Help! How to repair/replace this door trim?
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Help! How to repair/replace this door trim?
Previous owner apparently put some heavy luggage in the back seat, and it cracked up (not just scratched up) the silver-colored trim on the inside of the driver's side's rear door. See pics. Is there a way to repair it? You can see that the previous owner did a ****ty job painting it, but the crack still shows through. If repairing is not worth the effort, is there a way to replace just that trim and not the entire friggin' door? I can't find a way, after inspecting the trim thoroughly, to remove it without destroying it.
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah, that's what I was afraid of. i'm not sure if i want to replace the entire inside door panel just for that... but maybe i'll visit a local junk yard. Thanks for the reply!
#4
Moderator
iTrader: (10)
Yeah, I have a similar "problem"; mine being on the front driver's door panel. The "leather" panel right behind the silver handle got a couple good gouches in them from the previous female owner's big wedding ring. Thought of replacing just the "leather" or get a new panel altogether.
GL!
GL!
#6
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you all for the feedback.
I was just looking over the process of taking down the inside of the door and installing it... it appeared to be something rather complicated for me because it involves the locking mechanism and the lock handle. Now I am not sure if I can go through with it even if I find one from the junkyard!
Say, if I find a junk part for cheap (say $200? as opposed to the original panel that will cost me $800), then I still have to pay mechanics probably $150 (give or take).... that sum is a bit over my budget for a relatively small cosmetic defect....
I was just looking over the process of taking down the inside of the door and installing it... it appeared to be something rather complicated for me because it involves the locking mechanism and the lock handle. Now I am not sure if I can go through with it even if I find one from the junkyard!
Say, if I find a junk part for cheap (say $200? as opposed to the original panel that will cost me $800), then I still have to pay mechanics probably $150 (give or take).... that sum is a bit over my budget for a relatively small cosmetic defect....
Trending Topics
#9
It does not look so bad, but I know that it bothers to know is there. If you choose to replace the whole panel and are in LA area, try the yards on Alameda/between Gage and Slauson.
As someone already said, "wrap". Wrap is probably a good alternative and not necessarily CF. It could be of any other material close to the color of the original ones. So you don't have to do all four and end up paying over $200.
Good luck
As someone already said, "wrap". Wrap is probably a good alternative and not necessarily CF. It could be of any other material close to the color of the original ones. So you don't have to do all four and end up paying over $200.
Good luck
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks for the great ideas, guys. I've just purchased some 3M carbon fiber vinyls... hopefully it's not hard to apply (with a hair dryer?) and trim while the plastic piece stays on the door panel because there's no way to remove the plastic piece without damaging it.
#13
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do I need to remove the big white piece of hard plastic first? It seems to me that there are at least 3 layers of materials I have to remove to even see how my damaged piece of plastic is connected to the rest of the door panel.
I have a strong suspicion that plastic part is either glued on or clipped on... but I don't dare prying it out yet.
#15
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks. i'll try wrap then... but i wonder how the result would be if i can't actually wrap around the edges of the piece...