Well, i'm posting this here, because i figure its a tip and trick that i am doing to my EM...

I wanted my interior different, so instead of spending $300 on CTR door panels, i was in Jo-Ann fabrics getting some fabric to recover my dining room chairs (To get rid of their lovely floral pattern to a regular color), when i spot some red fabric... i stroll on over, and notice it has a very similar texture to Recaro Fabric. So I bought a yard of it... $4.95.. I took apart my center console, took the pad off of the plastic underneath, and stretched the fabric onto it, then tightened the plastic back on, holding the fabric very tight. Here's those pics...




Then i moved onto the door panels.... Some people say to drill out the plastic that holds the carpeted piece in, but i didnt feel safe with that, and my drill battery died... SO I lit up a candle, and heated up an x-acto knife, cutting the melted plastic away so you can pry the door pieces off... That worked great, until i had about 5 spots left to get off, when the x-acto blade broke and went flying. So then i took my lighter, and heated up the plastic to melt it some, and it pried off, actually pretty clean... **Keep a fire extinguisher nearby just in case... **

Here's the pics of the door panels... not 100% complete, but you'll get a good idea...

 

Looks great, great idea and cheap too..

 

not bad... just wondering what did or are you going to use to put the armrests back on the door panels?

instead of the hot exacto knife, i used a dremel with a disk and cut the tops off the plastic things that hold the armrests to the panel.

 

wasnt sure on that kid... how did you put yours back on?? i was thinkin self tapping screws...

DAMNIT! I didnt even think to whip out the dremel.... that would have been much easier...

 

Amazing job! I might just give it a try to my door panels too.

 

theay look great! nice job

if your ever in miami. you can help me do mine

 

very nice job!

 

well self taping screws might work but i dont think they make ones big enough to fill up the hole. what i used was a thick fat short and stubby screw with a fat washer. i wasnt able to put it in every hole (there is about 20 or so) to keep the arm rest up. i put them in the spots where it would accept the screw. all you need is enough to keep the armrest on there. you can skip every 2 holes and spread it out. and when you put the panel back on, theres a screw in the little cup where you put your fingers in to close the door. that will hold it in very good and firm. i'll try to take my panel off again and take some pics... if i have time. good luck

 

nice, always a fan of homemade fabrication work

 

Great DYI.

Hopefully that material doesn't fade and become pink. Good job! (Then again for that price it's not too much of a big deal).

 

looks awesome, ill def be on that once i get my gsr panels on

 

thats dope, and you didnt even take any upholestry classes.

 

still got those door panel measurements? I wanna do it too but Im not very good w/ fabric...

 

how well will it stay tho? that's what i want to know...

 

Looks legit, I likes

 

darn it. keep those secrets on a Down Low man!! Shhhhhh.

 

measurements?? what measurements? Just wrap the fabric around, and start cutting...

Kid..> I realized i probably wont find self taps that large/short... I remember some hex head screws that were like 3/4" length, but had like a 7/16" head on them... maybe those with a 1/2" washer... hmmm...

 

Good Job...and great info . Mine were starting to look like crap

 

that looks great!!!

 

that realy looks good. when i get an si again im gonna do it...

 

 

 

great work.


are those si's panel? they seemed black in the picture.




[Modified by @irborne, 9:59 PM 3/7/2003]

 

Nice job on the DIY panels.

 

DIY owns! GJ!