wife's SIM card in it and use it for a day or so to see if I like it. If so, I'll use that and give the Wing to our daughter. Too many moving parts on the Wing, among other things.

I've learned much from this site and hope to learn more in the future.....

-Tom

Wow it is awesome.......nice, it's pretty clear.....excellent job...Thnaks

Appreciate it, love you.

I've looked for a Pearl (8100) cover but so far no luck I found battery covers but not the whole cover for a Pearl, does anyone know if someone sells these sets?

Nobody?

Did you check these:
Ebay, HorizonWirelessOnline.com, cnn.cn

Jep, only back covers for the battery, not a complete cover.