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-   -   Interior Side Panel Replacement (http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=25463)

rlgqk3 02-05-2009 02:19 PM

Interior Side Panel Replacement
 
Hey all, I am trying to find a way to remove and fix this side panel on my car interior. I attached a picture of what it currently looks like and a photo of someone else that got theirs removed.

Before:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

After:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

What currently is there looks terrible and I just can't stand it anymore. I am thinking about applying some sort of cool carbon fiber material as a replacement. It seems like it would be an easy piece to fix, just I have no idea how to get it off without actually breaking it. Not sure if I need to remove the dashboard first?

Any thoughts or tips?

Thanks!

tiFreak 02-05-2009 05:28 PM

you don't need to remove the dash board, I'm not entirely sure how to get it off but I know that if you just peel that stuff off and clean any adhesive, it will just be black plastic, which doesn't look that bad

1CivetDei2 02-05-2009 09:31 PM

just stick a butter knife in the top part and pry slowly until you can fit your fingers behind it. Then take the knife and slowly move it down the side.
There are 3 clips that pop into metal holders taht are in the actual frame you just need to pop them out. Chances are you WILL break some of the tabs but you just need to super glue or jb weld them back on (make sure their straight) Feels like its going to break but the tabs are really just stuck in tight

and you cant just peel it off without looking terrible its not black plastic its off white. Theres a top layer that can easily be pulled off then another one taht is glued on pretty strongly. I redid my a pillars in a different fabric and i just took off the loose top layer than used adhesive and stuck the new material on the solid layer

hotmilk400 02-05-2009 09:35 PM

fix your head liner while you are at it =]

haha.. some spray glue and gray headliner material and maybe a few free hours.. and it will alot better..

and... you proablly will break the side panel clips.. i always have.. i coulnt figured out how to ever remove them. so i just ripped the darn things off.. haha..

tiFreak 02-05-2009 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1CivetDei2 (Post 215063)
and you cant just peel it off without looking terrible its not black plastic its off white.

I heard they were black underneath from someone who just peeled the fabric off and ran them plain :confused: maybe they're different between different cars?

1CivetDei2 02-05-2009 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiFreak (Post 215065)
I heard they were black underneath from someone who just peeled the fabric off and ran them plain :confused: maybe they're different between different cars?

idfk the back part where the clips are is off white i don't know why they would paint the front black then cover it with black fabric. black plastic would look terrible anyways like the car was unfinished or something

hotmilk400 02-06-2009 12:06 AM

hahahah... its nicer to just do it the correct way..

if you need more help removing them, let us know.. the best way to match up color is to re-do your headliner and get alot of the same fabiric. its not hard if 2 people do it in an open area.

rlgqk3 02-06-2009 02:44 PM

that you guys so much for the tips!

i thought about maybe just taking the fabric off first, but yeah the plastic is an off-white etc and i would still need to clean off all the old glue. seemed better to just fix it completly.

i ordered like a grey/glass carbon fiber that i am going to try and apply over the pillar. i'll probably end up checking it out to see if it looks good or turns out really cheesy/stupid first...

do you guys know some decent places to just order a grey fabric? i know the whole headliner is terrible... the ceiling is def. sagging bad in the back now. that is the 2nd item on my list of fixing up the ti (1st is the pillars). I thought if the carbon fiber goes okay, maybe doing the whole headliner in a similiar carbon fiber (granted if it doesn't look cheesy). just put in a set of black vader seats in the front, so it is getting there.

the big step over the summer is determining what to do with the rocker panel, one side is some chipping and shows the white underneath. I would like to just remove all of the grey and have it be white, but then gotta paint the front and back bumpers white too then. anyone else ever attempt this?

tiFreak 02-06-2009 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlgqk3 (Post 215194)
the big step over the summer is determining what to do with the rocker panel, one side is some chipping and shows the white underneath. I would like to just remove all of the grey and have it be white, but then gotta paint the front and back bumpers white too then. anyone else ever attempt this?

removing the grey from the rockers is possible, but it's an absolute pain to get it right, I'd just paint over the whole thing or buy a set of sideskirts and just cover it up

1CivetDei2 02-06-2009 04:35 PM

for fabric go to joannes ( sp?) its a huge fabric store taht will definitely have what your looking for.

and for future reference the part your talking about is more comonly called the A-pillar instead of interior side panel

rlgqk3 02-06-2009 10:01 PM

i should have thought of joanne fabrics. i might look at fixing the headliner now too if it is a semi-easy process.

thanks for the clarification on the name, i sent an email to another member and commented the same.

i'll post some pics on how it all turns out and probably ask for what people think i should fix next :smile:

1CivetDei2 02-07-2009 03:34 AM

definitely do ill post pics of my a pillars taht i redid in a paisley fabric tomorrow when its light out

rlgqk3 02-11-2009 08:35 PM

so i am leaning towards redoing the whole headliner and pillars in a black suede. do you guys think that would look alright (currently is the light grey). right now i am thinking it would be pretty good, but going to take a better look when i get home. not sure if it would look really bad with the 2 tones, but i got black vaders in so i think it would be a good balance.

suggestions on how much fabric i would need initially? i am thinkin maybe 2.5-3 yards for the headliner and pillars.

amancuso 02-11-2009 09:02 PM

New A-pillars are only $33.00 each. Why cheap out on something you will notice everyday?

rlgqk3 02-11-2009 09:06 PM

can i ask what site do you use to buy things like new pillars? i haven't found anything that has some things like that.

Thanks, Ryan


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