how to get door trim off?

how to get door trim off?

Author
Discussion

funkyboogalooo

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

275 months

Thursday 3rd January 2002
quotequote all
could someone tell me if they have removed the thin painted metal trim from the door panel? Mine have been grained in to look like the walnut dash but its chipped quite badly. I would like to either remove the paint and polish them or regrain, but i need to know how to get them off first.

dwaite

50 posts

276 months

Friday 4th January 2002
quotequote all
First you must remove the internal door trim, once done, the metal strip is held on with four bolts located on the reverse of the trim. These bolts are very small and can be hidden behind the foam protection on the trim so make sure that you find them all. Undo the nuts and the trim will push out from the back. When you put the trim back on it is a good idea if you purchase some new nuts and bolts as the original ones were cut down in the factory and getting the nuts back on can be a problem due to cross threading and the like.
I restored mine to look like walnut and sprayed them with clear epoxy to prevent further damage.
Good luck.
Dean.

Roy C

4,192 posts

291 months

Friday 4th January 2002
quotequote all
Tower View have a refinishing service to restore the wood-effect.
www.t-v-r-services.co.uk/

I covered mine in "composite-effect" plastic (as there's no other wood in the car), but you could use the wood patterned variety. Available from car accessory shops.

Roy

PeterC

386 posts

276 months

Friday 4th January 2002
quotequote all
Do you already know how to take the whole door trim off the door? I am assuming no, so here goes:

Access to two retaining bolts is made through the door speaker, so first you have to remove the speaker from the door and then feed your hand up inside to find the two retaining bolts. Hopefully the nuts are simply finger tight and you can easily undo them.

Next, undo the screw located by the door lock. This is often covered by a plastic cap - standard DIY item available from Focus or B&Q if you need replacements.

The perimeter of the door trim is held in place with plastic plugs that simply pull away - take care not to be too brutal and damage the trim. Ease it off gently a little bit at a time.

The door trim can then be lifted off. You will need to unhook (at the lock end) the wire that connects the door lock pull handle to the lock.

Refitting is similar but in reverse. But best to fit the door trim back with the window down and then to raise the window to get at the two retaininmg bolts.

Hope this helps.

Peter

PeterC

386 posts

276 months

Friday 4th January 2002
quotequote all
Do you already know how to take the whole door trim off the door? I am assuming no, so here goes:

Access to two retaining bolts is made through the door speaker, so first you have to remove the speaker from the door and then feed your hand up inside to find the two retaining bolts. Hopefully the nuts are simply finger tight and you can easily undo them.

Next, undo the screw located by the door lock. This is often covered by a plastic cap - standard DIY item available from Focus or B&Q if you need replacements.

The perimeter of the door trim is held in place with plastic plugs that simply pull away - take care not to be too brutal and damage the trim. Ease it off gently a little bit at a time.

The door trim can then be lifted off. You will need to unhook (at the lock end) the wire that connects the door lock pull handle to the lock.

Refitting is similar but in reverse. But best to fit the door trim back with the window down and then to raise the window to get at the two retaining bolts.

Hope this helps.

Peter

funkyboogalooo

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

275 months

Monday 14th January 2002
quotequote all
can the trims be polished as they appear to be ally?
i was thinking of getting some ally ashtrays of leven as my plastic ones are broke so then the trims would match is they are aluminium!

Mike

funkyboogalooo

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

275 months

Tuesday 15th January 2002
quotequote all
so any suggestions?

Mike

Roy C

4,192 posts

291 months

Wednesday 16th January 2002
quotequote all
quote:

so any suggestions?

Mike


Never seen it done, so it looks like you may be the first.
If it goes wrong you can always have them refinished/covered.

I've always thought that they are particularly naff, especially on S1&2 as there's no other wood trim.

Roy

s3 bob

74 posts

291 months

Saturday 19th January 2002
quotequote all
Yes, they are ally and can be polished. The wood effect paint (nice!) scrapes off quite easily and they can then be polished and laquered. I did mine about 2 years ago and there have been postings here of others who have done the same.