On my new-to-me '99 SC 400, the trim on the driver's side door is starting to crack. Searching gave me only a thread related to 2007+ GS models getting it replaced. Any idea who to contact about this? Upholstery shop? Is there a DIY?

 

The design is very brittle. An upholstery shop can probably fix the vinyl, but the underlying structure needs addressing, or it'll tear and/or crack again.

People usually use plastic epoxy to secure the cracked portion, and some reinforce it further with aluminum tape used for HVAC ducting. I prefer to take it a step further, filling the hollow backside with expanding foam, then trimming it to the shape of the door frame. The issue with the design is it just has thin little raised supports every 6" or so...and guess what, the cracks form in between. It needs to be evenly supported throughout.

 

Hmm, interesting. Thanks! So, I will need to put some work into this.

 

I repaired a couple with 3M window weld. Just pack it in the cavity in the structure on the inside of where that vinyl area shown cracked. You can look for one from one of the guys parting these things out you see pretty routinely. I have bought a couple like that, and proactively reinforced as described above. I even put a small piece of aluminum angle inside one that was cracked like yours. Ugly, but it stayed together.

 

As stated above, the design of the door trim on our cars is the absolute worst and under normal use (and the doors being so heavy) what you have is quite typical. Mine were holding up until the repaint in ‘13 and the body shop destroyed both of mine as the frame is brittle after years of exposure to sun and other weather conditions (especially if not garaged).

The body shop offered to split the repairs and I located an experienced person to perform the restoration; it was very expensive but worth it to me. Some members have purchased replacement window trim from Japan but also expensive.

If you are in NorCal, I can provide you the repair person info (but he is expensive....). Send a PM if you are interested.



After repair; the split line is still visible as it is re-enforced underneath.


The armrest panels are also plastic and subject to cracks.

Removing the door panels is a delicate task.


Split patch before the dye application.

 

Thank you I'm outside of Los Angeles, so will find a shop here.

 

Any repair work is going to show unless you do a complete new trim replacement.
That being the case, I went for a free, not so horrible ,fix.
Go to large house paint outlet, like Home depot,
Go to the paint sample display, pick up a few color cards that are close to your color. (These are free)
Go to the car and match the closest color to your trim (in the sun light)
My trim is like a cocoa brown.
My closest card is : Home Decorators collection, oak creek, hdc-ac-07
Bend the card to conform to the shape of the trim.
Coat both the card and trim with contact cement.
Let dry 10 minutes, stick card over crack.
Done.

 

Pics or it didn't happen!

 

Oh ye of little faith

Drivers door sill crack cover

 

lol - thank you. Looks good. I'll try this next.

 

you are better off getting the lrb alum door cards and building a armrest off that(what i am gonna do)

 

I can't imagine spending over $200 for the ugliest panel in existence.