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DIY door panels

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Old Sep 21, 2009 | 08:26 PM
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DIY door panels

ok so i decided to make this since alot of people are wondering how to do it.
hopefully this can help everyone out

MATERIALS:
flathead screw driver
phillips screw driver
razor
fabric
3m spray adhesive super 77 or 90( 90 is stronger)
3m Super double sided tape

ok so first your going to want to take the door panels out which is pretty easy. these pictures were from the rear but i didnt do it once i saw that i need to cut out the inserts. but its the same thing for the front.

1st. there are three clips on the bottom it the armrest thing i just put a flat head under the whole thing and it pops right off

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2nd. unplug the wire that connect to the door panel
3rd. there are three screws under the panel and one at the door handle take those off.
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4th. just pull the door panel kinda hard and it pops off (this will take some force)
5th. there is a cable connecting to the door handle with a little blue thing holding it on jut turn the blue thing and the cable will come off.
6th. last thing to do is unplug the tweeter and the whole panel will come off
YOUR DONE!

ok on to taking out the door inserts. i did not do the rear door panels cause i think i need to cut out the inserts and idk if i want to do that yet. i will do that when i have more time. so here is how to do the fronts.

Alright so you have the door panel and the back should look like this. on the back their are some silver screws you need to take out to take off the whole armrest.
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once you get that off. now its time to take off the insert. to take this off their are a bunch of melted plastic rivets your going to have to take off. just cut them off with a razor. and their is a metal piece that is double sided taped on just pull that off.
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once you do that there is a like metal bar with like velvet on it on the top of the door. if you look under it. its held in by these bent metal peices just bend them all and it will come off. and the door insert should come right off.

Once you have to door panel off just find a corner on the insert and peel the old fabric off. It should look like this now.
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alright now its time to put the fabric on. This is simple. cut out a big enought piece of fabric that will comer the whole panel. Spray the 3M adhesive on the panel and lay the fabric over and smooth out all the wrinkles and everything. let it dry for an hour. Once it is dry turn the panel over and take a razor and cut out all the holes like the door handle, screw holes, etc. Now cut the excess fabric from around the panel and cut out the holes where the rivets were. now put the insert back on the door panel and line all the rivets up and put the metal peice back on with some double sided tape. For the hole where the rivets are i just used really strong hot glue to hold them in. and it works great! now put it all back together and put the door panel back on your door and your ready to go.

i know this isnt the best write up but i hope it helps most people. At least you will get the concept of what your doing. I know i should have took more pictures but i hope the ones i took help.

here is how mine turned out

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Old Sep 21, 2009 | 11:38 PM
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Thanks for a DIY! +1 for you!
 
Old Sep 21, 2009 | 11:50 PM
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thanks i hope it helps!
 
Old Sep 22, 2009 | 10:46 AM
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im making a mental note.
 
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 07:57 PM
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URL=http://img23.imageshack.us/i/sany0002xe.jpg/][/URL]


I just got my back doors done today. I will get the fronts tomorrow morn. Surprisingly easy and fun to do. Makes for a truely unique look.
 
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 09:49 PM
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did you have to cut out the inserts?
 
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 10:38 PM
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no my door panels were different than this DIY. I have an '08 GD3 dunno why but the "inserts" on my doors were actually just a molded piece of the door. It is not separable. It actually made things easier IMO I just cut a piece larger than what I needed used the spray glue and smoothed it out then cut along the seam once it was on. took no time at all and turned out real professional looking.
 
Old Sep 26, 2009 | 02:00 PM
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URL=http://img34.imageshack.us/i/sany0003k.jpg/][/URL]



I finished up the door panels this morning. Next step will be my family's Irish Crest on the headliner and probably some more tartan somewhere, floormats, seat inserts, something like that. LMK what you think.
 
Old Sep 27, 2009 | 09:39 PM
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mine is an 08 too
 
Old Oct 1, 2009 | 11:08 AM
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looking good....
 
Old Nov 19, 2009 | 11:42 AM
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those rear view mirrors are sick! dont want someone with hids trailing behind me if i had one of those though.
 
Old Nov 22, 2009 | 02:02 AM
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good turorial man...
 
Old Nov 23, 2009 | 03:11 AM
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Nice DIY!...even did the center console cover. Thanks!
 

Last edited by raton; Nov 23, 2009 at 03:14 AM.
Old Nov 23, 2009 | 08:27 PM
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thanks! yea center console was pretty easy
 
Old Dec 25, 2009 | 02:55 AM
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Where did you buy your fabric? Was it from a local store?
 
Old Dec 25, 2009 | 04:19 PM
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Yeah I just got mine at JoAnn's fabric along with spray glue 3m brand. It's so easy to do i think i'm going to look for another pattern to change it out in the spring.
 
Old Dec 25, 2009 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by wait4thefit
thanks! yea center console was pretty easy
nice write up!, mind explaining howd you do the center console lid?
 
Old Dec 25, 2009 | 06:54 PM
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Im gonna do mine in this! Distinctive Fabric

haha nice online resource for all kinds of fabrics. I joined their site and ordered 5 free swatches to see what i like
 
Old Jan 5, 2010 | 10:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Jazz GD3
nice write up!, mind explaining howd you do the center console lid?
center console has a couple screws on the bottom that take off the lid and it pops off and you just take off the old fabric and wrap it!
 
Old Jan 22, 2011 | 01:41 AM
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damn man i just finished this..i love the look
 



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